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My Camino
  • Sara Shelbourn
  • Sara Shelbourn

My Camino

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Uusin ensin
  • Matkan aloitus
    8. toukokuuta 2024
  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Pamplona

    9. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Pamplona is another green city with historic walled fortifications and great views on all sides. Plus found interesting managerie! First stay in Albergue close to the cathedral in the old part of town. Busy place with group youngsters and oldies like us too!! Sleeping in dormitories will take a little getting used to …. it was noisy as expected …. did manage to zone it out … but will def feel sleep deprived today!!!Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
    1
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    First days walking!

    9. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    So had leisurely start to the day and took few Km walking to get clear of Pamplona. Then gradual climb turning more acute to the top of nearby hill (felt like mountain- so glad we didn’t start it Pyrenees!!).
    We had gently whirring wind turbines alongside us and lots of pleasant fields and flowers. Lovely view from top and then treacherous descent, very glad not raining! down to where we’re staying tonight in Albergue in Uterga after just over 18km. Different style Albergue as more rural and communal dinner with other guests. Just relaxing in hammocks in garden in lovely post heat of the day temperature 😊    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Second day walking

    10. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We left the Albergue about 8 this morning feeling rested despite the snoring! Although breakfast was 6 - 7am!
    We were straight into stunning panoramic scenery and gentle paths, passing the odd wild camper! We passed through picturesque villages with beautiful old churches, with links to the Templar Knights. As we only planned 15km today, we took slight detour to some high monastery remains, and had a break surrounded by wonderful wild flowers and watching birds of prey soaring on the thermals. We did have some steep parts but it was mostly gentle slopes to our next Auberge in the hilltop village Cirauqui. After an early communal supper, we went to a choral concert in the local church. It was atmospheric and despite not understanding a word, very enjoyable.Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Third day walking!

    11. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    After very disturbed night (lots of snoring!) we set off about 8 in lovely weather and down from the hilltop village. Again we passed by lush fields and villages with lovely churches. It was 25 degrees and the rucksacks make us hot and work harder! We stopped for tea and coffee of course and lunch in Estella, which has lovely old town with impressive churches. In some places the way was very steep, in others more undulating. One intriguing thing was passing the wine fountain… it’s a tradition to drink a little wine as you pass, I duly obliged! But we made it to our welcoming Albergue in Axqueta after 24.5 Km! And it’s nice not to have bunk beds 😊
    It’s a small Albergue and we had friendly communal supper with people from Germany, France, Italy and Finland. We’ve also so far chatted to folk from Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and even good old Blighty!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 4 walking!

    12. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We had more leisurely start at 8.30 this morning as our wonderful host Elena, had lovely help yourself to breakfast, permitting multiple cups of green tea 😊
    The walking today involved few steep bits but mainly gentle slopes and passing lots of lush fields. We met couple of nice Brits to walk and chat with for couple of hours, and we bumped into people we’ve met previously at the Albergue or while walking, which somehow makes the world feel smaller and the Camino less daunting!
    We passed through historic Los Arcos and stopped for a break and watched/heard the locals being called with bells to church in their Sunday finery! The scenery is breathtaking with lots of wild flowers especially poppies.
    As we were ambling along in the final stretch, a circadian flew past me landing on plant, so I stopped to bend down to photograph it and managed to topple over onto my back/rucksack like a turtle on its back!! Very funny and no harm done, lesson learnt, don’t lean or bend to far with heavy rucksack!!
    So we walked about 21 miles to our Albergue in Sansol, another high village with lots of old buildings. The Albergue appears to be a converted palace with wonderful ancient stairs and super terrace and outdoor space. The communal dinner was little unusual with spontaneous Korean song and American singing with a guitar! And the sun sets on another interesting day,    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
    1

    Day 5 walking

    13. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    We had lovely view from our dormitory window of the rising sun, we were first to arrive yesterday and so could chose our beds, and the last to leave just after 8!
    Initial downward walk and then steep climb into Torres des Rio with another beautiful old church.
    We then had mixture of gentle inclines and some steep climbs to Viana, where we met with a friend (Sarah) who is walking with us for a few days - so we were 2 and are now 3 which 😊
    Viana is another old town with cathedral being renovated. On the way there we also passed a sort of shrine with piles of stacked stones with photos and names of presumed lost loved ones, very poignant, and a tree full of lots of different national flags. And just before one hill, in a shady spot with picnic tables, a Spanish chap was playing his guitar and serenading all the passing walkers/pilgrims, most stopped to listen for few minutes as did we. The Spanish have been very welcoming and we have passed refreshments tables where kind locals have put out fruit and snacks and drinks and just asked for a donation.
    After the 3 of us left Viana, the landscape subtly changed and included more scrubland and trees, and also olive groves and vine fields, signalling we were leaving the Navarre region and crossing into La Rioja. We walked onto Logrono which is a large city and so we passed quite an industrial area on the way in and the walk was less interesting. I had booked the 3 of us a private room rather than beds in a dorm, feels like luxury! And we’ve just been out for a nice dinner and now listening to the rain!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
    12

    Day 6 walking!

    14. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We had a lot of noisy rain last night and left Logrono in the drizzle, didn’t last long but at least we have now used our wet weather gear! Leaving Logrono was bit dull as the way was parallel to main road but eventually the way moved into greener and more pleasant land with lots of vine fields with the red clay soil very evident. Yesterday’s path included a stretch known as the ‘knee wrecker’ but so far my knees have been ok 🤞famous last words!! Although I do have a bruised big toe from going down steep slope on day 1 !
    We stopped for lunch in Naverette but there was cool breeze, and despite the lovely veg soup, we didn’t linger. It was a gentle climb again near a main road in places, to our current village of Ventosa after walking about 24 Km today. We did pass some interesting features including stork on large high nest, and the remains of a pilgrim hospital from 12th century. We’re at an interesting Albergue, the host is hospitable but sent us down the road to the local cafe for dinner, where we watched a lightning storm and the little road turned into a river! Hopefully we’ll have better weather tomorrow!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 8 walking!

    16. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    The Albergue is very quirky and run by Pedro with a 13 year old rescue dog and a cat that snuggles up to the dog, very cute!
    Pedro made us all individual omelette for breakfast, and guessing he’s either a retired priest or lay preacher, as he put his hand on our heads individually and blessed us on our way. Also at a previous Albergue, the host Eleena rang a bell as we left and rang it and waved until we were out of sight. Some very kind hosts.
    Today’s first part of the walk was mostly down hill with undulating country side and cool breeze. We stopped for break in Santo Domingo which had beautiful cathedral. Here sadly my friend Sarah had to leave us and get a bus back as on early flight out tomorrow, and now we are two again.
    The rest of the day we walked through various small hamlets all with lovely churches, and rolling countryside but often alongside the N-120 main road, so apart from some encouraging beeps from truckers (?!) the traffic and road made the walk noisy and little dull. The final stretch is always the hardest but we made it to the Albergue after about 26 Km …. Shorter distance planned for tomorrow!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 9 walking!

    17. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Last night’s Albergue was like a road side cafe with a few rooms above. The food was good and the room was dated but it was only two of us in the room (no bunks hooray!) and only 4 walkers in the whole place, another Brit and a Kiwi.
    Forgot to mention that yesterday we left the Rioja region and passed into Castille and Leon, so we have left the red soil behind us now!
    We had pleasant undulating walk with threatening clouds, to our first tea break at Belorado, which is lovely town with cathedral and caves built into rocks behind it and lovely selection of street art murals featuring the Camino.
    After this stop, the weather dominated the rest of the day with drizzle, then sun, then drizzle, rain, little hail and sun at varying intervals! One of the dirt tracks turn to gluppy sticky mud which was little hard going, but otherwise the 20km was relatively ok with with gentle inclines and some bits by main road. Our Albergue tonight is in Villafranca and attached to a nice hotel, so nice surroundings but in bunks in a small dorm!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
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    Day 10 walking!

    18. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    So we had nice meal in the hotel restaurant last night, very civilised set menu and then in bed/bunks by 9.30 -everyone is exhausted! We were in a room with 4 sets bunk beds but only had 5 of us in there so 3 top bunks empty, and so far Fiona has kindly taken the top bunk, well she is younger than me! But tonight we arrived little late and there were only top bunks left, so I will be experiencing trying to sleep on top bunk tonight!!
    So we walked about 25 Km today, leaving Villafranca with threatening clouds above as we tackled quite steep hill first thing, the viewing point was at 1,120m and was covered with dense pine forest. The path continued up and down with rather oppressive pines and no villages for 12 Km. After lunch, the way was at a lower level and the surrounding more gentle although forested it had glades with beautiful wild flowers and then we came across cows with young calves. We also had little drizzle on and off. We also walked past queue for convent Albergue in one village, well …. the rucksack were in the queue! The rest of the walk included another hill with cross on top until we arrived at our destination here at our quirky Albergue in Cardeñuela Riopico.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
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    Day 11 walking!

    19. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    I survived sleeping on top bunk last night 😊 but couldn’t get comfy! It was also very cold, the radiators were on in the dorm and it was about 5 degrees this morning, think this area is quite high up. Also lady in dorm in wheelchair who broke her leg on 2nd day, she slipped on wet stones, her husband is carrying on and she’s getting taxi to next Albergue!
    We left quite early this morning to walk the 14 Km into Burgos, initially along quite country roads, then around small airport and along the side of the river and through parkland into town. We’re having rest day here and spending two nights in cheap hotel (hooray no bunk beds!) and regrouping to plan rest of trip. Also just had lovely hot bath, my legs are not too bad but my feet have started to complain by the end of the day! Apparently Burgos has most beautiful cathedral in Spain!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Rest day!

    20. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    So it was wonderful to have half of yesterday and all of today as rest and recovery time - think we needed it!
    But we’ve been busy, both of us are walking in trail running shoes which are wearing out the tread, so we both bought inserts to extend life of current shoes plus new shoes, as current pair will not take us all the way to Santiago! Bit more shopping for odds and ends, so expensive morning!
    Then we started mammoth task of booking rest of our accommodation to Santiago …. we had hoped to walk and then stop and find somewhere to stay …. but so many are already full, plus it means you really need to rush to get there in time etc. booking in advance permits you to take your time and enjoy the way.
    But we did also make the time to visit the world heritage recognised cathedral in Burgos and it really is incredibly impressive! Burgos used to be the capital and seat of the kings of the region many years ago and this is clearly demonstrated in the outstanding splendour and richness of the cathedral, the stone carvings and the paintings and the very elaborate decorated ceilings were astonishing! I’m not sure the photos do it justice but I have included some any way. In fact Burgos is a very pleasant city with green spaces and interesting street art.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 12 walking!

    21. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    We left the comfort of our hotel early-ish this morning and our rucksacks felt heavier from yesterday’s shopping! We had some lovely views of Burgos as we left, plus lots of street art en route. We walked along quiet country roads and into rolling countryside passing pretty villages, fields, wild flowers, nesting storks and birdsong. The way climbed relatively gently as we passed into the Maseta, and then down more steeply into Hornillos after about 22km. The Albergue seems nice enough and there’s a party here from Korea. I can currently smell the paella cooking!Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 13 not walking!

    21. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Super paella last night!
    But my bruised big toe was really painful yesterday and throbbing overnight, so decided this morning to get it checked out. As we were staying in small village of Hornillos, had to get a taxi back to Burgos which took about 30 mins and us over 6 hours to walk yesterday!!
    My suspicion was confirmed when the doctor told me it was infected, so have got antibiotic cream and tablets etc, very efficient system at A&E and was prob in and out in just over an hour! Isn’t Google translate marvellous?!! Getting back to town was less efficient, but that was my fault, wish my Spanish was better!
    My friend Fiona carried on walking today and I’m meeting her at our accommodation later. I was told to not walk for 2-3 days, so will be taking the bus to our pre booked accommodation and see how it goes. The doctor told me to buy bigger shoes, I didn’t argue but I already bought larger than normal…. don’t think it’s the shoes but the number of Km we’re covering!
    The next bus to our next stop at Castrojeriz is not until 5, so after chilling in cafe, I have taken refuge in the public library to kill time, as I don’t want to walk about that much. So I’ve taken few more photos in Burgos of some things that caught my eye plus the enormous chicken paella from last night!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 14 not walking

    23. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    So it was nice modern Albergue La Riconada last night in Castrojeriz, with lovely warm and welcoming hosts, although didn’t get there until 6.45pm! Lovely pilgrims dinner, salad and then roast chicken 1/4 and Spanish rice 😊 and nice company, met interesting Americans who also dislike Trump!
    Comfy modern bunks and I was on the bottom.
    I washed and dried washing in machines early this morning ready for 9am shared taxi with couple of others to our next stop at Poblacion de campos. We’re in private twin room of a hostel but seems more like family hotel, nice fluffy towels and sheets. Spent lazy day sorting out accommodation further along and various odds and ends with rucksack etc, and little siesta! When in Rome …..
    While Fiona walked here unencumbered by her rucksack which I had taken. So today only few photos of Albergue view from window, and nearby church this morning and couple from taxi on way, plus new walking shoes at request of Steph and Julia!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 15 not walking!

    24. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    So had lovely seafood paella last night while chatting to California mum and son and Swiss lady from Zurich. It’s surprisingly cold at night here down to 4 or 5 degrees! So morning and evenings are chilly, even if it warms up in the middle of the day!
    I got a taxi this morning which I shared a with chap from Hong Kong, had very interesting chat with him on way to next stop. Again took Fiona’s rucksack with me while she walked the sane distance!
    I arrived early at the Albergue Esperitu Santo which you cannot book in advance, and joined short queue and was checked in by nun by 10.30am. It’s a converted convent run by nuns and has a very serene and tranquil atmosphere, best bit is no bunks and single gender dorms and facilities !! It’s the little things that matter!
    Had leisurely stroll in the welcome sunshine, around the pretty and historic town of Carrion de los Condes, nearly every town has the ancient remains of a pilgrim hospital…. so injuries en route are nothing new! I did succumb to buying warm light fleece top as didn’t bring enough warm clothes, don’t laugh girls!
    Just had very strange occurrence …. it’s quiet and lights out by 10pm ….. and the head nun just came round checking (at 9.45pm) and closing the window!! No idea why …. perhaps because we didn’t go to the 5pm service …..
    So antibiotics are doing grande job and my toe is improving 😊 but probably still needs bit more rest, so have booked taxi again for tomorrow morning. I’ve included some photos of the dorm, all the mattresses and pillows have plastic covering and they give you paper disposable sheet and pillow for them. Surprisingly there are large contingent of Koreans and Japanese walking the Camino and they do live to cook their own food if there is an Albergue kitchen they can use.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 16 not walking!

    25. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    So I took a taxi by myself in the end, another chap was planning to go with me, he’s resting due to losing toe nail, but he was too unwell to travel. We’ve been refilling our water bottles from bought mineral water and just today several people have complained of upset tums, so we’ll be continuing our safer strategy!
    So I’ve checked into modern purpose built Albergue in Terradillos de los Templarios, obviously linked the Templar Knights. We have private twin room 😊
    One of the surprises to me, has been the mix of nationalities walking the Camino, prob approx 1/3 are from the East (Asia or the Orient), another 1/3 from America and last 1/3 from Europe, with scattering of antipodeans too! All seem willing to help others, although it’s very tricky when there is no common language and the culture is so different as we’ve seen with the Koreans. So there is good camaraderie and we do keep bumping into same people in different places or en route! One of the challenges in sharing a dorm is that a lot of people like to get up and start walking very early, and although they make an effort to be quiet, 3/4 of our dorm had left before 6am this morning!!!
    So my toe is improving every day and I did 5km test walk locally after I checked in, it feels ok but doesn’t look great, so I’m little unsure when to start walking again.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
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    Day 17 not walking!

    26. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    I decided that as the infection in my big toe is still tender, the infection must still be present and so frustratingly I didn’t walk today. I will give it another couple of days on antibiotics and if still not gone, see a doctor again.
    So I shared taxi with Spanish chap who has walked the Camino 8 times previously and never known it as cold as it is this year! The taxi driver also picked up two hitch hiking pilgrims who were suffering leg and back issues en route, couple of French ladies who spend fortnight walking stages of the Camino each year but started back in Puy in France.
    I’ve checked into lovely small family run Albergue in Calzadilla de los Hermanillos, we’re now just over halfway to Santiago!! Not long after I got here, a young Kiwi girl came in asking for a box, she had found a healthy stray very young kitten walking along the road, no mum anywhere. Others said to leave it, but she couldn’t and was planning to take it with her and take it to a refuge in Leon tomorrow, shut today as Sunday. So I helped her rig up carrying bag using old bum bag I wasn’t using, and she got rice and put it into old cloth bag I had (for my flip flops) to make microwaved heat pad so the kitten would settle in the bag, it was clearly cold and prob between 2-4 weeks old and so cute 🥰 she will keep me posted on her progress walking with it for 2 days! Or if difficult, take a taxi.
    We’re in small village that’s biggest claim to fame is the Roman road that went through it that it still used, plus small nature reserve with some little ponds full of very noisy frogs!! There is also an old clothes washing place and a storks nest with 3 young, but I could only get 2 in the photo! Plus some rather kitch tea cup covers served to us here!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 18 not walking!

    27. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    You will be pleased to know that yesterdays kitten was successfully delivered last night to Leon university vet clinic and is safe and well there 😊
    So today I took the bus to Mansilla de las Mulas with couple of German ladies, the bus took the scenic route through lots of villages off the beaten track, which was interesting but somewhat bumpy ride! Very agricultural with mountains in the distance.
    So we’re checked into fairly modern Albergue and currently sitting in the sun in the garden enjoying the tranquility, although sparrows flying very close!
    This town has 12th century fortifications and the old city wall is still visible in places with houses built into it or alongside, but the town has a ‘down at heel’ feel about it and has obviously seen better days.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 19 rest day!

    28. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    As today the way was along side the main road and not very inspiring, Fiona joined me in getting the bus to Leon as rest day and we’ve played tourist all day. Plus as Leon is large place, I’ve bought some walking sandals and will wear them with socks and walk half the way to next stage tomorrow🤞Wearing them with socks is recommended and the sandals don’t touch the nail bed of my big toe, I’ve tried them this afternoon and we’ll have to see how it goes tomorrow!
    So we visited the 13th century Leon cathedral which has magnificent stain glass windows and fantastic gothic masonry and underwent massive maintenance and structural repairs in the 18th century - all very impressive!
    We also did train trip round the city which was fun and enjoyed the sunny weather and eating outside. Leon is lovely vibrant and green city, quite buzzy atmosphere, and we bumped into others pilgrims we’ve met before, which is nice.
    We’re in a hostel right in the centre of town, and very noisy from the outdoor cafes, ear plugs tonight!!
    We’re in bunk beds again and sharing small 4 bed room with 2 New Zealand ladies, and on the top bunk - no choice but to just get on with it! Buenos noches!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 20 walking!

    29. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    So having bought walking sandals in León, today I started walking again - hooray!!
    As the first 8.5Km was walking out of urban Leon, we opted to get the bus out to La Virgen del Camino, and started walking from there, it was nice to see urban Leon disappearing behind as we went forward into the countryside side again.
    There have been various stages of the Camino where it rather boringly follows the road and there are alternative green routes which are more interesting and we took one of those. It was so nice to be walking again and seeing the wild flowers including wild lavender, and the birds, and hearing a cuckoo again today! There were mountains to the right/north of us with what looked like snow on top ?!
    We passed through couple of villages and after 14km arrived at our Albergue San Antonio Padua in Villar de Mazarife and have lovely cool private room and bathroom - bliss!
    It’s a village with a shop and a few Albergues and we sat and eat an ice cream watching the world go by! Because this village is slightly off the normal Camino route, it is quieter and we had lovely communal meal prepared by the friendly hosting family. I think the Camino must bring welcome revenue to some very quiet villages.
    It was good to do a shorter walk today and I took it fairly slowly in my new walking sandals - must confess, never imagined wearing socks and sandals before - not the greatest look!!!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja
    111

    Day 21 walking!

    30. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We started the walk in relatively nice temperature and were welcomed by the sound of a cuckoo as we started down a quiet country road. There were ditches on either side with water and lots croaking frogs! They seem to have an irrigation system rigged up to water the fields, perhaps from the snow-topped mountains that we’re walking towards! We passed by agricultural land and a farmer ploughing his field with a stork taking advantage of the overturned soil behind the tractor!
    We stopped for refreshments in Villavante and either there, or en route encountered many of the other Peregrinos from our Albergue!
    We also sort lots of nesting storks en route and can’t help by photograph them!
    We walked into historic Hospital de Orbigo across very old long bridge and under lots of unusual flags. It transpires that the town is hosting a jousting tournament this weekend and the flags all had heraldic symbols and we walked past the field for the event. We stopped here for lunch and it was starting to get very hot, and as we had walked about 17km, I elected to get the bus to our next destination while Fiona continued to walk. Think it got up to about 27 degrees …. bit too hot for walking comfortably…. but my toe seems ok so far 🤞
    Tonight we’re in private room (hooray!) in Hostal Juli in San Justo de La vega, about 3.5 Km before Astorga, after which we head into a mountainous area. We left the Meseta behind several days ago and so far the way has just been undulating, but it will get steeper again very soon!    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 22 walking!

    31. toukokuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    We ate our dinner last night in the Hostal and combined tables to eat with the other Peregrinos there, another Brit, a French lady who had cycled from Dijon originally towing her dog in a trailer but bad weather forced her to ask a friend to look after the dog, a French chap and a man from Taiwan who wanted to be completely disassociated with any groups of Koreans!!!
    We had some strange conversations and my French has come in very handy!
    We set off to another day of glorious blue sky as we headed out on the way, although we could see heavy ominous grey clouds in the distance over the looming mountains!
    We followed a road initially into Astorga, sort of market town size place with nice cathedral and castle type place by Gaudi. As we left Astorga, we’re passing into the mountains of Leon which will then lead us into Galicia. The way turned into a dirt track surrounded by mixture of farmland, scrub and trees but nearly always wild flowers at the edge and happy bird song including the enchanting cuckoo! It was a hot day, not as hot as yesterday and we had cool mountain breeze. We climbed gently and passed through quite a few villages and took every opportunity to stop and have a cold drink and rest for a bit. We climbed gently to just over 1,100m to our destination Albergue La Senda at Rabanal del Camino after about 24 Km. Nice enough Albergue but back to bunks! Lovely old village with cobbled streets and old buildings.
    I’m getting on ok with the walking sandals and socks, but the track is very dusty and the dust is clearly visible on my blue socks when I take the sandals off!! My toe felt fine walking today, but possibly it was little too far and doesn’t look good tonight. Tomorrow is the climb to the highest point of the Camino and the iron cross but I may share a taxi with an American lady who has bad knee (and can hardly walk) instead of walking up and down. I think going up would be ok for me, but the hardest bit is the steep downward path.    Lue lisää

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  • Sara ShelbournMy CaminoMatkaaja

    Day 23 not walking!

    1. kesäkuuta 2024, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Decided to take the taxi with Linda first thing, stunning panorama as the taxi climbed to the Iron Cross at 1,505m. We got out at the top and joined short queue to take our turn at the Iron Cross. The tradition is that you lay a stone at the base of the cross to either leave a burden there or to remember a loved one. A very kind friend gave me a small stone from Dorset beach but I unfortunately managed not to pack it - sorry Clare! So I laid a virtual stone for my dad, Bettie and Kitty, and Alexis, uncle John, uncle Tom, aunty Mini and Nanny - no longer in this world but for ever in our hearts ♥️
    The area around the Iron Cross was atmospheric and felt on top of the world, and included a large sun dial and small chapel. Some of the Korean party that we keep bumping into, were also there, and an older Korean gentleman starting spontaneously singing Ave María, which was unexpected but lovely and he received applause in appreciation.
    The downward taxi ride was again stunning scenery as we went over the mountain and into the next valley but unfortunately there was no where to stop and take photos!
    I arrived at our destination Albergue Senor Oso in Molinaseca too early to check in and explored this historic medieval place, with narrow streets and overhanging bits. There is lovely pilgrim bridge which is based on a Roman bridge and we’re in small Albergue in bunks! The host Jose is very nice and runs the bakers next door. I was asking him about perhaps seeing a doctor and explained my big toe issue, and he suggested I see the local pharmacist. He also kindly prepared a bowl of cold salt water for me. The pharmacist was very helpful and felt sure that 10 days of antibiotics had got rid of the infection but I just need to protect the toe, continue ibuprofen to reduce inflammation, raise it and ideally ice it. So I shall be walking tomorrow 😊
    Fiona completed today’s walk and did say the downhill part was not fun at all, but obviously the views were fantastic at the top!    Lue lisää

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