• MilesnSmileswiththeQuinns
  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinns

Walka'bout thru Spain & Italy

Backpacking our way, step by step, to our best version Læs mere
  • Part 2 of Day 25

    18. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Not only did we summit our last high mountain on the Camino, we also passed the 400-mile marker 🤪 we have 90 ish miles to go. We will be at the end on Wednesday 24th. Santiago de Compostela is the town of the big finale and they are having their big annual festival of St. James on the 24th & 25th. We were originally scheduled to arrive on the 27th but we busted a move so we can be at the festival and celebrate with our trail family.Læs mere

  • Part 3 of Day 25

    19. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    These are the churches we walked by today. All of them closed except the one in O Crebriero. This special town and church has a lot of history for past pilgrims from hundreds of years ago. The greetor at the church named Lulu was so kind and nuturing when she saw that I was emotional as I was taking out my Camino passport to get stamped. I was overwhelmed by how much we had accomplished by getting there and to know that hundreds of years prior, those pelegrinos had their challenges too and probably a lot harder for them to get there than we. It humbles you and I obviously needed to have a good cry and release those emotions out into the universe.Læs mere

  • Day 26 to Vilei

    19. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today's walk was planned to be 15 miles but we pushed another 3 and ended the day walking/hiking 18 miles. We are trying to leave about 6 miles on the day we walk into Santiago. That means we need to walk at least 16 miles from now till Tues. Some sections are too far apart and making it tough to hit our goal so we have to push even further. William's shin splint is bothering him pretty bad but he's dealing with the pain with Ibuprofen, Volteran, and ice when we can get it. He's a trooper by still walking the miles.Læs mere

  • Part 3 of Day 27

    20. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    This is the 1st town we arrived at super early. It was noon. We couldn't check-in till 1, so we had some lunch at the park from the food we had the day before. The view of the lake didn't get old. Once checked in, we took a nap-poochie and it was so nice. Apparently, I needed to be taking naps this whole time. Everyone has been except William and me. We walked the downtown area and checked out their cathedral. Some of our trail family went boogie on us and got an apartment with a balcony. I felt like I was in a movie again. An extra hanging out on the balcony watching people walk below with a glass of wine in my hand. We are all looking forward to arriving into Satiago together on the 24th. God willing...Læs mere

  • Day 27 to Portomarin

    20. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Here in Spain, everything is measured in KM, so today, we walked by the 100 km post, and that's how many kms we have left to Santiago. Today was an easy day. We walked 13 miles with no breaks. There was some rain but pleasant. The next town that had any albergues available was another 8 miles out, so we decided not to push the miles today. We're gonna have to make up for it in the next 3 days. It was lovely coming up to a wild horse just hanging out on the trail. And of course, we love to pet all the pups. One particular dog loved William. Speaking to other pilgrims who have been walking for a few weeks, we all struggled with the new people who just started and are walking the last 100 kms. They listen to their music on loud speakers, they don't say hi or acknowledge other pilgrims. its hard to describe how the Camino has changed in just one day. I know they have their own Camino to walk and discover but this crowded Camino is an adjustment for us veterans. I also know there is room on the Camino for everyone. My mind just has to get ready to join the world again.Læs mere

  • Day 28 to Palas Del Rei

    21. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We have 40 miles left, 68 kms... 3 DAYS LEFT. 28 days completed and 460 miles walked/hiked. Today's walk was really cold the entire way. For the 1st time, I wished I had a jacket but we survived. Sunrise was beautiful.
    The rookies didn't bother me as much today. No blairing radios for all to hear🙏
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  • Part 2 of Day 28

    21. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    These are the churches we visited and walked by and the different Pilgrim statues.
    At our albergue, we had a communal dinner made by the owner Marchelo. I met Kristine from Nebraska, David from Northern England, Lee'Ann from Africa, Katie & Nedie from France and Marchelo from Tuscany. All beautiful souls breaking bread. The picture of Spain shows all the different Camino that people can do.Læs mere

  • Day 29 to Arzua

    22. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The final countdown has begun. We walked/hiked 18 Camino miles but completed a total of 24 miles for the day. Not sure how I forgot to mention this in yesterdays post but I broke 2 big tooth peices off 2 molars bitting into a baguette 🫣🧐😫 When I got into town today, a dentist was nice enough to see me last minute and take an xray. He Basically said I'm in a pickel. I possibly need a root canal, a temp crown in one and a fill in the other. He says it requires more than I visit. I had a bad cavity apparently. Since I'm not staying in town or going back home, all he said he could do is give me an antibiotic, pain meds and wished me luck on the Camino. He did not charge me for the visit, was very kind, and I'm deeply grateful for his help. I really needed a solution though.
    Plan B is to see another dentist in Santiago (2 days) and see if I can have some work done sîce i can be there a few days. I can't see going thru Italy for a month with 2 huge holes in my molars. How will I enjoy all that yummy food and drinks... Im Staying positive and I know there is a dentist in Santiago that will fix my 2 molars until I return home.🙏
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  • Day 30 to Lavacolla

    23. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    What a crazy 2nd to last day. I wish I could have a redo of today, but that's not how life goes. We woke up at 4am and on trail by 4:45. All I could think about was my broken teeth and how it was going to get resolved. By 9:30, I had found a dentist to see me. By 10:30 we had hiked 12 miles. We had 2 1/2 hrs to hike 7 1/2 more miles to be on time. William's foot was really bothering him today. My disappointment is I was so focused on my issues that I didn't notice my surroundings because my focus was my teeth and William's pain since he wash pushing his injury harder to make miles faster. If I had just been present and trusted that everything would be fine, I would have had a great walk. I can't get the day back, but I did learn a good lesson. Tooth has a temporary fix until I get home, and William got to ice his foot extra today. God has a plan and we just have to have faith. It was a great dayLæs mere

  • Part 2 of Day 30

    23. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    So many of our Trail family have made it into Santiago already. And tomorrow more will make it but so will William and I. So many mixed emotions. I know tomorrow will be an emotional day. Only 6 miles left to walk on the Camino. 31 days... 500 miles ends tomorrow.
    We had 1 more dinner together tonight, and it was lovely.
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  • Part 2 of Day 31 Arriving at Santiago

    24. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We walked 500 miles! And hiked some, too. But all we did was just walk. We planned and saved for this adventure for 2 years, but what we thought it was going to be like was blown away from the actual experience. We are not special people for doing this pilgrimage because millions have done the same for centuries and will continue to do so. But what is special is what the "Camino Provided" specifically for William and I. What we NEEDED and discovered thru our pilgrimage walk'A'bout that we'll take away till our dying day. I know that I saw a piece of heaven by walking the Camino.Læs mere

  • Day 32 to Finisterra

    25. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    The end of the world is what Finisterra stands for. There is also a 0 marker here. What a beautiful coastline. We went into the water waste deep, and it's so much colder than our coast. It's very refreshing. Their waters are so clear and colorful with their sand just the perfect color. If you saw the movie The Way with Martin Sheen, this is where he comes to. It's a good movie if you haven't seen it yet. It's based on the Camino. It's always great to run into more trail family we had not seen in a long while, especially since we basically said so long to everyone the night before.Læs mere

  • Day 34 & 35 to A Corun̈a

    26. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Now that our Camino has come to an end, we are switching our minds toward relaxing some before jumping over to Italy. We both know that rest is the cure to our sore muscles and bones. Hotel bound for 3 days but the question is, can we do it after walking everyday for 20+ miles...
    You're right, that's a big negative. We're in Spain. We'll sit back at home🤪
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  • Part 4 of Day 34 & 35

    26. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    So we banked 12 more miles, no thanks to the glitches on google maps. It's a good thing we are good walkers, vale? (That's how Spanierds say, right?)
    The light house is historical. 3rd tallest light house in Spain and the oldest working light house in the world called Tour of Hercules that dates back to the end of the 1st century. We were tired but we had fun exploring A Corun̈a. We didn't see any pilgrims all day but when I saw the Camino signs, it made me happy and sad as it was a reminder that we are no longer on it. Buen Camîno to all the pilgrims all over the world and safe travels.Læs mere

  • Part 3 of Day 31 into Santiago

    27. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Wednesday morning into Santiago started at 5:30 am with only 6 miles to walk. 9 of us taking our time, enjoying the last few miles. Had a good cry at the top where the 2 pilgrim statues are either saying goodbye or saluting Santiago as the sunrise began. Didn't want to say goodbye or have it come to an end, but I quickly realized that my camino of life continues and there is so much to do and see. Saw more little churches, statues, and government buildings. Santiago is a beautiful city. Our hotel was in the outer area in the party quarter. The 3 our nap was fantastic and needed so that we could celebrate St. James late into the night.Læs mere

  • Part 4 of Day 31 Santiago

    27. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    The festival of St. James is a huge celebrated holiday. St. James was one of Jesus' 12 apostol. The King of Spain was coming into Santiago the following day, so the decorated streets with murals made of flowers and natural materials were outstanding. We attended the pilgrim mass at noon, expecting to see the swing of the Botafumeiro, but it was a no go. It was still a beautiful mass. The cathedral is indescribable.
    For lunch, we found their version of Chipotle, and it was tasty. Sorry, I forgot to do a food review. For dinner, we went and had a light dinner at their Ritz called the Parador on the outside patio with almost a perfect view of the fireworks at midnight.
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  • Part 2 of Day 34 & 35

    27. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We took in the town with no specific plan or location and walked upon many fun things to do. It's their holiday weekend so festivals continue. We walked upon a music festival. Their version of a smaller coachella. Music sounded great that William wanted to buy tickets but we kept walking. Then we came to their ports of call. Right after, we walked into a street fair. Food was yummy and William was sucked into the whirlpool of their sweets.Læs mere

  • Day 36 in A Coruña

    27. juli 2024, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We actually did nothing all morning except get caught up on our video posts and watch some Olympic games all from the comforts of my hotel bed. I am currently taking antibiotics for my tooth and im having side effects. It's creating bad muscle aches and cramps with inflammation in my legs. I'm having a hard time walking which is ironic after walking the distance web have.
    When we finally left the hotel, we touret a brewery of the main house beer here in Spain called Estrella dating back to 1906. Had a burrito for dinner. Mexican food is rare here so when we see tacos🌮 or burritos🌯 we gotta try. Low key today and it was lovely.
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