All Camino Posts

Finisterre was the end of the world for the ancient druids and Roman’s. There was no further place to go. The place where the sun goes down last. A nice walk, but we took the bus and only walked the last 3 km there and back (6). Beautiful beaches and cliff sides....

Walked into the cathedral square at 930 am today. Mission accomplished. 800km in 31.5 days. Walked every inch with no break days. I’ll have more to say later. Today we eat and may have some wine. We did manage to see the mass at the cathedral. Quite an impressive...

It’s been a walk that we thought would never end but indeed it will. Almost a year of preparation and then 5.5 weeks of actual traveling and doing. There is a great dignity in simply completing a lengthy task. So many people complete this walk enduring quite a bit. I...

As we get closer to the final destination I think our adrenaline is leaving our systems a little. We are all tired and today was another up and down long day. BUT: it’s the last long day. Tomorrow about 20 km and then the final push of 10km. Not too many pictures...

We are seeing the end and that brings both happy and sad feelings. Happy because we are almost done and we get to see family and friends again. Sad because this epic adventure and all that it has brought: community, friendship, difficulty, endurance, fun…. Is coming...

We should make Santiago on Monday. 2 days ahead of schedule. Legs are starting to feel quite tired. Feet are blister free now but also very tired. All of us are tired and the extra wine with dinner when we met up with my sister last night, was apparently not helpful...

This means we are on our last 100km to the finish line. Quite a journey and those who haven’t already are starting to book flights home. There is a different energy in the walk as people realize they might just get this thing done. Today was a tough 27km day. Uphill....

What goes up steeply Typical path Best sandwich of the Camino. Good food is sooooo important Going for an easy thumbs up. Must come down steeply. Our albergue. Chapel where we r staying.

Love how some homes are done up. Probably 184km or so to go. YAAAAA Absolutely beautiful country side. Could live here. Trying to find our albergue. Going downhill steep and we better not need to come back up. Yup we had to come back up a bit.

We are high. About 1550 meters. Someone carved this into a tree. Very nicely done.

A typical rocky path Started to rain on the descent.

Trail side provisions Beautiful bell tower with life sized figures banging the bells Cathedral in Astorga

Templar castle. Ponneferada Our early morning companion.

Making wishes by the iron cross

As of today we are less than 300 km.

The Camino is an alternating experience: but lest anyone feel it’s one big party: let me correct you. Poor sleep in crowded bunkie rooms…snoring, farting, moving, and getting up early. The occasional private room is a must to maintain sanity. Feet are really a...

Leon is a psychiatrist married to Frauke his GP wife. He was quite pleased to visit this beautiful city center. Leon has a spectacular cathedral. We all agreed we liked it better than the one in Burgos as good as that one was. it had a more pleasing serenity. I think...

It’s a bit of milestone. We will have a look at its monastery and there is a Gaudi building tho I don’t think it’s one of his best. Not too many pics today. The walk was about 27km but while perfectly fine we’ve seen a lot of the views before. All that said I did do a...

First the scenery was much better and we finally went past the halfway mark and got our certificate to prove it. Quite a good feeling. We still have 2 in our group that may quit: they r currently taking taxis to the end points to try and recover a bit. It’s hard to...

But tomorrow we walk past Sahagun the middle of the Camino. there we can get a certificate for completing the half. Feels a little like a gold star in grade school. Can’t wait to get it tho. People are starting to stop now. Some are going home or at least seriously...

Was a little tired yesterday so I didn’t post. We are in the thick of the meseta. This is about a 5 day hike where sound minded and able bodied people crack or make it. Wish me luck. Yesterday was 36 km of dirt road and wheat. Today was 20 km of dirt road beside a...

Was a great walking day out of Burgos. Sun was hot and bright. Found a place to stay in Hontanas. Feet very sore: ankles and feet slightly swollen. Will walk about 35 km tomorrow Working quite hard to do this walk. While many people do it: I promise you it’s not easy....

Beautifully kept with a great social ambiance. The highlight is the cathedral. Extravagant is the word that comes up mind. One can’t help but be impressed : that said I prefer the small and simple churches. For me the small ones have more charm.

Exhausted. 37.6km 45,972 steps. 10hours with a 40 min break in the middle somewhere. Everything is sore. The price of an epic walk. Quite an odd thing to do but one does it with others and somehow it has a meaning. 1 beer and 3 glasses of wine followed at dinner....

Walked into a headwind for most of the day. Will likely be early to bed. Having a rest midway The gang settling in for dinner

Walked 24 km. The scenery was different yet kind of the same and the weather was very good. Was with my group. We talked amongst ourselves and tried to come up with a program to end the Ukraine war… if only. That said I felt like I was walking with a bit of an unclear...

Relatively flat so not bad at all. Walked with my groupies. We mostly reconnected today serendipitously. Funny that you can go a day or two and not see anybody then everyone appears. Great to catch up. Head is good, legs are good, feet are starting to feel the effects...

A cutie That was also windy. Large steel pilgrims walking in the wind. You can see the windmills in the back.

This morning was up and down in the hills of rioja wine country but declined a bit to a not so interesting walk. Tired today. Only a few pics. almost 1/4 done. Little stone people Not sure what these are but I see quite a few. Maybe shelters for field hands. Entering...

Hardest I’ve ever done by far. I was passed by a few but I also passed some. Had to stop several times to catch breath. Rain and wind whole time. But better than if it was heat. Beautiful countryside.   For some reason I can’t add ois now. Will...

Nice and cool outside and sunny.

I’m trying out these new toe socks to help prevent blisters. So far so good. Toe socks are liners and then wool socks over them.