If at first you don't succeed, try-try again and again, and again....

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...

AllisonMarie said:

So encouraging to a newbie preparing for her first Camino! Thank you for the inspiration!

Click to expand...

VeganCamino said:

Amazing! I love that you are returning again and again. At age 84, you are having your Uranus return in astrology. Uranus is the planet of surprise and the unexpected. Sometimes when we do brave and bold things, as you are doing, we live into our Uranus in a way that makes this transit easier. Good for you. I hope you have an amazing trip and that you have happy feet.

Click to expand...

Old Hillwalker said:

I walked my first Camino in September of 2013 at the age of 74. I was quite fit from years of hiking and backpacking in my home state of New Hampshire, but in no way a true athlete. However I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 32 days with two days off in the middle. Easy peasy. The next summer I walked from Pau, France to Puente la Reina on the Camino Aragones. When I was first walking the France route I remember being fascinated by seeing a small Refugio just after the Col de Lepoeder crossing the Spanish border out of France. There I saw a sign for a trail intersecting called the GR 11, the Ruta Transpirenaica, and thinking to myself. Hmmm, maybe someday.


The third year, I stayed at home and kept wishing that I was in Spain. So on the fourth year of this personal Odyssey I went back to Spain and started on the GR 11 where is crosses the Camino Frances in Burguete (2016) After getting a taste of this route I returned the next summer at the age of 78 back onto the GR 11 (2017)

Unable to keep Spain and the Caminos out of my blood, I Began the Camino del Norte in Irun in 2018 but due to a foot problem developed from badly fitting shoes I quit in Deba. I returned to the Norte again in 2019 and walked from Deba to to Bilbao where I took a bus to Santiago to meet some friends who had just completed the Portuguese Camino as they completed the International Appalachian Trail completing the route from Georgia in the US to Morocco. 4800 miles over a period of about several years.

Since I was now in Santiago, instead of returning to Bilbao and continuing, I walked instead to Finisterre and then went home.

The following year, 2020, Covid hit and I stayed home again, sorely missing walking in Spain.

However, the next September, 2021 I was back in Bilbao and continued my Camino but only made it to Santander. Old and tired at 82 and still carrying my full pack.

Here we go again. Last September, 2022 I returned again to Santander and this time made it to Gijon where I took a bus to Oveido to spend a few days and visit the wonderful Naranco World Heritage site.

It was a wonderful visit until I came down with a healthy or unhealthy if you will, bout of Covid, which sent me home again after a bit of isolation.

Today as I write this it is June 24th 2023 and I have a ticket from Boston to Santander to begin again in Gijon on August 31st. I am trying again to finish the Camino del Norte at the ripe old age of 84. I will be training all summer at home, and for the very first time letting Correos carry my main pack.. So there you have it. The Camino del Norte on the four year plan. Sincerely, Old Hillwalker

Click to expand...