LIVE from the Camino Ok , i dont recommend starting from barcelona

[shawn corrigan]

Soo i am in lagrono (la-groin-o) if you say it lagrOnO they will NOT understand what you are talking about.
So i heard the the camino frances was getting crowded,as i did it last year and was turned away many times i thought i would try a different route ,what a great idea! I heard many times barcelona was a good way so i started heading for sant cudat . It was 3 pm by the time i got everything done,the information office all the info i could carry(about 3 lbs of pamphlets maps etc) I do my usual asking as i walked and had no less than 4 women tell me NOT POSSIBLE !!!
The last one was at the top of a mountain overlooking the city ,she said go BACK!! it is NOT POSSIBLE . i sat and sat thinking and thinking ,how could this be ,yes the info was not clear, yes the route was not marked AT ALL even though the pamphlets showed many nice cute little yellow arrows.
pause.... does anyone even give a blipper about my stupid story ?? im going to eat dinner after my first shower in 5 days. if i hear people want the rest of the story ill finish it later , OKEY . shawn

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Soo i am in lagrono (la-groin-o) if you say it lagrOnO they will NOT understand what you are talking about.
So i heard the the camino frances was getting crowded,as i did it last year and was turned away many times i thought i would try a different route ,what a great idea! I heard many times barcelona was a good way so i started heading for sant cudat . It was 3 pm by the time i got everything done,the information office all the info i could carry(about 3 lbs of pamphlets maps etc) I do my usual asking as i walked and had no less than 4 women tell me NOT POSSIBLE !!!
The last one was at the top of a mountain overlooking the city ,she said go BACK!! it is NOT POSSIBLE . i sat and sat thinking and thinking ,how could this be ,yes the info was not clear, yes the route was not marked AT ALL even though the pamphlets showed many nice cute little yellow arrows.
pause.... does anyone even give a blipper about my stupid story ?? im going to eat dinner after my first shower in 5 days. if i hear people want the rest of the story ill finish it later , OKEY . shawn

Shawn, it sounds like maybe you've been struggling for days. I'm sorry if that's the case and hope dinner and a shower help to feel better. Yes, I'd like to hear about it, as have thought of seeing more of Barcelona, taking the train to Montserrat and then doing the Camino St. Jaume. Please report if you have the energy. It's unlikely that your story is stupid. Lots of good food and rest to you there in Logrono!

 

[shawn corrigan]

Thankyou for that, and you are right i was in definite country-boy survival mode ..."a country boy will survive" have you heard that song ? in my life i have been thru hell and high water so nothing really phases me. but i want you to know you are soo right, i am in lagrono snug in a fine warm hostel with wonderful sweet caminoites , they have my heart back in good spirits.
I am in great spirits anyway but this is great, i'm walking along and 2 beautiful chickitas invited me to join them in front of a snazzy younger bar. they were drinking sangrias (evening wine) so i went in and ordered 2 ...this blows me away 1 euro each . Its like they are free ,just leave a tip. soooo i will finish the true story later and thanks for the nice words. shawn

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Thankyou for that, and you are right i was in definite country-boy survival mode ..."a country boy will survive" have you heard that song ? in my life i have been thru hell and high water so nothing really phases me. but i want you to know you are soo right, i am in lagrono snug in a fine warm hostel with wonderful sweet caminoites , they have my heart back in good spirits.
I am in great spirits anyway but this is great, i'm walking along and 2 beautiful chickitas invited me to join them in front of a snazzy younger bar. they were drinking sangrias (evening wine) so i went in and ordered 2 ...this blows me away 1 euro each . Its like they are free ,just leave a tip. soooo i will finish the true story later and thanks for the nice words. shawn

Haven't heard the song, but do know a few things about country boys. They're tough and resilient. That's what works, a few nice people to get reconnected with, a good bed and good food. I'm so glad things are better for you now!

 

[notion900]

I need to know how you got to Logroño from Barcelona. Tell all...

 

[HighlandsHiker]

I need to know how you got to Logroño from Barcelona. Tell all...

He might have bushwhacked:0)). I predict an interesting story.

 

[notion900]

And what happened with the chickitas....

 

[HighlandsHiker]

And what happened with the chickitas....

I'm guessing we won't hear back until tomorrow sometime.....

 

[notion900]

I hope it was after the first shower in 5 days, not before...

 

[HighlandsHiker]

I hope it was after the first shower in 5 days, not before...

How to send hysterical laughter without using LOL:0)).

 

[MinaKamina]

Shawn, good to hear that you are in the best of company
Do tell us how you made that happen.
Once read a blog of two guys who were walking the Camino somewhere in France, and every day they would get lost several times. Several times on the same day that is. So they would describe in detail how they got lost and what it looked like. And returned to their starting point, and took the next wrong turn. And then after three or four wrong turns they'd write that they had finally found it. But never how they did that or where or what to look for. Nothing. Frrrustrrrating!
So never mind if you had to steal, beg or borrow, or if the Police escorted you out of Hotel California or if you simply took a taxi.... have mercy and tell it like it was.

Buen Camino!

 

[notion900]

He's too busy with the chickitas.....

 

[HighlandsHiker]

He's too busy with the chickitas.....

Right? I'm here tapping foot thinking "sangria + chickitas". Time to go for a hike.

 

[MinaKamina]

In an epic tale like this one, this is all about the hero's prerogative.

He has conquered Barcelona, the seven-headed dragon. He found the holy grail, and filled it with sangria. He won the hearts of both Guinevere and Iseult.
Do we sincerly expect him to pay attention to nitty gritty details like paperwork?

We will wait another while, and nothing will come of it.
Then we will draw our map anyway. We put Barcelona in the East and Lagrono somewhere west.
In between we note that hunc sunt leones to be on the safe side, and no showers as a caution.
The map won't be perfect, and we know it, but it is the best we can do. Like the medieval cartographers before us, we struggle.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, shawn,
Sounds like quite an adventure. These stories are always better in retrospect than while you are struggling your way through!

For others who might be considering starting in Barcelona, though, let me assure you that there are trails and that you can make it to Montserrat in two days. But you should also know that it is not a walk in the park. I was walking into Montserrat from the north on the St. Jaume, and LTfit and I were scheduled to meet up there. She arrived in BCN and walked two days to Montserrat. It was tough. But here is some info.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camí-català-from-barcelona-to-monserrat.33796/

If you do want to start from Barcelona, one much easier way to do it would be to take the train up to Montserrat and start there. A few days later you will have to decide whether to take the branch through Zaragoza or Huesca. We opted for Huesca and were VERY happy with that choice -- it takes you to San Juan de la Peña, and then you connect to the beautiful Camino Aragonés.

 

[HighlandsHiker]

In an epic tale like this one, this is all about the hero's prerogative.

He has conquered Barcelona, the seven-headed dragon. He found the holy grail, and filled it with sangria. He won the hearts of both Guinevere and Iseult.
Do we sincerly expect him to pay attention to nitty gritty details like paperwork?

We will wait another while, and nothing will come of it.
Then we will draw our map anyway. We put Barcelona in the East and Lagrono somewhere west.
In between we note that hunc sunt leones to be on the safe side, and no showers as a caution.
The map won't be perfect, and we know it, but it is the best we can do. Like the medieval cartographers before us, we struggle.

Very elegant, Mina. I for one don't think it's likely that we'll get the paperwork. Our job here is likely done.

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Hi, shawn,
Sounds like quite an adventure. These stories are always better in retrospect than while you are struggling your way through!

For others who might be considering starting in Barcelona, though, let me assure you that there are trails and that you can make it to Montserrat in two days. But you should also know that it is not a walk in the park. I was walking into Montserrat from the north on the St. Jaume, and LTfit and I were scheduled to meet up there. She arrived in BCN and walked two days to Montserrat. It was tough. But here is some info.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camí-català-from-barcelona-to-monserrat.33796/

If you do want to start from Barcelona, one much easier way to do it would be to take the train up to Montserrat and start there. A few days later you will have to decide whether to take the branch through Zaragoza or Huesca. We opted for Huesca and were VERY happy with that choice -- it takes you to San Juan de la Peña, and then you connect to the beautiful Camino Aragonés.

Thank you so much, Laurie.

 

[LTfit]

Don't let the OP scare you off. As Laurie says, there are many arrows and in fact THREE routes out of Barcelona to Montserrat. I had contact with two local Camino groups who informed me of the options and a friend of mine in Sant Cugat pre-walked one of the routes for me - except for the last 5 km vertical climb up to Montserrat!

I found the last part tough but then again it was only my second day out and since I made one wrong turn I walked close to 40 km. I was very happy to make it up to the top and meet up with Laurie!

It's personal but I would not take the Logroño option, going up through Huesca and visiting San Juan de la Peña is a must!

 

[shawn corrigan]

I

Shawn, it sounds like maybe you've been struggling for days. I'm sorry if that's the case and hope dinner and a shower help to feel better. Yes, I'd like to hear about it, as have thought of seeing more of Barcelona, taking the train to Montserrat and then doing the Camino St. Jaume. Please report if you have the energy. It's unlikely that your story is stupid. Lots of good food and rest to you there in Logrono!

I'm back(and yes logrono was paradise), hopefully i have forgotten most of my barcelona to cudat story, but here is what i still remember... after 4 people(women) tell me its NOT possible to walk to cudat ,i start back down the mountain,i ask at the base where a park guy says it IS possible but very hard and a long way. i turn around and go back up the mountain, and walk right past the woman who told me bad info. she worked in the nice cafe' at the base of the trolley to the amusement park. I hike and hike, using some trails to get a clear view of the place, and follow a road, asking a young guy along the way, the story was long but i cruised to cudat and made it by 7.00 PM.
Here is where it gets sad. so i look for a albergue and i always head for the church when nothing is working, i go inside and meet carlos,he says there are no hostels of any type and can NOT give me refuge,additionally it is illegal to pitch a tent and the hotels are full for the car race. Hmmm i am worn out so skip dinner and keep trying to get a signal for my laptop,i find a air bnb for 60 euros and send a note. it is not available.I want to mention carlos was nice ! (i think he felt bad that so much organizing goes into pamphlets and not much useful information). Hmm i spend the nite on a park bench(cold and wet) thinking about sad stuff.
The next day i head out to monsarrott (spelling?) but that is another story. so after 2 days of normal camino a m soooooo very happy, great food and good times. so happy. Its like the rioja grapes i walked by today,they struggle in the stoniest soil ever and red clay which makes the most delicious flavorful wine. sometimes struggling is a good thing ?

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Well said, Shawn, and it's great to hear you're back to enjoying the best of the Camino without all the struggle and hardship. You came out the other end having prevailed. Your "trail name" could be Rioja Grape:0)).

 

[shawn corrigan]

Well said, Shawn, and it's great to hear you're back to enjoying the best of the Camino without all the struggle and hardship. You came out the other end having prevailed. Your "trail name" could be Rioja Grape:0)).

So i have a new name for the way. "bueno vino camino " i love walking from one wine place to the next,i believe good wine helps thin the blood which helps nutrients feed the cells and remove waste.
I finally broke down and bought a smart phone. i am in bilbao walking the camino norte' i dont think i will post much about it,i was just at turisto information ..very nice facility and it seems very straight forward with decent markings and services.
Sooo i am thinking about doing what i care about and not chatting about the usual camino stuff. here is what i am thinking about blogging as i go along the camino norte' thru santiago to finistere and back up to muxial.
I do foraging ,i know it is a crazy hobby and most people think i am nuts but that is what i care about, if no one reads it to bad for them. it will be locked into the blog site for me to access later.
Here is a tiny explanation of what i do. i believe anything we buy is likely not trustworthy. with food (which was my area being a farmer for many years)it is laced with pesticides,fungicides,herbicides,nasty fertilizers and the biggie chemical estrogens(these fool the plant into higher production by making the plants and animals think they are pregnant.
more estrogen causes breast and prostate cancers amongst many many other problems.
I'll get into the quick solution for that soon(if anyone gives a rip,and guess what it is on the camino) also the farmed soils are depleted of nutrients ,the horrible fertilizers are very good at making huge good looking produce that is garbage and is also empty calories,organic too. This fools the body and the body still is crying for nutrients . The short answer is that many fat people are victims( i know many don't want to hear that) the naturally mulched soils that are not touched with farming are usually the best. of course one needs to use intelligence and know how to spot places that may have dog piss road spray etc. if a person lives in fear its best for them to shop at the phony food store, hey i eat the stuff too but i take the good stuff when i can. does this make any sense at all ?
I'll start getting into some of the many, many wonderful things to eat on the paths to santiago later(of course its everywhere but i may point out what is inches from me as i walk . shawn
So

 

[mspath]

So i have a new name for the way. "bueno vino camino " i love walking from one wine place to the next,i believe good wine helps thin the blood which helps nutrients feed the cells and remove waste.
I finally broke down and bought a smart phone. i am in bilbao walking the camino norte' i dont think i will post much about it,i was just at turisto information ..very nice facility and it seems very straight forward with decent markings and services.
Sooo i am thinking about doing what i care about and not chatting about the usual camino stuff. here is what i am thinking about blogging as i go along the camino norte' thru santiago to finistere and back up to muxial.
I do foraging ,i know it is a crazy hobby and most people think i am nuts but that is what i care about, if no one reads it to bad for them. it will be locked into the blog site for me to access later.
Here is a tiny explanation of what i do. i believe anything we buy is likely not trustworthy. with food (which was my area being a farmer for many years)it is laced with pesticides,fungicides,herbicides,nasty fertilizers and the biggie chemical estrogens(these fool the plant into higher production by making the plants and animals think they are pregnant.
more estrogen causes breast and prostate cancers amongst many many other problems.
I'll get into the quick solution for that soon(if anyone gives a rip,and guess what it is on the camino) also the farmed soils are depleted of nutrients ,the horrible fertilizers are very good at making huge good looking produce that is garbage and is also empty calories,organic too. This fools the body and the body still is crying for nutrients . The short answer is that many fat people are victims( i know many don't want to hear that) the naturally mulched soils that are not touched with farming are usually the best. of course one needs to use intelligence and know how to spot places that may have dog piss road spray etc. if a person lives in fear its best for them to shop at the phony food store, hey i eat the stuff too but i take the good stuff when i can. does this make any sense at all ?
I'll start getting into some of the many, many wonderful things to eat on the paths to santiago later(of course its everywhere but i may point out what is inches from me as i walk . shawn
So

Re foraging have you seen this publication available from Ivar's digital shop?

Happy harvest and Buen camino!

 

[HighlandsHiker]

So i have a new name for the way. "bueno vino camino " i love walking from one wine place to the next,i believe good wine helps thin the blood which helps nutrients feed the cells and remove waste.
I finally broke down and bought a smart phone. i am in bilbao walking the camino norte' i dont think i will post much about it,i was just at turisto information ..very nice facility and it seems very straight forward with decent markings and services.
Sooo i am thinking about doing what i care about and not chatting about the usual camino stuff. here is what i am thinking about blogging as i go along the camino norte' thru santiago to finistere and back up to muxial.
I do foraging ,i know it is a crazy hobby and most people think i am nuts but that is what i care about, if no one reads it to bad for them. it will be locked into the blog site for me to access later.
Here is a tiny explanation of what i do. i believe anything we buy is likely not trustworthy. with food (which was my area being a farmer for many years)it is laced with pesticides,fungicides,herbicides,nasty fertilizers and the biggie chemical estrogens(these fool the plant into higher production by making the plants and animals think they are pregnant.
more estrogen causes breast and prostate cancers amongst many many other problems.
I'll get into the quick solution for that soon(if anyone gives a rip,and guess what it is on the camino) also the farmed soils are depleted of nutrients ,the horrible fertilizers are very good at making huge good looking produce that is garbage and is also empty calories,organic too. This fools the body and the body still is crying for nutrients . The short answer is that many fat people are victims( i know many don't want to hear that) the naturally mulched soils that are not touched with farming are usually the best. of course one needs to use intelligence and know how to spot places that may have dog piss road spray etc. if a person lives in fear its best for them to shop at the phony food store, hey i eat the stuff too but i take the good stuff when i can. does this make any sense at all ?
I'll start getting into some of the many, many wonderful things to eat on the paths to santiago later(of course its everywhere but i may point out what is inches from me as i walk . shawn
So

Interesting! You are adding a fresh perspective to the forum, Shawn. Happy gathering and wine tasting on the Norte and glad you can now document your travels on your new iPhone.

 

[notion900]

This is a great tale. @shawn corrigan you have the true spirit of adventure in you. Don't go changing!

 

[shawn corrigan]

Re foraging have you seen this publication available from Ivar's digital shop?

Happy harvest and Buen camino!

Re foraging have you seen this publication available from Ivar's digital shop?

Happy harvest and Buen camino!

He's too busy with the chickitas.....

heh, i am not too busy with the ladies, but its a nice thought.
After many years attached i am fairly awkward. I ran into huge crowding problems and tech troubles too. I was 30k from burgos and had super sore footsies(35k at that point) after passing at least 50 fellow trompers when i was notified by some more tech savy austrailians(john ex banker, bruce freight magnate extrordinaire) EVERYTHING WAS FULL all the way to burgos,they said "are you into a plan 'B' the 3 of us walked south 8k to the freeway and 3k on the big freeway to a bus stop and luckily caught a ride to burgos, whew i walked to the municipal by the church that has 150 beds,they gave me THE LAST ONE for 5 euros(maybe there is a god)I decided to go into the church and pay respects,soo i did some quick calculations and took a bus to bilbao ,i corrected my tech problems by purchasing a used smart phone and a sim card and now i am a high tech pilgrim heh. i found the bilbao albergue with ease and guess what. THE BEST ONE YET !!Carlos is an awesome host.
and how many snorting fluffing ,hacking,snoring pilgrims do you think there were ?? zero, later one asian kid shows up very quiet . and the most awesome pulpa bar across the street. gotta try it. best pulpa in the world. octopus !!
Soooo no romantic stories but i am very happy. and you ?? Do tell notion 900 (what does that mean ? )
where are you ? how are the camino legs and feet ?