LIVE from the Camino On Viejo, Olvidado, Invierno

[Paulo Arantes]

@caminka @VNwalking and all others who got interested on this Camino I'm doing, started walking today.
For the last few months I've been preparing myself and studying the options I had to do this Camino.
And on the first day I had to put my studies to proof.
Yesterday rained A LOT in all north Spain. All north. Really pouring rain.
I arrived in Pamplona under heavy rain and received messages from 2 friends who are doing the Primitivo telling how hard it was because of the rain.
Went to Bar Gaucho and met a few pilgrims there, same story.
To add to that, the hotel I had booked for the end of the first day sent me a message canceling my reservation because they had some kind of electric problems because of the rain.
The place where I booked a room to rest on he end of the second day did not responded any of messages to confirm if they would keep it...
And then came the anxiety... Going on a new Camino with little peregrino support, the rain, not many options of places to stay...
Called my wife and daughter, talked to them and was decided to spend one day in Pamplona to decide what to do.
Then today I woke up early, thought for a while and decided to walk Carminka's path to Irutzun. And thank you Carminka, I was really happy to walk your path. It was a great day. Today I am at Irutzun and if the weather helps, tomorrow I'll climb the mountain opposite to the Brian and visit the Santuario San Miguel in Excelsis.

Santuario San Miguel in Excelsis · Uharte-Arakil, Navarre

maps.app.goo.gl

It is described in some books about ancient routes of Santiago. Then I'll choose a path to descent and be closer to Alsasua.

I think this way to start was a good way to test the alternatives I've been studying. I won't lie, it was hard when I arrived in Pamplona, so many things going wrong in so little time but these are the opportunities we need to grow.

Sipping a sidra now, relaxing and getting ready for tomorrow.

Below the favorite picture of the day...

 

[caminka]

A bit of a dodgy start but I am sure it will become a wonderful camino very soon. Wishing you the best weather possible and a buen camino!

 

[peregrina2000]

So good to see that you’ve started. I will follow closely because I hope to walk this way next year. I do have @caminka’s tracks for Pamplona to Hiriberri, which is a few kms after Irurtzún. Are there two different sets of tracks, one for Hiriberri and one for Irurtzun? (Maybe @caminka is better able to answer this question!)

Then I'll choose a path to descent and be closer to Alsasua.

So that means you won’t be staying at the monastery at Zamartze?

Buen camino, Paulo!

 

[Paulo Arantes]

So good to see that you’ve started. I will follow closely because I hope to walk this way next year. I do have @caminka’s tracks for Pamplona to Hiriberri, which is a few kms after Irurtzún. Are there two different sets of tracks, one for Hiriberri and one for Irurtzun? (Maybe @caminka is better able to answer this question!)


So that means you won’t be staying at the monastery at Zamartze?

Buen camino, Paulo!

Hi @peregrina2000 !!!
On my way down from the sanctuary I'll decide about the monastery at Zamartze. It is a possibility I'll stay there but I'm deciding as I go.

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Thanks for doing this 'live from the camino' I'm at Sanguesa on the Aragones at the moment and heading onto the viejo. Im quite a few day behind you but also hoping to go to the Sanctuary San Miguel , I look forward to your updates. Buen Camino!

 

[Kirkie]

@Paulo Arantes , you wrote: And then came the anxiety... Going on a new Camino with little peregrino support, the rain, not many options of places to stay..
This morning I read these words:
What looks like total failure and emptiness is often the doorway to a new life.
With a little stretch of the imagination, although your situation was not about failure, it could confirm your wise choice in being nimble footed and minded! and changing plans.
I am glad I opened your thread, I will be happy to follow your progress.

 

[caminka]

So good to see that you’ve started. I will follow closely because I hope to walk this way next year. I do have @caminka’s tracks for Pamplona to Hiriberri, which is a few kms after Irurtzún. Are there two different sets of tracks, one for Hiriberri and one for Irurtzun? (Maybe @caminka is better able to answer this question!)

Yes and no. (But mine is only one track and it goes through Irurtzun. There are others that stop in Irurtzun. Whoever's tracks were used for waymarked trails and mapy.cz are not mine because I didn't walk on the main road out of Pamplona.)

I don't know if the camino follows my tracks (I sometimes find out later that a route is now following the route I've walked when I walked it ).

 

[Paulo Arantes]

@Paulo Arantes , you wrote: And then came the anxiety... Going on a new Camino with little peregrino support, the rain, not many options of places to stay..
This morning I read these words:
What looks like total failure and emptiness is often the doorway to a new life.
With a little stretch of the imagination, although your situation was not about failure, it could confirm your wise choice in being nimble footed and minded! and changing plans.
I am glad I opened your thread, I will be happy to follow your progress.

Thank you for your words.
That is what I learned today. I studied a lot about this Camino and made a lot of plans. With all the problems I had, I took a step back and cancelled the plans. I have enough information to decide what to do on each situation. And the Camino provides. The changes were for the better.
I left Irurtzun and went all the way uphill to the Santuario San Miguel in Excelsis. And it was one of the most amazing trails I've ever done. Beautiful in every detail. It was hard, more than 900 vertical meters but worth every sweat drop.
A little too muddy, because of the rain of the last few days but still incredible.
On my way down, went to the monasterio in Ugarte Arakil, @peregrina2000 . It was closed. So I went to a bar and asked them about the monasterio and they told me most of the days they don't accept guests after 14:00. It was ready almost 17:00.
And the city has no places to stay. So I walked to Arbizu and I'm staying here for this night.
The San Miguel Sanctuary is beautiful and totally worth the visit, @Pilgrim 122 .
I'll leave a few pictures below.

 

[VNwalking]

Following, as I also hope to put virtual plans into reality next year.

I don't imagine you'll be going straight up the other side of the valley to Beriain tomorrow? What Caminka did sounds amazing.

 

[peregrina2000]

On my way down, went to the monasterio in Ugarte Arakil, @peregrina2000 . It was closed. So I went to a bar and asked them about the monasterio and they told me most of the days they don't accept guests after 14:00. It was ready almost 17:00.
And the city has no places to stay. So I walked to Arbizu and I'm staying here for this night.

Sorry it didn’t work out. That was another 6 km you wen on to Arbizu, wow! Not sure I would have that in me after the ascent. Paulo, would you mind including names of places you stayed and prices? It’d be a great help to give us Viejo-wannabes that practical information.

And the beautiful San Miguel! And the beautiful views! And you are only starting. It looks wonderful.

 

[Paulo Arantes]

@VNwalking with the extra 6 km yesterday, I am a little ahead from the Berain ascent. I'll make today a lighter day to rest from yesterday.
The Arakil valley is not a very attractive place. Lots of factories and small villages with little support.
But the mountains on both sides are incredible. I think the best plan would be to keep walking on top of them and come down at the end of the Arakil Valley.
On the San Miguel Sanctuary they will build a a hotel with 27 rooms and a pilgrims hostal with 30 beds. It's planned to finish before 2027.
I am writing down all the places I'm staying as well as places I eat, @peregrina2000 and recording all the tracks I walk.
Finishing the Camino I'll share them with you all.

 

[Paulo Arantes]

I'm using this app to keep my family updated.
I'll leave the link here so you can follow me through the app too.

Follow me on my trip ‘Camino Viejo / Olvidado / Invierno’ at https://www.polarsteps.com/PauloArantes1/13872151-camino-viejo-olvidado-invierno

 

[VNwalking]

a pilgrims hostal with 30 beds

Oh!?
Hmmmm.

Paolo, during the planning thread, we played with ideas of detours to Beasain (to include the best day on the Vasco). With that new hostel, I'm wondering if this is actually a more realistic possibility or just pie in the sky. The landscape looks amazing, but a bit daunting. (There's also a shorter direct route, but involves much more uphill.) Do you think this is nuts?

Finishing the Camino I'll share them with you all

Excellent! Gracias.

 

[caminka]

@VNwalking with the extra 6 km yesterday, I am a little ahead from the Berain ascent. I'll make today a lighter day to rest from yesterday.
The Arakil valley is not a very attractive place. Lots of factories and small villages with little support.
But the mountains on both sides are incredible. I think the best plan would be to keep walking on top of them and come down at the end of the Arakil Valley.
On the San Miguel Sanctuary they will build a a hotel with 27 rooms and a pilgrims hostal with 30 beds. It's planned to finish before 2027.
I am writing down all the places I'm staying as well as places I eat, @peregrina2000 and recording all the tracks I walk.
Finishing the Camino I'll share them with you all.

Interesting. I hope that part of the monastery complex will get converted into hotel and albergue, not that a modern building will ruin that special place.
But wonderful knews. I will peg this down for a post-2027 repeat, then.

 

[caminka]

Oh!?
Hmmmm.

Paolo, during the planning thread, we played with ideas of detours to Beasain (to include the best day on the Vasco). With that new hostel, I'm wondering if this is actually a more realistic possibility or just pie in the sky. The landscape looks amazing, but a bit daunting. (There's also a shorter direct route, but involves much more uphill.) Do you think this is nuts?
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Excellent! Gracias.

Oh indeed! Lots of GR options up there.