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David and Lara take a walk!
  • Larissa Johnson
  • David Johnson
  • Larissa Johnson
  • David Johnson

David and Lara take a walk!

Walking (or more likely sauntering) on the French Camino. Starting at Pamplona and we will see how far we get or how interesting the wine is! Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 6, 2026
  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Arrived Madrid

    September 6 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We've already walked 5500 steps and are not at our hotel yet. Stopped for a snack and a drink as we're hitting the night market this evening for a bigger meal.

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Good morning

    September 7 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Well after 10,000 steps yesterday and a lovely meal we were in bed by about 11:30pm and slept till 9am!!

    David went to fetch coffee whilst I changed, we'll the coffee was really really vile and I am rethinking my life choices for leaving my Outin behind 😥
    After breakfast we and more vile coffee we are doing a walking tour of Madrid before taking the train to Pamplona..    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!
    1

    Goodbye Madrid

    September 7 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Had a wonderful tour of beautiful Madrid even saw the oldest restaurant in the world!

    Got the traditional calamari sandwich and now about to take the train to Pamplona

    And tomorrow more than 50 000 steps await us. Hopefully my many wines tonight to celebrate my friend's birthday will not hamper us 😛Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Pamplona

    September 7 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    Uneventful trip on the train to Pamplona - although the effect of the drought can so easily be seen. It was scary watching the outside temperatures being displayed on the LED screen 36.6 then 37 something and 38.8! Well lucky for us it was a cool 36 degrees when we alighted in Pamplona. And we even took a bus to our accommodation, not a taxi!

    Very scared for our walk tomorrow.

    Gone are the luxuries of hotels for us as we try to embrace being peregrinos and use hostels. But with a caveat - mudt be private rooms. Our hostel, Aloha took us by surprise, clean, comfortable beds and pillows.

    After washing some clothes off we went to find some food and drink. Bumped into Steve from England, although he has lived here for 20 years, who tried to convince us that his friend's Michelin starred restaurant will be so much better than the restaurant next door serving a pilgrimage 3 course menu for EUR17.90.

    Guess where ate? And it was quite pleasant. Met another lady called Carmen from NZ who is also walking.

    Going yo sleep now as we plan to be out of here at 6am, hoping to beat the worst of the heat tomorrow.

    Send us luck, hugs and good coffee please.    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Good morning and goodbye

    September 8 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We woke up before the sparrows hoping to walk a bit before got too hot. Breakfast was interesting and coffee passable at least.
    It's been glorious walking before the sun came up.
    12,000 steps, 8.46km in 2.5 hours and our first hill done.
    Stopped for our first rest.    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Zariquiegui

    September 8 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Oh gosh that was hard! 17,000 steps and 2 big hills.
    Stopped in the shade and eating biltong and apples. The next hill is extremely steep and I'm not sure I can do that after just 3 hours sleep so may taxi to the top.
    Very beautiful countryside to walk in    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Arrived at our hostel

    September 8 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Arrived at Jakue Hostel in Puerta la Reina, which offers accommodation to suit all, including tree house, glamping, hostel, or hotel. Our room is a 3x2m box with bathroom and bunk beds... just perfect after 22,300 steps. Fortunately, the bar is close and buzzing with other pilgrims (walkers). Shoulders are a bit sore and only hurt once backpacks are off. We need to get up from our seats in the outdoor bar and shower, change, and prep our backpacks for another early start tomorrow. Maybe one more drink first...Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Caraqui

    September 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Pronounced see-rau-key. Unfortunately this morning was a rather late start, we needed to use the library which only opened at 8:30, and after we finished it would have been too late to walk from Puenta La Reina.

    Dinner last night was passable. Note to self: don't go to first one you find

    We got a taxi from there to this magnificent village. All higgeldy piggedy and very quaint.

    Weather much much cooler so hopefully a better walk today.

    See you later    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Sustenance

    September 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    This is typical. Walk into any tiny town (in this case, 'Rorca') and the first thing you see is "BAR". It's sustenance for body and soul!

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Lorca

    September 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    The walk is easier today as its not too hot and there is a lovely breeze.

    We passed amazing countryside and orchards of peaches, plums, olives, figs and vineyards. We entering into wine country now.

    Last night we received some sad news and I am glad we are on this walk as it has forced me out of bed and been quite healing.

    At the wine fountain I will be drinking a toast to 2 special people!    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!
    1

    Estella

    September 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    OMG!!!!! Every part of me hurts, I think even my face does
    Walked 18.10km today, but it was so difficult. Up and down the hills, on mostly loose gravel paths or 2000+ year old Roman cobbled stones.
    Our albergue was about 500m from the Camino route and I seriously thought I couldn't make it.
    Not many pictures of Estella as I didn't have the energy.
    After a drink, dinner and a very long shower I am about to collapse into bed.
    Night night 🌙    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Nearing the end

    September 10 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    A shorter day today, just 12 kms albeit in the high 20's and a very undulating terrain, although no big climbs like previous days. The highlight must have been our wine tasting experience at 9.00am when we reached the wine fountain, used by monks over the centuries to ensure "good health and vitality". Well, it would have been rude not to. We're now in Los Arcos, the kind of place you wouldn't ever visit if not walking the Comino. Very pretty in parts, but sleepy and much less commercial with just one proper restaurant whose Pilgrim's 3-course set menu was actually very good. All for €16 pp incl wine.Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Real Spain

    September 10 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Whilst walking through Los Arcos (and some other towns), we saw what appeared to be security bars on doors and garages. Latterly, we realised they were to protect properties during a bull run through the streets. Oh, and the local (house) wine wherever we've been has been terrific (unlike the coffee)!Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Goodbye Los Arcos

    September 11 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Last leg today. On our way to Logrono.

    Interesting albergue last night. Also met and dined with some other peregrinos and this morning had a breakfast of champions!

    Looking forward to Logrono, last time we were there we loved it. Also looking forward to our nice hotel and a lie in.

    See you later    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Logrono glorious Logrono!!

    September 11 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    OMG today was a shorter walk at about 11km but felt like 50km!
    The hills are hard but my gosh the downhills are worse.
    I do struggle so much with going down the hills.
    It was a good walk though and our lunch consisted of peaches, satsumas, bananas and grapes - so so delicious.
    The scenery is breathtaking and photography doesn't really capture it.
    This is our final stop. Tomorrow is a rest day, then early start with a 4 hour bus journey on Sunday morning to Madrid airport for our flight home.
    We were so excited to hear that our hotel has a jacuzzi, after coffee and shower we are heading there.
    Then tonight for a lot of Rioja and pinchos.
    This part of the Camino is now over but the rest of the Camino awaits.
    Ultreia    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Finish line

    September 11 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Arrived Logrono around 3pm today, which marks the end of our walk. We dumped our backpacks at the hotel reception and headed straight into town for 'cold drinks', knowing if we went to our room, we might not leave.
    We've visited Logrono previously and enjoyed our time here, so we are looking forward to recuperating today so that tomorrow can be an R&R day.
    We have managed the demands on our bodies reasonably well, often very sore in the evenings, and have commented more than once questioning our ability (willingness?) to walk again in the morning, only to find most aches and pains have melted away overnight.
    This was my first Camino, Larissa's second, and I get the attraction. We've spoken to pilgrims from 10 nations each with a common purpose. There is little conversation about home, jobs, or other pressing matters in the 'other' life. Conversation between pilgrims is about routes, planned stopovers, weather and accommodation, and what the Camino might have in store for us.    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Calle de Laurel

    September 11 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After jacuzzi, sauna, jacuzzi, shower and lie down we went off to this famous street (we've been here before) and it did not disappoint!!

    The food is amazing and the wine is incredible and it is heaving.
    Met some of our Camino buddies. Now having coffee and David is having cake. Then another walk to our hotel for bed!
    Buenas Noches    Read more

  • David and Lara take a walk!

    Last night in Spain

    September 12 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    It has been a wonderful relaxing kinda day. Woke up late, lots of aches and pains still. Had some breakfast, meansered around the beautiful streets of Logrono, drank more bad coffee, bought gorgeous fruit from the market.
    Took Daniel's advice about elevating our feet and came back to the hotel for a rest.
    Tonight we went back to Calle Laurel for more incredible wine and pinchos, and finished with an almost decent coffee.
    We leave early tomorrow morning for Madrid airport.
    Night night 🌙    Read more

    Trip end
    September 13, 2026