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Camino 2023
  • Charmaine Cole
  • Charmaine Cole

Camino 2023

After 5 years, Lyn and I are heading back to do the whole Camino Frances. This time we are working at getting aware from the touristy side of things. Read more
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  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    Leaving at dusk and looking back.2A view of where we were heading to.1This is where everyone puts their household rubbish, no individual bins.Going through a lovely little village called Los Acros, where we can breakfast.

    Day 9

    August 30, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Villamajor de Jardin to Torres 20ks.
    Left 6.45am 1.45pm.
    It was an easy walk, we had lunch 1k from Torres of cheese, jam on a baguette.

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    The moon was full as we left this morning before daybreak.
    A little altar.1

    Day 10

    August 31, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    Torres to Lorgrono
    Left 6.45 am arrived 1.45 pm.
    Walked 20k today.
    The sun certainly came out today, and the last 5ks seemed to take forever. The terrain was more difficult today, very steep places with scoria, but we made it. We are staying in a public Albergue with men and women segregated. 16 in our room the same number as yesterday.
    10 days down and 30 days to go.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    A squirrel.
    1Looking at where we came from this morning.1A bull on a hillside.Coming into Navarrete. Population of around 2,000.The grapes are lovely and sweet.2Does anybody know this wine.

    Day 11

    September 1, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Left Logrono 6.45 am arrived Navarrete 11.45am
    12.5ks today. It is our rest day.
    Very little signposts to show the way out of Navarete this morning. It took 45 minutes to get out to the city fringe. We walked mostly on paved footpaths today, very hard on our feet. We need to get some washing up to date and have time to rejuvenate.
    We have noticed that the locals are very helpful, and even though the language barrier is there, we get ourselves understood. Lots of laughter.
    We are managing with our packs really we now we don't have the intense heat.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    1Here we are having a delicious dinner. I had Paella and Lyn had Tortillie.

    Navarrete

    September 1, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌩️ 21 °C

    Another village on a steep hillside.
    All the churches are massive, and the decorations inside are over the top.
    While we waited for our accommodation to open, we had a delicious lunch, bacon, and eggs. Every pilgrim meal consists of hot chips with a piece of meat, not inviting at all.
    We are staying at Bein Camino Hostal in a private room with proper beds and our own bathroom, with a full-size towel. It is glorious.
    We had just finished dinner when the thunderstorm and rain started. We can hear rolling thunder, love it.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    One minute, the ground was dry, then it was flooded.

    Day 12

    September 2, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Left Navarrete 6.45 arrived Azfroa 12 noon
    14k today.
    Lyn and I have been through the most incredible thunderstorm we have ever had, thunder, ⛈️ lightning 🌩 hail. The lightning was red in colour. The rain fell in torrents, thank goodness we managed to get our ponchos on before it hit us. We did turn back for a while, then realised it was moving away from where we were heading.
    We managed to get to Ventosa, where we caught a taxis to Njaera and then walked in the rain to Azfroa, where we will stay the night.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler

    Ventosa

    September 2, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Arrived 8.50am
    Having hot chocolate to warm us up while waiting for a taxis to take us to the next Njaera as the thunderstorms are here for the day.

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    Lovely Albergue.
    Our room for 2.

    Azofra

    September 2, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Walked in the pouring rain. We are wet and cold. Sheltering a cafe while we wait for our Albergue to open.

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    1

    Day 13

    September 3, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Left Azfroa 6.50 am arrived at Granon 1.50 pm.
    21ks
    As usual, we left in the dark and, at the beginning, very little signs to show us the way, but we made it. It was a low steep climb on an overcast day. Once we reached the top, the terrain was rolling. Had a bit to eat at San Domingo before carrying on. Found a pharmacy and got something for my hayfever.
    This part of Spain must be where they grow Sunflowers for everybody. They are everywhere.
    We are both tired, so we have decided to lie in tomorrow, so the alarm is set for 6.30 am instead of 6 am.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler

    Granon

    September 3, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    A small pretty village. We have accommodation in an original Albergue.

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    More Sunflowers
    11The hay vales are huge.First time on this walk we have seen Cranes nesting.1ReceptionOutside garden where we had dinner.Chicken wing.We shared Chicken wings and a cheeseboard for dinner with a glass of white wine.

    Day 14

    September 4, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Left Granon 7.30 am arrived 1.45 pm.
    It was a reasonably easy walk today after a couple of climbs. The time passed very quickly as we walked with Kate and Harry, an Aussie couple who live close to Perth.Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    Meet Kate and Harry, they live close to Perth.

    Villamayor dei Roi

    September 4, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Breakfast here. A very pretty and clean village.

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    1

    Belorado

    September 4, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Another very clean village. It is their last day of Fiesta, celebrating the last day of summer. It's called the Festival of the Onions. You will see in the pics groups of families sharing a meal together. Apparently, around 11 pm, they have a big parade, and they burn onions! They are playing music and having fun. We were going into the square to sit and watch, but there is a thunderstorm happening, so I think we will stay put in our Albergue.
    The flower boxes are all so pretty.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    1

    Day 15 - rest day

    September 5, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Left Belorado 7.45 am arrived at Villafranco Montes de Oca 12 o'clock.
    Only 11.5k
    By the time we arrived, it was getting quite hot.
    It was an easy terrain today and so we were able to take our time. The landscape is still covered with sunflowers. My hayfever is under control but still have itchy eyes and a cough.
    I haven't mentioned before, but we have helped ourselves to the blackberries that grow wild along the way. They are deviously sweet. The fig trees here are really large, and of course, I've had my share of those, too. There are also apple and pear trees, but I haven't come across anything ripe yet. 😕    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler

    Day 16

    September 6, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Left Villafranca Montes De Oca at 7 am arrived Atapuerca 1.15 pm.
    18k hike today.
    We were half dreading today as we had been told how steep and hard the climb was going to be. Well, what a surprise, we didn't find it that difficult at all. Yes, it was a long, slow climb, but we had certainly had a lot worse. Today's walk was mainly through the pine forest, which we found very pleasant. There were lots of mosquitoes, though. I thought we had seen the last of the sunflowers, but alas, no.
    Late this afternoon, we are going out to the archeological dig.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler

    St Juan de Ortega

    September 6, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Lovely Cafe. We had English Breakfast tea with milk, absolutely heaven. We also shared a ham and cheese toasted sandwich. This is really the first place that serves a mixture of food. Walked with Gerry, an English lady, for a time today.
    The total population of this village is 20.    Read more

  • Charmaine ColeCamino 2023Traveler
    Our quaint accommodation.
    2Beds are very close but at least we have curtains for privacy, very flash.1

    Atapuerca

    September 6, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our accommodation is very different from anything we have experienced so far.
    Went to the archeological dig this evening. Every interesting to see where they are digging but sadly wasn't able to understand the commentary, as it was in Spain. But we will go to the museum in Burgos and get a better understanding of what it is all about.Read more

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