Sorry I haven’t got around to keep you up to date. It’s seems my day is full of walking eating and sleeping!
So after a delayed start from Melbourne (plane was delayed 4hours) I left at 1:30am. Because of the delay I had to cancel Bordeaux as I was now being re routed via Doha for 20 hours! Then onto Paris.
They put me up in a lovely hotel in Doha and organised a private chauffeur for a three hour tour, so that was all very nice.
I didn’t stop in Paris but caught a connecting flight straight to Barritz.
I stayed over night there and went onto St Jean Pied de Port the next morning.
St Jean is a beautiful town with steep hills and narrow streets.
Made a couple of friends one from Colorado and one from Montano.
We walked sort of together for a few days, but then they were having a rest day and I moved on.
My second night was in a monastery in a dormitory with 99 other pilgrims! We were in sleeping pods of 4. So I slept with a Canadian man beside me, a Italian man above me, and a Korean man above the Canadian. Very strange start to my walk. They were all good and no snorers.
We awoke to snow all around the next day. Very pretty but oh so cold.
Zubiri was my next stop. After my huge 24k first day walk, I only managed 20k and caught a taxi for the last 5k.
I really didn’t see much of the town apart from the restaurant for dinner and the lovely old bridge as we were leaving for Pamplona.
Pamplona wasn’t quite what I expected. A bit dirty looking although to be fair they were doing a lot of upgrades. The bull ring was horrible and I didn’t go in on principle. Horrid sport.
Next day was lovely pleasant walking to a town called Utega. Here I decided to have my own room for a quiet night sleep. It was bliss.
After breakfast I met up with my friends Cynthia and Marsha from the first day. So we headed out together.
Today the walk was up and down but then we came across a hill from hell.
From bottom to top it took us 2 and a half hours. Our lungs and legs were burning by the time we reached the top. There were tears and swear words from us all.
Thankfully it was only another 800 metres downhill to our next accommodation at Maneru.
Enjoyed walking to Estella apart from the last kilometre where I took a tumble on some rocks. Sprained my ankle and hurt my hip. Luck was on my side and a young French man helped me hobble into town. I was well looked after by the hostel staff and other pilgrims.
They next day I really was in a lot of pain and I was advised to catch a bus to Burgos and see the hospital. As this was the closest place I bussed 100 kilometres.
Nothing broken and the sprain wasn’t too bad. So I gave myself a two day break.
Burgos was a beautiful town with a Cathedral that was opulence plus.
After my rest days I was ready to start walking again. I planned to do a few short 10k days until all was good again.
Tardajos was my next stop very easy flat walking.
The following day I took a taxi for first 5k as it was all up hill. Then walked the other 5k into Hornillos. We had a great night in the hostel at the pilgrims meal as most of the group were Irish and so many good laughs.
The next day we all set off and the next 10k seem to fly by. I walked mainly with an Irish lady called Miriam.
We ended up at the same hostel for the night in Hontanas.
Yesterday we walked in beautiful green rolling hills but mainly flat walking. We passed beautiful old ruins of churches and convents.
Miriam had a rest day today and I walked onto Boadilla. Tonight I’m sleeping in luxury as I booked into a hotel.
Today I also got my first bloody blister!! I thought I was doing so well too. I think what has happened was I was favouring my left foot as my right hip is still a bit sore.
Tomorrow I will only walk 5k and see how it holds up by the time I get to Fromista.
I will add some photos in the order of my writing so hopefully you can work out where I was.
I’d like to share with you all an update I’ve just posted to my Camino group.
So where will I start.. from the beginning I suppose.
My Camino hasn’t been what I had planned
My original thought plan was to do the 100ks from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela.
Yet, in my stupid stubbornness I went ahead and committed to St Jean Pied de Port start, because I wanted to say I climbed the Pyrenees. Which I did in a round about way. The mountain was closed, so we had a detour around and up the Pyrenees.
No regrets there, as that night at Bellari was something I’ll remember for ever. Thank you to the two Joseph’s. It’s also where I met my first Camino family Cynthia, Marsha you were my rocks.
Knowing my capabilities, I walked until 5k short of Roncesvalles and called a taxi for that last bit. I have no guilt in that.
Onwards I marched, meeting a lovely lady called Kathleen and we walked together for a long time.
I was enjoying seeing Irises along the way, I knew my Mum was with me. She always bought me Iris flowers or crockery with Iris on them.
I even got two butterflies following me for awhile, so I know Ian and Mum were with me at that time.😢💕
I conquered hills and rocky roads and was really enjoying my Camino.
Until just before Estella and down I came.... ankle, hip were so bad I had to bus onto Burgos. Where after x-rays and doctors etc I was told to rest and not walk for at least 3 days.
So back on the road I go heading towards Tardajos, where I meet my next fellow walker Miriam from Ireland. Together we travel over a 100 kilometres to Sahagun.
Where here I have to really address my blister on my heal. It’s huge and painful. To add to this I have developed the worse cold I’ve ever had.
My decision now will alter the rest of my journey. I’m too sick to keep on going the full journey, and at 67, I know my body and health issues.
Whilst I have had time to recoup in Leon, I’ve also had time to reflect.
My original plan was from Sarria, so that’s where I’m going. I will train from Leon to Sarria and start my Camino again from that last 100k.
I have enjoyed every moment and even though it hasn’t gone the way I wanted, I think it’s gone the way I need.
I look forward to you all following my final 100ks 👣👣👣👣
To all the wonderful people I have met along the way, keep on enjoying your Camino
Buen Camino 👣👣
