Travel Day 1

Leaving OKC as scheduled. I can’t believe this day is finally here. It was hard to leave Neal but it will be so fun to meet him in Santiago. I hope my backpack travels to Paris with me today/tomorrow.
Travel Day 1, part 2

Travel Day 2: Le Jet Lag

I made it to Paris! The flight was LONG but calm and on time. Drizzly today, so the souvenir shops are doing a brisk business in umbrellas, but I am ever aware of my pack weight on the trail ahead andLæs mere
Travel Day 3: Art in Paris

I KNOW. A photo (or a postcard or a print) won’t do them justice, but here’s some of the art that moved me today. I started the day with a walk with no specific plan. I had to learn to stay out ofLæs mere
Travel Day 3: Faces of Paris

I loved how there are faces lurking everywhere in Paris - on buildings, bridges, etc. I especially appreciate the moustaches. Here are a few, plus a sculpture with a very expressive face at the MuseeLæs mere
Travel Day 3: Walking in Paris

According to my phone (I didn’t use the Garmin all day, which was a mistake), I walked 13.8 miles today! Some of my routes were from Google, while others I made up in the moment, and I sawLæs mere
Travel Day 4: Trains to Saint Jean

Today’s subtitle: Intimations of Intimidation
This morning I got up at 5 to go to the train station (not impressive: circadian rhythms still a mess). I had been nervous about the train station, andLæs mere
Travel Day 4: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

I landed in Saint Jean “at the foot of the Pass” early this afternoon. I’m not sure these photos will convey how very vertical much of this town is. It’s so picturesque! Rather touristy in aLæs mere
Camino Day 1: SJ to La Vierge d’Orisson

Miles: 7.25
Elevation gain: 3182 feet
Weather: 40s and 50s with a cool breeze at my back. Excellent
My original plan was to walk to the albergue at Orisson but I was unable to reserve a bed there.Læs mere
End Day 1/Beginning Day 2

Yesterday’s walk ended with a wait for the shuttle bus back to Saint Jean. I was very cold as it was a bit windy and cold, plus I had sweated and then stopped moving. I was huddled up with my rainLæs mere
Day 2: La Vierge to Roncesvalles, part 1

Miles: 8.5
Elevation gain: 1,660 feet
Elevation loss: 2,110 feet
Weather: cold and windy at the top
Today started, as the French woman next to me on the shuttle said, with us “walking into theLæs mere
Day 2: La Vierge to Roncesvalles, part 2

There were two choices of route down from Col Lepoeder. The easier and longer route, or the shorter and much steeper path. I chose the latter because the guidebook told me that it would take meLæs mere
Day 3: Roncesvalles to Viscarret-Guerend

Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 699 feet
Elevation loss: 2479 feet
Weather: cool and breezy, overcast until the very end
I am SORE today from the mountains! Quads and calves in particular were notLæs mere
Day 3 End

I arrived in Viskarret just in time to check in to my guest house. I was glad to follow my instincts instead of Google, which for some reason wanted to send me down the street to the wrong place. ILæs mere
Day 4: Viskarret to Larrasoaña

Mileage: 10.5
Elevation gain: 1,217
Elevation loss: 2,152
Weather: much warmer, but a lot of shade
Total Mileage: 34.25
Another beautiful day! I’m glad I had a room to myself last night as I’mLæs mere
Day 5: Larrasoaña to Pamplona

Mileage: 10.25
Elevation gain: 833
Elevation loss: 1,007
Weather: beautiful! Partly sunny with a cool breeze
Total mileage: 44.5
More beautiful weather and scenery. This won’t always be true, so ILæs mere
Day 6: Pamplona rest day

A little break from the Camino today partly to rest up for tomorrow’s long day up and down a mountain. I was happy to get some extra sleep and see some of the sights.
Day 7: Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

Mileage: 15 miles
Altitude gain: 1,565
Altitude loss: 1,824
Weather: cloudy to start, sunny to finish, with the cool wind miraculously at our backs
Total mileage: 54.5
We left Pamplona early (7:00)Læs mere
Day 8: Puenta la Reina to Villatuerta

Mileage: 12 miles
Elevation gain:
Elevation loss:
Weather: mostly cloudy, cool and breezy. So lucky so far, knock wood!
Total mileage: 66.5 miles
We enjoyed cafes con leche at our very niceLæs mere
Day 9: Villatuerta to Los Arcos

Mileage: 17+ miles, some unintentional!
Altitude gain: 1.890 feet
Altitude loss: 1,775 feet
Weather : gorgeous - a little too sunny and warm for a little while in the afternoon but then the cloudsLæs mere
Day 10: Los Arcos to Viana

Mileage: 13 miles? Guidebook says about 12, Garmin says 14
Elevation gain: 1,401
Elevation loss: 1,230
Total mileage: 96.5
I wasn’t sure that my feet would ever function again at the end ofLæs mere
Day 11: Viana to Navarrete

Mileage: 14.75
Altitude gain: 1,109
Altitude loss: 915
Weather: mostly warm and sunny. A few drops at one point, and it thundered nearby once we got to Navarrete, but overall great.
Total mileage:Læs mere
Day 12: Navarette to Nájera

Mileage: 10.5 miles or so
Elevation gain: 722
Elevation loss: 791
Weather: beautiful and sunny until we were already in Nájera, when it rained pretty hard for a little while
Total mileage:Læs mere
D13: Nájera-Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Mileage: 14.25 long, hot miles
Elevation gain: 1,355 feet
Elevation loss: 804 feet
Weather: cool and sunny to begin, hot and sunny later with little breeze
Total mileage: 136
Today was anotherLæs mere
Day 13 end: Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo de la Calzada is picturesque enough to warrant its own post here. So much history! The food wasn’t great (at least where we ate) but when you’ve walked over a half marathon youLæs mere
RejsendeYou are a bad ass! Happy travels!