It wouldn't be a camino if we didnt write a plan down and then change it (see below) - caminos are fluid and should always be reflective and reactive - this camino started with me going then me and Stu and now Andy & Keith joining too - October will be similar I'm sure.
The greatest place to amend plans is as you make them and as in life, while you're executing them. There's always another way whether its better or not is merely a reflection of your mind and so to my St Patrick's Day reflections.
Between March 17-20th the plan evolved and now I think we get to San Sebastien and find out what the weather's doing. If its good we cross into France on the wee train and head for St Gien pied du Porte. My body needs a good pounding and its never got tougher for me than the Pyrenees. You meet so many people on the first day that you bump into later and the laughter builds up over the camino as you reflect on the bags people carried over the Pyrenees and not just the packs on their backs.
By Logrono their load is lighter and by Burgos their smiles beam brighter.
So back to the plan - Stu and I want to catch some of the Masters on TV, which means we should aim to be in Azofra at some stage as it means we can walk past the golf course at Ciruena. Ideally then the boys should arrive on Friday to Logrono where after a light lunch we can make our way along the camino to Navarette a small place holding centre stage on the hill above the vineyards. From Navarette we can walk easily to Azofra in about 6 hours, although we will stop for lunch Ventosa before sliding down to Najera and the cement works. Then we walk along the road to Azofra.
Of course the plan is fluid so it could be the boys get the bus to Najera and we've only time for the wee walk to Azofra - but it'll still work!
Leaving Azofra we will walk to Ciruena and then Santo Domingo des las Calzaas for some lunch. Then we'll take the 2pm bus and get off in Belorado and walk to Tosantos, Villambistia or Montes de Oca. The ideal solution is to walk a big day to Cardenuela del rio pico but I might save that for myself on Monday morning and get a bus back after having sunday lunch in Burgos.
The best time for sunday lunch is 12-3pm - listen to the church bells and head for some tapas. So we will walk in if possible along the river - or be on board the bus that leaves Montes de Oca around 11.
The bus from Burgos to Santander is fairly regular so a bus on a sunday around 2:30 should get up for 6pm allowing an evening drink before heading out on the 12 minute bus to the airport which leaves outside the bus station every 30 mins.
Small airport bliss - its very camino'esque
I'm doing the timetable for April after arriving 22:00 on Wednesday 3rd April
Stu is walking until Sunday April 14 whilst Andy & Keith will arrive Friday 12th in Burgos.
We will either bus to Belorado and walk to Tosantos/Villambistia/Montes de Oca/Cardenuela then Burgos - Stu can get bus South while Keith & Andy get bus to Santander
or
Do Burgos to Fromista. Stu can get train South while Keith & Andy get train to Santander
I'll then carry on up towards O'Cebreiro
Stu & I get Late bus to San Sebastien?
Thursday April 4 - Pamplona
April 5 Uterga
April 6 - Lorca
April 7 - Villamayor Mont Jardin
April 8 - Torres Del Rio
April 9 - Logrono
April 10th - Azofra
April 11 - Tosantos
Friday April 12 - Cardenuela Rio Pico
April 13 - Burgos
April 14 - Hornillos
April 15 - Castrojeriz or town just after
April 16 - carrion Hotel Zo?
April 17 Templarios
April 18 Sarria short day or Religeous
April 19 Religeuos
April 20 Leon
April 21
April 22 O'Cebrerio
April 23rd bus to Santander
April 24th flyout of Santander - 22.20
The picture below are from our trip on the sevilla route and the ones below them are belorado to Burgos on the Camino frances
A Small theatre in Salamanca
on the bus south to Caceres the Sevilla route crosses fantastic rivers
I've said for years that the best places to stay are usually found in the towns you're least likely to stop at, on the Camino Frances.
I say this because the extra albergues and hostals that open tend to be full of friendly hopitaleros like the one below at Cardenuela rio pico just before orbaneja and after Atapuerca.
My route now takes me from Villambista there. Sometimes I'll stay in belorado but I do reckon the journey past montes des Oca and St Juan are worth it. Ages after St Juan is great too and my pity is you have so many great places to stay in such a short stretch. If you can push on past Belorado. Its always natural after a long dusty walk to Belorado that you want to stop but trust me its worth the extra hour to Tosantos or two to Villambistia.
