10 weeks around Europe: El Camino Frances - St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre

El camino Francés walking : Part 1

In St jean pied-de-port  buy your Camino passport from the pilgrimage information center, this is different to the tourist information center !

St Jean pied de port- orisson 

Orisson- Roncevaux

Roncevaux - zubiri

Zubiri - Pamplona 

 

El camino France  cycling stage: Part 2

Pamplona - Estrella 

Estrella - Logroño 

Logroño - Santo domingo de la calzada

San domingo - Burgos 

Burgos - Sahagún 

Sahagún -León  ( Spend half day)

León - Ponferrada

Ponferrada - O' Cebreiro

O'Cebreiro - Portomarín 

Portomarín- santiago de Compostela ( 1 day)

Santiago - Cap Finisterre 2 days 

Bus back to Santiago de Compostela 

I brought my traveling  bicycle in  Pamplona's Decathlon: for €150 euro. Unfortunately  rock rider 340 was a piece of crap and was really disappointed as decathlon's product have worsen over the past decade ( i still have my tent brought in 2005) now they just break so easily. 

Also beware that the folks in decathlon do their job properly as while I was cycling down to Logroño on the second day, my pedal was coming lose!

 

My light compact paperback  Camino guide, which I purchased on Amazon 

Has all the info needed.. Number of Albergues in the tow , their location  price and number of beds. The  routes is well illustrated as well as the alternatives ( which can vary from book to book ). Fountain and cafe are also listed on the book.

For your information: This was my first ever cycling trip solo!

It was really tough, at some point I was reconsidering my holiday idea, whether this was total folly or pure idiocy to try to cycle the Camino.... it is the most challenging thing I have ever done up to now.

My bottom and leg muscles where crying, however I have the best time ever.

I enjoyed every single bit of it : The challenges and their  overcomes.

PS : The camino looks flat however  do not be fooled by the pictures. I just never took all the climbs. As my mind was more set on cycling up than taking pictures.

 

I said solo!?  but how can one be solo on the Camino. Hundred of thousand  seek the the same mysterious suffering goal as you: Santiago de compostela is a unity in : NO PAIN NO GAIN !

We all encourage each other  against back and feet  sourness,  various sprains and knee as well as more commonly feet wreckness.

What is the Camino....  

El camino is  

First physical 

Then emotional 

And last spiritual 

Buen comino!!!?

Left solo, arrived with four new friends

Santiago de Compostela : Boxing your bike info 

Option a-
Buy a box in the  Correos for ( if I  remember 10 euro),  box your bike and and transport it to Santiago de Compostela express airport bus.


Option - b
Place  your bike on the Compstela express bus,  for an additional 2 euro fee and box your bike at the airport for 17 euros . The Service if I remember right runs until 21.30 pm and start at around 5 am.