The Camino Francés:
The French Route from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago
With additional posts from sections of the route we hike more than one time and
side trips to Finesterre, San Sebastian, and Bilbao

We walked parts of the Camino Frances (the French Route) in Spain in each of five years. In 2008, we walked the beginning. In 2009, we walked the end. We walked the middle in 2011. In 2013, we walked the end again with our daughter and her husband who were doing their first Camino. In Santiago, the four of us joined Russ' sister and her husband who were finishing their sixth Camino, that year on the Portuguese Route. This year, we again crossed the Pyrenees and walked to Pamplona.

We have arranged the posts in geographical order, rather than the chronological order.

• From May 29 to June 3, 2008: We walked about 50 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona.
• From May 14 to June 9, 2009: We walked about 200 miles from Leon to Santiago.
• From May 17 to June 19, 2011: We returned to Pamplona and walked almost 300 miles to Molinaseca, thus completing our Camino Frances and repeating a few favorite miles from 2009. We posted to Facebook. Most of the blog for 2011 was done in retrospect after our return home.
• From May 17 to June 4, 2013: We hiked with our daughter Pam and her husband James from Astorga to Santiago. Note that the weather was very different...at the same time of the year, and in the same region...in 2009 and 2013. 
• From May 28 to June 7, 2015: We walked from St. Jean Pied de Port over the Napoléon Route to Pamplona. We took side trips to San Sebastian and Bilbao.
  
• From September 29 to October 16, 2019: We walked from Pamplona to Burgos.
  

 St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona 2008
St.Jean Pied de Port to Valcarlos
Over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Zubiri to Pomplona
The End for 2008

St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona 2015
The Final Days in France
Up and Over the Pyrenees
An Albergue Built for Crowds
Slow, Leisurely Day
Taking Our Time Down from the Pyrenees
Hills, Riverwalk, Picnic, Pamplona
Pamplona Days
San Sebastian Too
Transition Days
On to Bilbao

Pamplona to Leon (2011)
Training
Almost Ready
Our Route this Year
Leaving Jake
The Whole Story-Pamplona to Leon

Pamplona to Burgos (2019)
We Leave for the Camino in Two Weeks
We Leave for the Camino in One Week
Last Official Day of Training
Missing Stela a Little Bit
Madrid Flight Coming Up
Arrival, Travel to Pamplona, First Day in Pamplona
Day 1 - Pamplona to Uterga
Day 2 - Uterga to Cirauqui via  Eunate
Day 3 - Cirauqui to Estella
Day 4 - in Estella and Los Arcos
Day 5 - Viana
Day 6 - to Logrono
Day 7 - to Navarette
Day 8 - to Najera
Day 9 - to Santo Domingo
Day 10 - to Belorado
Day 11 - to Villafranca, Montes de Oca
Day 12 - to Atapuerca
Day 13 - to Burgos
Day 14 - in Burgos
Traveling Back to Madrid
Scenery and A Busy Hotel
Camino Mentors and, Stela!

Leon to Santiago (2009)
Getting Ready for Leon to Santiago
Arrival in Leon
Leon to Mazarife
Mazarife to Hospital de Orbigo
Hospital de Orbigo to Astorga
Astorga to Santa Catalina de Samosa
To Rabanal + Photos
The Story of the Cruz de Ferro
Cruz de Ferro and El Acebo
Molinaseca and Ponferrada
To Villafranca del Bierzo
Villafranca to La Portela de Valcarce
La Portela de Valcarce to O'Cebreiro
O'Cebreiro to Triacastela
Triacastela to Samos
Samos to Sarria
Sarria to Morgade
Morgade to Portomarin
Portomarin to Hospital de la Cruz
Hospital de la Cruz to Palas Do Rei
Palas Do Rei to Melide
Melide to Arzua
Arzua to Rua
Arriving in Santiago, in the rain
A Second Rainy Day in Santiago
Another Rainy Day in Santiago
Starting for Home
Camino Glow

Other Photos and Narratives from Sections of the Camino Frances that we hiked more than one time.

Leon to Molinaseca (2011)
Leon to Molinaseca - Redux

Astorga to Santiago, Finesterre (2013, many photos)
Four of us hiked together in 2013: Russ and Peg, our daughter Pam and her husband James. In Santiago, we joined Russ' sister Phyllis and her husband Otis, who had been hiking the Portuguese Route.

Arrival in Astorga
Astorga to Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina to Foncebadon
Foncebadon to the Cruz de Ferro
Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca
Molinaseca to Villafranca
Villafranca to Ambasmestas
Ambasmestas to O'Cebriero: Sleepy towns, Woodsy hills, Panoramic hills
O'Cebriero to Triacastela
Trail after Sarria: Bridges, Gentle hills over fields, Apple blossoms
Hanging the clothes at Mercadoiro: Funky albergue, Laundry, Rooms
Mercadoiro to Ventas de Naron: Walking, Resting
Ventas de Naron: Sheep, Fields, Food
Along the road to Palas de Rei: Trail, Hugs and Coffee, Cows, Ants, Stones
On the way to Melide: Rain, Sun
Melide: Octopus, Cheese
Melide to Arca O'Pino: Rain, Rain, Cows, Rain, Rain, Rain
O'Acivro in Arca
On to Santiago
Santiago: Cathedral, Family, Compostelas, Farewell
Finesterre