101 km
In Santiago de Compostela I had two options: 1) Stay there some more days and return with other transport (flight, train) and send the bike with one of the transportation companies.
2) Return by bike to the Provence, France.
I choose option 2.
For my return journey I already planned to use another Camino: Camino del Norte, that basically follows the northern coastline, but I cycle it in the reversed direction.
The first 40 kilometers are the same as the Camino Frances. I started one hour later than normal, because I did not hear the alarm of my watch and it was rather dark due to clouds. A lot of pilgrims were walking and some less cycling to Santiago. I again saw some known cyclists: A couple that I had seen on the pass road to Roncesvalles.
At lunchtime I was in Arzua, where both Caminos join. I had a short chat with three girls. They had walked the coastal Camino and enjoyed it, because of the views to the ocean and the route is not crowded. But the also complained about the full albergues, so they used a tent to sleep.
The first good thing was on the northern Camino: Small and good roads. There is a mixture of green famland, eucalyptus forests and in higher areas pine trees. Both tree types spread a nice odor if the sun is shining on their leaves and needles. By the way: The sun broke through the clouds around noon, but later disappeared for two hours to make place for a decent rain shower.
In Sobrado de Los Monjes was a big monastery. Some pilgrims were waiting there near the closed porters house to gather a bed for the night.
The Camino reached a height of about 700 meters and then went down to about 450 meters. In this area there were a lot of small and old villages with churches and flat bell towers with one to three bronze bells.
I already had a camping as day target, but one auberge had a beautiful environment. I asked, but it was full.
So I cycled to the camping and pitched my tent there.
Paul
In Santiago de Compostela I had two options: 1) Stay there some more days and return with other transport (flight, train) and send the bike with one of the transportation companies.
2) Return by bike to the Provence, France.
I choose option 2.
For my return journey I already planned to use another Camino: Camino del Norte, that basically follows the northern coastline, but I cycle it in the reversed direction.
The first 40 kilometers are the same as the Camino Frances. I started one hour later than normal, because I did not hear the alarm of my watch and it was rather dark due to clouds. A lot of pilgrims were walking and some less cycling to Santiago. I again saw some known cyclists: A couple that I had seen on the pass road to Roncesvalles.
At lunchtime I was in Arzua, where both Caminos join. I had a short chat with three girls. They had walked the coastal Camino and enjoyed it, because of the views to the ocean and the route is not crowded. But the also complained about the full albergues, so they used a tent to sleep.
The first good thing was on the northern Camino: Small and good roads. There is a mixture of green famland, eucalyptus forests and in higher areas pine trees. Both tree types spread a nice odor if the sun is shining on their leaves and needles. By the way: The sun broke through the clouds around noon, but later disappeared for two hours to make place for a decent rain shower.
In Sobrado de Los Monjes was a big monastery. Some pilgrims were waiting there near the closed porters house to gather a bed for the night.
The Camino reached a height of about 700 meters and then went down to about 450 meters. In this area there were a lot of small and old villages with churches and flat bell towers with one to three bronze bells.
I already had a camping as day target, but one auberge had a beautiful environment. I asked, but it was full.
So I cycled to the camping and pitched my tent there.
Paul
