Completed the Camino by Bike in '03

[O'Leary Brendan]

Jen wrote:
".... more later about biking the Camino on
'03."

Hi

My name is Brendan and I live in Ireland and I am cycling the Camino in
mid June for fourteen days.  Any information (practical or spiritual)
would be greatly appreciated.  I will fly to either Biarritz or Pamplona
and start from St. Jean.

Many Thanks
Brendan

-----Original Message-----
From: Jen Seeler [mailto:jeandaveaMINDSPRING.COM]
Sent: 30 May 2003 13:35
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Completed the Camino by Bike in '03


I am signing back on GoCamino after completing the route from Pamplona
to
Santiago by bike, and taking an alternate route to Finisterre.  We rode
the
same route in May '01.    Especially  for hikers, there are more
albergues
and they are better equipped and closer to each other.   Some are
private
and cost a few Euros more but could be worth the difference between 3
and 7
Euros.

Happy to say Felisa's sister is continuing to provide a welcome and figs
as
you crest the hill into Logrono.   Her sello says "Higos, agua y amor,"
figs, water and love.

As for having to acquire two sellos (stamps) per day, that was no
problem.
Every bar, restaurant, hotel, hostal, (even some grocery stores) have
rubber
stamps for your credential, not just the alberques and churches, and
these
are open when the albergues are closed.   When we went for our
Compostela in
Santiago there was no question about the stamps on our credential.

"The Practical Guide for Pilgrims, The Road to Santiago," by Millan
Bravo
Lozano seems to be updated regularly and is now published in Spanish,
German, French and English and is for sale in Spain for 25 Euros.
ISBN -
84-241-3833-3.   I bought what I believe is the latest edition, #8, in
Santiago.  I saw a copy of the 5th edition for sale in Leon.    The maps
seem to be unchanged from the free version originally available from the
Spanish National Tourist office (and no longer available from that
source.)
What  has been updated is the information  concerning albergues and more
importantly, accommodation and restaurant data.  This now includes
addresses
and phone numbers.

We found that the Camino became crowded from Ponferrada on.   Many
people
took a bus or taxi to O Cebreiro and started there.  The church in O
Cebreiro sells credentials for 1 Euro and provides three wonderful
sellos.
This credential also had a lot of information on the back concerning
albergues and distances.  Another place where many start is Sarria where
the
Church had credentials for sale.  The church in Portomarin (only 100+ KM
from Santiago) did NOT have any credentials available.

We were told that German friends of the Camino have opened an albergue
at La
Faba on the way up to O Cebreiro that was wonderful and under-used in
May
'03.

In Santiago the cheapest restaurant is Casa de Manolo in Plaza de
Cervantes,
large menu del dia for 5.50 both for lunch 2-4 (?) and supper 8:30 PM
on.

I've bored you with enough for now, more later about biking the Camino
on
'03.

     jean seeler, Trinity Florida, (not a vieja but a mujer mayor at
64.)


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