haraldr
@haraldr3360.bsky.social
Retired IT-guy from the South East of Norway. Into photography, tinkering, wool and other fascinating things to explore.
#caminodesantiago
#caminofrances
#caminodesantiago
#caminofrances
Yeah, I made it! From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician) in 46 days. The official distance is 856,6 km, but including the walking around in the various places you stay, sightseeing on “rest days” it was more than 1000 km in total.
All in all it went fairly well.
All in all it went fairly well.
May 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Yeah, I made it! From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician) in 46 days. The official distance is 856,6 km, but including the walking around in the various places you stay, sightseeing on “rest days” it was more than 1000 km in total.
All in all it went fairly well.
All in all it went fairly well.
Finally at the sea! Cee is a lovely small sea resort about 16 km from Finisterre.
Will walk there tomorrow, and that will be my last day on the Camino!
Have booked the bus back to Santiago at 1645, so will have plenty of time to look around and do the things pilgrims are supposed to do there.
Will walk there tomorrow, and that will be my last day on the Camino!
Have booked the bus back to Santiago at 1645, so will have plenty of time to look around and do the things pilgrims are supposed to do there.
May 27, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Finally at the sea! Cee is a lovely small sea resort about 16 km from Finisterre.
Will walk there tomorrow, and that will be my last day on the Camino!
Have booked the bus back to Santiago at 1645, so will have plenty of time to look around and do the things pilgrims are supposed to do there.
Will walk there tomorrow, and that will be my last day on the Camino!
Have booked the bus back to Santiago at 1645, so will have plenty of time to look around and do the things pilgrims are supposed to do there.
Quite easy walk today from the very small village A Peña to the not much larger Ponteolveira.
Tomorrow I will be at sea level for the first time since mid April, looking forward to that!
Lots of corn fields and quite large cattle farms on today’s route.
And also many (noisy) wind turbines.
Tomorrow I will be at sea level for the first time since mid April, looking forward to that!
Lots of corn fields and quite large cattle farms on today’s route.
And also many (noisy) wind turbines.
May 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Quite easy walk today from the very small village A Peña to the not much larger Ponteolveira.
Tomorrow I will be at sea level for the first time since mid April, looking forward to that!
Lots of corn fields and quite large cattle farms on today’s route.
And also many (noisy) wind turbines.
Tomorrow I will be at sea level for the first time since mid April, looking forward to that!
Lots of corn fields and quite large cattle farms on today’s route.
And also many (noisy) wind turbines.
Finished one third of the way from Santiago to Finistere (“end of the world“) today. A two kilometer uphill reminded me of home 😂
I’m in a hilly landscape with forests not unlike Norway. But we miss the almond trees, the lemon trees and lots of other exotic species (don’t miss eucalyptus trees).
I’m in a hilly landscape with forests not unlike Norway. But we miss the almond trees, the lemon trees and lots of other exotic species (don’t miss eucalyptus trees).
May 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Finished one third of the way from Santiago to Finistere (“end of the world“) today. A two kilometer uphill reminded me of home 😂
I’m in a hilly landscape with forests not unlike Norway. But we miss the almond trees, the lemon trees and lots of other exotic species (don’t miss eucalyptus trees).
I’m in a hilly landscape with forests not unlike Norway. But we miss the almond trees, the lemon trees and lots of other exotic species (don’t miss eucalyptus trees).
The most interesting thing that happened today was that I found out I had reserved a room in a hotel 56 km away. The NAME of the village was right, not the village…
I blame the #CaminoNinja app that apparently does not do linking to #booking.com by geolocation, but by name mapping. Got another place
I blame the #CaminoNinja app that apparently does not do linking to #booking.com by geolocation, but by name mapping. Got another place
May 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The most interesting thing that happened today was that I found out I had reserved a room in a hotel 56 km away. The NAME of the village was right, not the village…
I blame the #CaminoNinja app that apparently does not do linking to #booking.com by geolocation, but by name mapping. Got another place
I blame the #CaminoNinja app that apparently does not do linking to #booking.com by geolocation, but by name mapping. Got another place
So I made it! Arrived at the cathedral around 13.30 today. Lots of people, including my walking friends from Australia.
A nice summer day today, continuing towards the coast tomorrow.
A nice summer day today, continuing towards the coast tomorrow.
May 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
So I made it! Arrived at the cathedral around 13.30 today. Lots of people, including my walking friends from Australia.
A nice summer day today, continuing towards the coast tomorrow.
A nice summer day today, continuing towards the coast tomorrow.
Only 16 km left to the cathedral in Santiago! It was very busy on the Camino today, a steady stream of people almost made it a struggle to walk.
Tonight I am staying in a nice Pensión with the simple (and quite descriptive) name Kilómetro 15.
Mostly walking through mixed forests, and nice weather.
Tonight I am staying in a nice Pensión with the simple (and quite descriptive) name Kilómetro 15.
Mostly walking through mixed forests, and nice weather.
May 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Only 16 km left to the cathedral in Santiago! It was very busy on the Camino today, a steady stream of people almost made it a struggle to walk.
Tonight I am staying in a nice Pensión with the simple (and quite descriptive) name Kilómetro 15.
Mostly walking through mixed forests, and nice weather.
Tonight I am staying in a nice Pensión with the simple (and quite descriptive) name Kilómetro 15.
Mostly walking through mixed forests, and nice weather.
Today’s stop is Arzúa, a small town with a dwindling population, but a lot of pilgrims. Lots of ups and downs on the way there. Also a lot of eucalyptus plantations, that seems to very popular in this part of Galicia. Sometimes a scent of eucalyptus in the air (but not as often as the scent of cow😂)
May 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Today’s stop is Arzúa, a small town with a dwindling population, but a lot of pilgrims. Lots of ups and downs on the way there. Also a lot of eucalyptus plantations, that seems to very popular in this part of Galicia. Sometimes a scent of eucalyptus in the air (but not as often as the scent of cow😂)
Only 58 km left to Santiago! Another great day, walking from Gonzar to O Coto in fair weather.
Last night’s albergue was not the best experience. Felt like being on a teenage sleepover with people running in and out of the room to passed midnight.
Tonight I stay on a somewhat weird German hotel.
Last night’s albergue was not the best experience. Felt like being on a teenage sleepover with people running in and out of the room to passed midnight.
Tonight I stay on a somewhat weird German hotel.
May 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Only 58 km left to Santiago! Another great day, walking from Gonzar to O Coto in fair weather.
Last night’s albergue was not the best experience. Felt like being on a teenage sleepover with people running in and out of the room to passed midnight.
Tonight I stay on a somewhat weird German hotel.
Last night’s albergue was not the best experience. Felt like being on a teenage sleepover with people running in and out of the room to passed midnight.
Tonight I stay on a somewhat weird German hotel.
Morgade to Gonzar was a nice walk with a very long, but not too steep uphill in the last half stretch.
Dodged the rain today, but there was a lot of water in the path after a no-kidding-thunderstorm last night.
Today I have booked plane tickets back home and accommodation for the remaining days.
Dodged the rain today, but there was a lot of water in the path after a no-kidding-thunderstorm last night.
Today I have booked plane tickets back home and accommodation for the remaining days.
May 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Morgade to Gonzar was a nice walk with a very long, but not too steep uphill in the last half stretch.
Dodged the rain today, but there was a lot of water in the path after a no-kidding-thunderstorm last night.
Today I have booked plane tickets back home and accommodation for the remaining days.
Dodged the rain today, but there was a lot of water in the path after a no-kidding-thunderstorm last night.
Today I have booked plane tickets back home and accommodation for the remaining days.
Only 12 km from Sarria to Morgade. After a few long and hard days, I needed a more leisurely walk. Only 100 km from Santiago now!
A little hazy earlier today and a bit of hail and hard rain at dinner time.
This last 100 km or so are famous for the change from a pilgrim route towards a more touristy.
A little hazy earlier today and a bit of hail and hard rain at dinner time.
This last 100 km or so are famous for the change from a pilgrim route towards a more touristy.
May 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Only 12 km from Sarria to Morgade. After a few long and hard days, I needed a more leisurely walk. Only 100 km from Santiago now!
A little hazy earlier today and a bit of hail and hard rain at dinner time.
This last 100 km or so are famous for the change from a pilgrim route towards a more touristy.
A little hazy earlier today and a bit of hail and hard rain at dinner time.
This last 100 km or so are famous for the change from a pilgrim route towards a more touristy.
A short day from A Balsa to Sarria. Nice weather, steep hills in the morning, later mostly downhill. Started at 700 masl, ended at 433 masl.
Sarria is the start of the last 100+ leg, so much more pilgrims are expected the next five days to Santiago.
Spending “quality” time now at a laundromat.
Sarria is the start of the last 100+ leg, so much more pilgrims are expected the next five days to Santiago.
Spending “quality” time now at a laundromat.
May 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A short day from A Balsa to Sarria. Nice weather, steep hills in the morning, later mostly downhill. Started at 700 masl, ended at 433 masl.
Sarria is the start of the last 100+ leg, so much more pilgrims are expected the next five days to Santiago.
Spending “quality” time now at a laundromat.
Sarria is the start of the last 100+ leg, so much more pilgrims are expected the next five days to Santiago.
Spending “quality” time now at a laundromat.
Very long and strenuous walk yesterday from La Faba to A Balsa. Crossing the last mountains or rather the last high altitude hills.
Perhaps the most beautiful day of all my Camino.
Very steep both uphill and downhill. Actually the downhills are the worse.
The weather was nice all day, as well!
Perhaps the most beautiful day of all my Camino.
Very steep both uphill and downhill. Actually the downhills are the worse.
The weather was nice all day, as well!
May 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Very long and strenuous walk yesterday from La Faba to A Balsa. Crossing the last mountains or rather the last high altitude hills.
Perhaps the most beautiful day of all my Camino.
Very steep both uphill and downhill. Actually the downhills are the worse.
The weather was nice all day, as well!
Perhaps the most beautiful day of all my Camino.
Very steep both uphill and downhill. Actually the downhills are the worse.
The weather was nice all day, as well!
Totally different walk today though a long, narrow valley from Villafranca to La Faba. Most of the way was along a local road with little traffic with a busy through road in the background.
Instead of large farms there were only small holdings with small herds of cattle.
Mostly sunny with some rain.
Instead of large farms there were only small holdings with small herds of cattle.
Mostly sunny with some rain.
May 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Totally different walk today though a long, narrow valley from Villafranca to La Faba. Most of the way was along a local road with little traffic with a busy through road in the background.
Instead of large farms there were only small holdings with small herds of cattle.
Mostly sunny with some rain.
Instead of large farms there were only small holdings with small herds of cattle.
Mostly sunny with some rain.
Another nice day, from Ponferrada To Villafranca del Bierzo. About 26 km among farming fields and through many small villages. Tomorrow is a new climb towards the mountains, the last high one.
No rain today, which is a nice change, even had to put on some sunscreen! Weather forecast looks good, too!
No rain today, which is a nice change, even had to put on some sunscreen! Weather forecast looks good, too!
May 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Another nice day, from Ponferrada To Villafranca del Bierzo. About 26 km among farming fields and through many small villages. Tomorrow is a new climb towards the mountains, the last high one.
No rain today, which is a nice change, even had to put on some sunscreen! Weather forecast looks good, too!
No rain today, which is a nice change, even had to put on some sunscreen! Weather forecast looks good, too!
Long, beautiful walk (about 27 km), mostly in sun from Foncebadón to Ponferrada. Crossed the mountain at about 1500 masl and ended at 530 masl.
Lots of wildflowers and nice mountain villages.
Passed Cruz de Ferro where I placed a stone I had carried all the way from France.
As usual some rain.
Lots of wildflowers and nice mountain villages.
Passed Cruz de Ferro where I placed a stone I had carried all the way from France.
As usual some rain.
May 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Long, beautiful walk (about 27 km), mostly in sun from Foncebadón to Ponferrada. Crossed the mountain at about 1500 masl and ended at 530 masl.
Lots of wildflowers and nice mountain villages.
Passed Cruz de Ferro where I placed a stone I had carried all the way from France.
As usual some rain.
Lots of wildflowers and nice mountain villages.
Passed Cruz de Ferro where I placed a stone I had carried all the way from France.
As usual some rain.
A relatively short, uphill walk from Santa Catalina de Somoza to Foncebadón where I found a vegan place. At 1420 masl I will pass the peak with the iron cross quite soon tomorrow. Then it is mostly downhill before I have to cross the next mountain in a couple of days.
Still so, so weather for days.
Still so, so weather for days.
May 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A relatively short, uphill walk from Santa Catalina de Somoza to Foncebadón where I found a vegan place. At 1420 masl I will pass the peak with the iron cross quite soon tomorrow. Then it is mostly downhill before I have to cross the next mountain in a couple of days.
Still so, so weather for days.
Still so, so weather for days.
Started walking today and soon realized that I needed to dry up warm up and sleep off. Thus after only 10 km I booked a room at the first hostal I came to.
Will hit the first mountain for a log time tomorrow (have started the climb already).
Even got to wash a lot of my clothes.
Still damp and cold.
Will hit the first mountain for a log time tomorrow (have started the climb already).
Even got to wash a lot of my clothes.
Still damp and cold.
May 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Started walking today and soon realized that I needed to dry up warm up and sleep off. Thus after only 10 km I booked a room at the first hostal I came to.
Will hit the first mountain for a log time tomorrow (have started the climb already).
Even got to wash a lot of my clothes.
Still damp and cold.
Will hit the first mountain for a log time tomorrow (have started the climb already).
Even got to wash a lot of my clothes.
Still damp and cold.
A walk in the park today, only 16,5 km, I thought. Actually a nice landscape, but to little rest, a lot of rain, a lack of good options for drying clothes and no blanket on top of that is not the best basis for a good night’s sleep.
Visited Palacio Episcopal de Astorga, an early Gaudi masterpiece.
Visited Palacio Episcopal de Astorga, an early Gaudi masterpiece.
May 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
A walk in the park today, only 16,5 km, I thought. Actually a nice landscape, but to little rest, a lot of rain, a lack of good options for drying clothes and no blanket on top of that is not the best basis for a good night’s sleep.
Visited Palacio Episcopal de Astorga, an early Gaudi masterpiece.
Visited Palacio Episcopal de Astorga, an early Gaudi masterpiece.
Only 14 km from Villar de Mazarife to Hospital de Órbigo today. Bleak weather and quite flat also today, but mountains to be seen! In the middle a huge herd of filled the whole road!
Hospital is a very nice town, famous for its long bridge leading into town. Card playing men are a fixture also here.
Hospital is a very nice town, famous for its long bridge leading into town. Card playing men are a fixture also here.
May 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Only 14 km from Villar de Mazarife to Hospital de Órbigo today. Bleak weather and quite flat also today, but mountains to be seen! In the middle a huge herd of filled the whole road!
Hospital is a very nice town, famous for its long bridge leading into town. Card playing men are a fixture also here.
Hospital is a very nice town, famous for its long bridge leading into town. Card playing men are a fixture also here.
Left León in beautiful sunshine around 9 o clock, and arrived at Villar de Mazarife 6 hours later.
Still on the Meseta, but had to climb a bit to get back on the flat.
Much more varied than the previous days with more trees, more wild flowers, tree lined creeks and more varied crops.
Now, some rain.
Still on the Meseta, but had to climb a bit to get back on the flat.
Much more varied than the previous days with more trees, more wild flowers, tree lined creeks and more varied crops.
Now, some rain.
May 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Left León in beautiful sunshine around 9 o clock, and arrived at Villar de Mazarife 6 hours later.
Still on the Meseta, but had to climb a bit to get back on the flat.
Much more varied than the previous days with more trees, more wild flowers, tree lined creeks and more varied crops.
Now, some rain.
Still on the Meseta, but had to climb a bit to get back on the flat.
Much more varied than the previous days with more trees, more wild flowers, tree lined creeks and more varied crops.
Now, some rain.
León cathedral is a magnificent building, constructed and built in a relatively short time in the second half of the 13th century as an early example of a gothic church with a clear and concise plan.
Throughout the ages people has tried to “improve” it with near disastrous results, until rescued.
Throughout the ages people has tried to “improve” it with near disastrous results, until rescued.
May 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
León cathedral is a magnificent building, constructed and built in a relatively short time in the second half of the 13th century as an early example of a gothic church with a clear and concise plan.
Throughout the ages people has tried to “improve” it with near disastrous results, until rescued.
Throughout the ages people has tried to “improve” it with near disastrous results, until rescued.
Only 12 km from Pinter Villarente to León today. Started at sunrise and arrived before 1100.
Crisscrossed the city, nice place with many parks and lively city life.
Tomorrow I will explore all the sights, hopefully a bit warmer than today (only 2-3 degrees when I started walking).
Crisscrossed the city, nice place with many parks and lively city life.
Tomorrow I will explore all the sights, hopefully a bit warmer than today (only 2-3 degrees when I started walking).
May 6, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Only 12 km from Pinter Villarente to León today. Started at sunrise and arrived before 1100.
Crisscrossed the city, nice place with many parks and lively city life.
Tomorrow I will explore all the sights, hopefully a bit warmer than today (only 2-3 degrees when I started walking).
Crisscrossed the city, nice place with many parks and lively city life.
Tomorrow I will explore all the sights, hopefully a bit warmer than today (only 2-3 degrees when I started walking).
A little bit longer today, 25 km from El Burgo Ranero to Puente Villarente. A beautiful morning, rough in the middle and then again a lovely afternoon.
Staying at a nice albergue with lots of character.
Starting to get used to the flat, open landscapes 😉
Only 12 km left to León, a large city.
Staying at a nice albergue with lots of character.
Starting to get used to the flat, open landscapes 😉
Only 12 km left to León, a large city.
May 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A little bit longer today, 25 km from El Burgo Ranero to Puente Villarente. A beautiful morning, rough in the middle and then again a lovely afternoon.
Staying at a nice albergue with lots of character.
Starting to get used to the flat, open landscapes 😉
Only 12 km left to León, a large city.
Staying at a nice albergue with lots of character.
Starting to get used to the flat, open landscapes 😉
Only 12 km left to León, a large city.
Only 18 km today, from Sahagún to El Burgo Ranero. A little rougher landscape than earlier on the Meseta. More wasteland, wetlands and a change of crops, like corn, which meant less, or at least another type of greenery.
Have also found out that storks must be very social, and nest together.
Have also found out that storks must be very social, and nest together.
May 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Only 18 km today, from Sahagún to El Burgo Ranero. A little rougher landscape than earlier on the Meseta. More wasteland, wetlands and a change of crops, like corn, which meant less, or at least another type of greenery.
Have also found out that storks must be very social, and nest together.
Have also found out that storks must be very social, and nest together.