LIVE from the Camino Second time in SJPdP

[Jensink]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

A great trip!

 

[mspath]

Jensink,
What a journey you are having! Glad to read that you have made it back to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Take care next week as you move north for here in France we are in the midst of a heat wave.
Stay safe and in the truest sense, Ultreia!

 

[naplesdon]

Kudos to you!!!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I'm trying to imagine how you will ever return to "normal" life after such an epic journey!

 

[Jensink]

I'm trying to imagine how you will ever return to "normal" life after such an epic journey!

What is normal? Since I retired 2,5 years ago I was looking forward and preparing for this trip. I don’t know what will be ‘normal’.

 

[SabsP]

In awe!

Safe travels home! Veilige reis terug.

 

[Jensink]

In awe!

Safe travels home! Veilige reis terug.

Thanks, dank je!

 

[JimG59]

Very inspiring and a great way to spend your “vocational freedom“

Safe travels.

 

[CWBuff]

Absolutely stupendous
ULTREIA!!!

 

[Kanga]

Amazing journey. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your "short" walk back home!

 

[Lexicos]

Blow me down! And here am I wondering if I should walk from Le Puy to SJPDP!! Take my hat off to you Jensink. Well done.

 

[Lhollo]

I sometimes think that being nomadic is the most natural thing and that on some level we know this, that genetically we haven’t evolved beyond this state, and this is why the Camino feels at times like being home, whereas home feels like… something that doesn’t quite fit. Anyway, enough philosophising… what an amazing experience you’re having! I love your way! Buen camino!

 

[Crcwalks]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

You are my hero! Keep on walking—great journey.

 

[Ben Ensink]

And than next year a roundtrip by bike with me from Leiden to Santiago and back again (me is Ben, his brother). Probably 4 time SjPdP in two years in a row for you bro. Amazing and looking forward to it myself.

 

[Linda P]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

Wow!! Incredible!

 

[lt56ny]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

When I walked the Norte I did not see anyone doing it in reverse. Surprisingly to me at least as there were so few pilgrim, when I walked the VIa de la Plata I passed 4 different pilgrims walking in reverse. Your pilgrimage is something to be admired and to me at least envied. Buen Camino mi amigo.

 

[Jensink]

You are my hero! Keep on walking—great journey.

When I walked the Norte I did not see anyone doing it in reverse. Surprisingly to me at least as there were so few pilgrim, when I walked the VIa de la Plata I passed 4 different pilgrims walking in reverse. Your pilgrimage is something to be admired and to me at least envied. Buen Camino mi amigo.

Gracias!

 

[Ali@59]

What an incredible journey you've had, did you manage to sleep in the Albergues on the backwards north route or private accommodation? I would like to walk the Aragonés backwards but fear it may be difficult to navigate. When I walked the francés in 2019 i met a pilgrim walking the other way just outside Palas de Rei i spoke to him and asked where he was going he said Rome, when I arrived in Fisterra some days later i was in a bar and saw this guy on the front page of the local newspaper, he's kinda like a celebrity peregrino walking caminos back to back, Peregrino por la paz as he is called. Have a great time on your journey home!!

 

[Jensink]

Thanks for your reaction, Alison!
I’ll be frank with you: I’ve had it with albuerges. It is not my cup of tea anymore: 40 people in one room of which 36 are snoring, three showers and three toilets, no, that is bad for your health (lack of sleep and bedbugs, I caught them somewhere). I only sleep in albuerges when I can have a room for myself. If not: booking.com is my way to find a place to sleep and I am glad that I can afford the higher prices than those in the albuerges. Uptill now (I am in Dax, France) I haven’t had a problem finding a place, be it a hotel, pension, gite or chambre d’hotes. My only worry now are the fires around Bordeaux where I hope to be in a week or so.

 

[Helenakc]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

How difficult is it walking in reverse? I am due in Santiago on August 2nd and want to keep going towards Bilbao? You said you had the route on your phone. Which app are you using please? Thank you!

 

[Helenakc]

Today I arrived for the second time this year in SJPdP. Having walked from Rotterdam, Holland, to Vessem, Rocroi, Reims, Troyes, Nevers, I first came to this town on May 4th. On the 6th I walked away to Roncevalles to do the Camino Frances. After I reached Santiago, you cannot leave Galicia when you haven’t seen Finisterre and Muxia. So I walked to these nice places and returned to Santiago.
Having done that, I walked the Camino del Norte, backwards, and I was glad that I had the route on my telephone! Unfortunately I never met another pilgrim who walked in the same direction as I did. Last Tursday I left Irun for SJPdP and here I am.
Saturday I’ll start with the Via Turonensis to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Orleans and Paris. From there on, it will be a (relatively) rather short walk to reach home in Rotterdam. I expect to be there around half September, after being on the road since March 1st. I hope I then will look back at a very good time!

 

[Helenakc]

Hi I am arriving in Santiago on August 2nd and want to keep walking to Bilbao. So in reverse. You said you used an app. Which one ease and any advice for me? Thank you so much.

 

[Jensink]

I use the app from maps.me. For the route you can download that from many sides I guess, but I downloaded the file from the Dutch side www.santiago.nl. You have to be a member to download the file. If you can find the route on some other site, download the .gps file and converse it to a .kml file for that is what needed to put it on maps.me. To converse a .gps file to a .kml file, you can use the site www.gpx2kml.com.
Furthermore: keep your eyes on the road and watch out for people with a backpack. Do they come from the right? Then most probably you should go in that direction. But if you have the route on your phone, it doesn’t matter if you are walking backeards. The arrow on your screen will show you the way. Good luck and be prepared to walk a few kilometers more if you forget to take a turn. Just watch your phone reguarly.
Buen Camino!

 

[VNwalking]

Wow, @Jensink, what a wonderful way to be retired!
May you have a fire-free walk through to Bordeaux and an easy amble home: Bon Chemin!

This spring I walked from Den Bosch to Givet and am toying with the decision of which way to continue, should I decide to do that - south to intersect the way via Cahors, or SE to go through Paris and onward. So I hope you can give a summary once you have digested the journey of your experience of the ways you took through France.

 

[Jensink]

I use the app from maps.me. For the route you can download that from many sides I guess, but I downloaded the file from the Dutch side www.santiago.nl. You have to be a member to download the file. If you can find the route on some other site, download the .gps file and converse it to a .kml file for that is what needed to put it on maps.me. To converse a .gps file to a .kml file, you can use the site www.gpx2kml.com.
Furthermore: keep your eyes on the road and watch out for people with a backpack. Do they come from the right? Then most probably you should go in that direction. But if you have the route on your phone, it doesn’t matter if you are walking backeards. The arrow on your screen will show you the way. Good luck and be prepared to walk a few kilometers more if you forget to take a turn. Just watch your phone reguarly.
Buen Camino!

There is another site where you can download any route you like in .kml format. It is the Belgium site www.compostelagenootschap.be. This is a very good site, but, of course, in Dutch …

 

[VNwalking]

There is another site where you can download any route you like in .kml format. It is the Belgium site www.compostelagenootschap.be. This is a very good site, but, of course, in Dutch …

I got GPX tracks from here with no need to be a member; there are KML versions as well, of most if not all caminos:
https://www.santiago.nl/downloads/