This page is exclusively dedicated to my memories from the Camino Francais in Spain in August and September 2016.
For some people it might be a spontaneous decision to walk a 800 km plus spiritual path like a Camino, in my case in was not. It took a few years from first hearsay to take action. Of course the most influential factor is time. I had to wait until 2015 when I started my part time retirement from the BMW Group. It was my desire to do much more sports and traveling in my free time, so that played into my hands anyway. And after a long distance cycling tour with my racing bike with light luggage and two friends to Rome in 2016 and a following trip to the East of Austria with touring bike and tent, I found it a wonderful idea to cycle to the Western French Pyrenees and then walk my first Camino.
The Logistics was also important. I sent a parcel with my hiking gear to the Information office in Saint Jean. I booked the Logistics company DHL to send my racing bike back to Austria. Therefore I had to include wrapping plastic foils into my travel gear box. I saved the transport cost for the bike since it was stolen from me two days before I would have arrived. This is another evening filling story 🙂
The undertaking of such a long stretch of walking needs a robust physical and mental fitness if one wants to finish the hiking in about one month. The rewards are so plentiful I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams.
Map 1 shows the cycling tour.
There is another post to talk about that adventure.
Map 2 shows the routing of the Camino Francais.
The table explains the 34 stages from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Finesterre.
Map 1 cycling route 
Map 2 Camino Francais 
Table 1 = 34 stages
Day 0, Saturday, 13.08.2016
Saint Jean Pied de Port
I arrived by train around 16:00 p.m. (remember my bike was stolen in Carcassonne, 2 days to go). The information office was already closed and I could get access to my parcel only tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. I had only my cycling clothes on my body and my wallet and i-Phone.
It was holiday time in Spain so the whole town was on its feet in one big festival. So it took quite some time to find the registration office. Luckily I found a nice lady from the Netherlands and we searched together. She already booked a hostel and after we found the Pilgrims Office she disappeared to her place. This was about 18:00 p.m. When it was my turn I explained to the elderly lady, that I had nothing with me and can get my gear only the next day. She organised shorts and a T-shirt and a towel and a sleeping bag and I was the only one who could take a shower next to the office. They spare no effort to help you out. The late runners were then a group of about 10 to 12 people and as all Albergue were full they walked us to a gymnastics hall with that rubber mats like floor. All of us had a pleasant night. I remember as it was yesterday how happy I felt eventually be really there to start tomorrow.
Late registration and sleeping in a gymnastics hall…
Day 1, Sunday, 14.08.2016
Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles, 25,1 km, 1.390 m uphill, 6,5 h
The excitement to really be there now an just do it was so intense, that I cannot count the tons of endorphins I must have had in my body. This very first day was to become so typical with meeting people, having nice conversations and being on your own again and again in-between.
Start in Saint Jean Pied de Port Near Lepoeder Pass Lepoeder Pass crossing the Pyrenees
Albergue Real Colegiata Santa Maria
Day 2, Monday, 15.08.2016
Roncesvalles via Zubiri to Trinidad de Arre, 38 km, 610 m uphill, 9,5 h
Albergue Cofraida Santisima
Day 3, Wednesday, 17.08.2016
Trinidad de Arre to Pamplona and Zaraquiegui, 17,4 km, 200m uphill, 4,5 h
Pamplona
Long stroll around Pamplona, lost my direction 🙁
Pamplona in the background 
Zaraquiegui
Day 4, Thursday, 18.08.2016
Zaraquiegui – Puente La Reina – Lorca, 26 km, 400 m up, 6,6 h
Two of the most famous images on the Camino Francais:
Alto del Perdon Puente la Reina
Obanos Communal dinner in Lorca
From left to right: a priest in training from South Korea, a house wife from Germany, a German teacher from Spain, a retired mine worker from Belgium and a retired dentist from France (Philippe).
Day 5, Thursday, 18.08.2016
Lorca – Los Arcos, 29,9 km, 270 m up, 7,5 h
Start with Phillipe Near Estella 
Santo Sepulcro Eliza near Estella
Free wine for Pilgrims only! 🙂 One of the hottest and longest day of the Camino
Vicenc , still in touch years later 
Suffering hard towards Los Arcos
Really close to collapse, this was heaven. The angels helped me back on my feet with Coke and cookies. And this one treated my blisters with lots of patience late evening.
After a short power nap the party was on 🙂
On the square I met the Belgian mine worker again and Angela from Columbia who was an IT engineer and we met again and again on the tour.
Day 6, Friday, 19.08.2016
Los Arcos – Logroño, 27,8 km, 570 m up, 7 h
Around midday I met Vincenc again and we walked together until Logroño and even shared a room in the Albergue for the night.
Early bird catches the fly Around Bargota Towards Viana
Puerta Iglesia in Viana Concatedral de Santa Maria in Logroño 
Poster in Albergue – Camino comrade ship
Day 7, Saturday, 20.08.2016
Logroño – Najera, 28,9 km, 600 m up, 7,2 h
Day 8, Sunday, 21.08.2016
Najera – Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 21,3 km, 250 m up, 5,3 h
Break near Hervias Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Day 9, Monday, 22.08.2016
Santo Domingo – Belorado, 22,4 km, 300m up, 5,6 h
Crossing from Rioja into Burgos 
Towards Villarta-Quintana
Found private Albergue with charm.
Belorado
Day 10, Tuesday, 23.08.2016
Belorado – San Juan de Ortega – Ages, 27,8 km, 500m up, 7 h
Towards Villambista
San Juan de Ortega
Towards Ages in the heat of the day. Ages
For dinner I ate old cold meat which was exposed to heat…
Very bad stomach, no sleep, tough day ahead tomorrow…
Day 11, Wednesday, 24.08.2016
Arges – Burgos, 22,5 km, 200m up, 5,6 h
Burgos far in the back a long way to go.
My day was painful and very slow and very tiring. At the outskirts of Burgos I was completely exhausted and lied down on a bench near the road and fell asleep early afternoon. I was woken up by the two Spanish ladies and the German guy who I all met before. They gave me water and helped me back on my feet and walked me slowly to Burgos with numerous breaks. I relaxed in the Albergue, had a power nap and could actually go for a short stroll early evening. They then met me again at the Albergue and brought me pot of cooked rice which would recover my bad stomach soon. Camino friendships are amazing.
Short Burgos stroll.
Day 12, Thursday, 25.08.2016
Burgos, 3 km stroll
My domicile for 70% of the day.
Burgos from higher up.
Day 13, Friday, 26.08.2016
Burgos – Hornillos del Camino – Hontanas, 31.5 km, 350m up, 7,9 h
Towards Villabilla Marion from the Netherlands Remote Hontanas Marion’s deeds
Day 14, Saturday, 27.08.2016
Hontanas – Castrojeriz – Boadilla del Camino, 28,7 km, 180 m up, 7,2 h
Ruins Monastery Saint Anthony Doris from Germany Greetings from Heaven
Castrojeriz Puente de Itero 
The path is the destination 🙂
Albergue El Camino Boadilla Irish friends still on Facebook …
Day 15, Sunday, 28.08.2016
Boadilla – Carrion de los Condes, 26,6 km, 30 m up, 6,7 h
Near Fromista Iglesia San Martin in Fromista
Ermita de Nuestra Senora Del Rio 
Angela and Noelia Iglesia de San Andres Apostol – Albergue
Day 16, Monday, 29.08.2016
Carrion de los Condes – Terradillos d.l. Templarios, 26,8 km, 130m up, 6,7 h
Near Calzadilla de la Cueza
Albergue de los Templarios
Day 17, Tuesday, 30.08.2016
Terradillos – El Burgo Ranero, 30,9 km, 50 m up, 7,7 h
A Pilgrim from Hungary
Public Albergue to many youngsters 🙁 
Took a private room nearby 🙂
Day 18, 31.08.2016
El Burgo Ranero – Puente Villarente, 25,4 km, 50 m up, 6,4 h
One cannot get enough early mornings Aida from Torrelavega and Pilgrim
Rest camp in Reliegos Clay architecture Iglesia de Santa Maria in Mansilla de las Mulas
Extended irrigation systems Angela, Noelia and Valerie cooked great pasta dinner
Day 19, Thursday, 01.09.2016
Puente Villarente – Leon, 12 km, 50m up, 3 h
Approaching Leon I became good friends with Konrad from Bregenz “Old” friends again.
Posh and beautiful squares in Leon 
Cathedral
Day 20, Friday, 02.09.2016
Leon – Villar de Mazarife – Hospital de Orbigo, 37,5 km, 100m up, 8,9 h
Another extreme challenging hot and long day. Managed well.
Bridge to Hospital de Orbigo
Albergue El Encina, a jewel amongst all Albergue
From the after nap stroll View from the dinner place
Day 21, Saturday, 03.09.2016
Hospital de Orbigo- Astorga – Santa Catalina de Somoza, 26,6, km
Approaching -> Astorga 
One of the most popular motives on the trail.
Another posh square Fascinating old Bibles 
Going back to 900 a.D.
Albergue El Caminate in Santa Catalina
Day 22, Sunday, 04.09.2016
Santa Catalina de Somoza – Rabanal del Camino – Molinaseca, 35,8 km
El Ganso
La Cruz de Ferro with stones from the Pilgrim’s home countries (a burden of gilt to be forgiven from).
La Cruz de Ferro Meditation zone
Wide horizons
Ex Acebo de San Miguel 
Molinaseca
Day 23, Monday, 05.09.2016
Molinaseca – Villafranca del Bierzo, 30,6 km
Castillo Templario in Ponferrada
Fuentes Nuevas 
Santuario de la Quinta Angustia
Still Rioja country Small Hippie Oasis in Valtuille de Arriba
Albergue de Peregrinos Ave Fenix Villafranca del Bierzo
Day 24, Tuesday, 06.09.2016
Villafranca del Bierzo – O’Cebreiro, 28,9 km
O’Cebreiro
Christ was present all the time.
Konrad again with a Leon, a German student
It was here in O’Cebreiro that I received a telephone call from the Police in Carcassonne. They said they found my bicycle. I call in a small wonder of the Camino.
Day 25, Wednesday, 07.09.2016
O’Cebreiro – Triacastela, 20,7 km
Peregrine’s dinner Fine Albergue
Day 26, Thursday, 08.09.2016
Triacastela – Sarria, 18,5 km
Monestry in Samos
Lost Leon und Konrad, found Eva from Germany Travel guide motive in Sarria
Near Albergue Barbacoa in Sarria
Day 27, Friday, 09.09.2016
Sarria – Portomarin, 22,1km
Eva in black 100 km to go to Santiago
Bridge to Portomarin Bridge from the top
From Albergue 
Day 28, Saturday, 10.09.2016
Portomarin – Palas de Rei, 24,8 km
A smooth day with good comradeship with Eva. I stayed in Palas de Rei, she moved on to Melide some km further.
Day 29, Sunday, 11.09.2016
Palas de Rei – Arzua, 28,8 km
Into Melide
Out of Melide
In Melide two main Caminos come together: Francais and del Norte. From here onward it is one common route to Santiago de Compostela.
Ribadiso. In 2018 I would meet Alexandra here.
Towards Arzua
Day 30, Monday, 12.09.2016
Arzua to O-Pedrouzo, 19,6 km
In O-Pedrouzo I bought some medicine, e.g. ointments for my saw shinbones.
Day 31, Tuesday, 13.09.2016
O-Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela, 19,8 km
The Grande Finale no 1 has come.
No 2 would then be Finesterra, “The End of the World”.
First day with some light rain Famous monument At the Fringe
At the main square. 
Happy like a sand-boy With the Compostela
Day 32, Wednesday, 14.09.2016
Santiago de Compostela to Negreira, 21 km
I left my i-Phone switched on over night to finalize a software update. Big mistake. Lost many photos and notes. Went to an office in the University and found some generous help. I downloaded i-Tunes on their PC and worked for about 2 1/2 hours to restore my phone as good as it gets. Amazing to me. I left only around lunch time.
Tranquility at the beginning of the last 3 days
Ponte Maceira
Finished day 1 of 3.
Day 33, Thursday, 15.09.2016
Negreira – Olveiroa, 33,4 km
Day 34, Friday, 16.09.2016
Olveiroa – Finesterre, 38 km
The last 3-4 km surprised me a little bit. It was all uphill to about 250 m above sea level. As the motivation was high I made it, but it was good to have finished the path.
Light House At the End of the World.
Day 35, Saturday, 17.09.2016
Finesterre – Santiago de Compostela by bus.
