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Walka'bout thru Spain & Italy
  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinns
  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinns

Walka'bout thru Spain & Italy

Backpacking our way, step by step, to our best version Read more
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  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Part 3 of Day 7

    June 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We finish the day by staying in an authentic albergue at a church rectory run by the nuns, priests, and volunteers. Had a vegetarian dinner cooked by them with all pelegrinos staying the night. It was delightful. We went to 7pm mass. William was able to compare Camino passport stamps with a 12 yr old boy traveling with his father. We wrap up the week with 116 Camino miles completed. Who knows how many miles we have in total with exploring the towns, but we sure have had a great week. 1 down and 3 to go. I already have the feeling that its going by too fast and i dont want it to end...Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Day 8 to Najera

    June 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Our hike today was pretty level. Our submit was nothing special other than the view but long miles again. 20 for the day. We walked by some fruit trees and ate them right off the branch. No washing them or concerned how dirty they could be..like when we drank water right off the hose. So freeing. Pretty yummy. Don't know what they are called but they tasted like a mini nectarine. I had a good dayRead more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 2 of Day 8

    June 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today, we hit a hard mental block... William is being challenged with a lot of pain on his left knee. My challenge is a lack of sleep as you can see in the videos, that my eyes are super swollen. Last night, I got about 2 hrs. It's so dam hot in these alberges. It's just not enough recovery time when we're pushing 18 to 20 miles a day. For William, we're pushing many miles a day, his knee is bone on bone and its screaming 😱. Embrassing the "suck" is part of the journey. Tomorrow we will take it easy on the miles and just go to the next town. We are listening to our bodies, and we're going to rest for most of the day. Saw more amazing churches and saw the biggest dandelion I have ever seen. It was the size of a big big apple 🍎Read more

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    Day 9 to Santo Domingo

    July 1, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    What a game changer today. To bad we didn't think of sending our Italy items to the Albergue where we'll end the Camino before we left. 9 days later, we shaved 12lbs off our backs and the packs feel fantastic. We're thinking they weigh about 12 to 15 lbs now. My bday wish came true and I got 8 hrs of sleep. 15 miles for the day is where we are going to try to keep it at.
    WARNING... the 2nd video you're about to watch may cause damage to your ear drums    Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Part 2 of Day 9

    July 1, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    In the rock memorial photo, did you find our rock? Today we did not see many of our Camino peregrinos. Some stayed behind in the previous town and took a zero day or and some walked further than us. At the Sametime, we met new peregrinos. Kim from Portland is a lovely person and we're having a great time enjoying the towns and sharing a few beers. When we got to the albergue, they had a roaring fire and it was so cozy. Wish I had a Pic to show u.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 3 of Day 9

    July 1, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    There are no words to describe the Santo Domingo Cathedral, so I won't even try. Here are a few photos. The Pic of the Grey stone shocks me because the step is so worn down from hundreds of yrs of it being stepped on. The bell tower had an amazing view. 150 steps to the top and to get down. Doesn't seem like much, but when u have walked 15 miles, it takes all u got.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Day 10 to Belorado

    July 2, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I can't believe it's day 10 already... the weather has been overcast with a slight breeze. How did we get so lucky? The trail today was pretty even. Not too many peaks or steep declines. As I celebrated another Bday, I did a lot of looking back at the last 40 yrs. I have a feeling that as I travel through this Camino journey, I will be doing a lot of it. At times, my eyes would feel up with tears, a big smile on my face with a little chuckel. An overwhelming feeling of gratitude would take over. Even as I type these words, the tears of joy stream down my face because this is no ordinary vacation. This is no ordinary hike. This is me, showing me what my best version looks like today 💪. I'm showing up, I'm working hard, and I'm making myself proud. And when I turn to look to my side, William is doing the same. 💓Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 2 of Day 10

    July 2, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    When we get into an albergue, we always wash our laundry first so the clothes can get dry before dinner, take a shower and wash the day away. Then we go into town. We walked about 16 miles. That does not include the miles checking out the town and churches.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 4 of Day 10

    July 3, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Ribs... its what's for dinner.😋 At our table we had, 2 men from South Korea, one Boy for Milan riding his bike, and one man from Ireland. Lovely people on their adventure.
    More beautiful town churchesRead more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Day 11 to Atapuerca

    July 3, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I'm not going to lie, not having wifi was frustrating. I was bummed not to post our daily update, but at the same time, it was nice just to go to bed too. We hiked/walked thru a beautiful forest. We were at an elevation over 3000 feet so pines everywhere. And the smell of pine...my favorite. We bought the tastiest watermelon from a vendor at the top of the ridge. We made the decision to walk the extra miles. From 15 to 20 miles so that Thursday could be 15 mile day. Breakfast was the best we've had since we've been here. The cook had worked at the Spanish embassy in Washington DC. His presentation and customer service were on point and it did not go unnoticed. The picture with the blue and yellow arrow and shell are the markers we follow on the road to know where we're going. Did you see our brown rock on the left side of the cross on the memorial picture? It's on the cross.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Part 2 of Day 11

    July 4, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    We cooked our first meal at the albergue. We made spaghetti, and it was decent. Especially since the ingredients were bought at a liquor store in a town of 50 people. More beautiful landscapes and churches
    Total miles completed since we started is 163 miles 💪    Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Day 12 to Burgos

    July 4, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Happy July 4th!
    We started our day early. On trail at 6:15. We knew we were heading into a big town where we wanted to see the sights. We busted a move and had 10 miles done before 11am. And then the pain came. I struggled hard today. Just to pick up my legs 🦵to walk. I believe I was dehydrated. A lot of road walking and it's hard on the feet and legsRead more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 2 of Day 12

    July 5, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Mr. Quinn has a terrible tan on his calves. Me too but not as bad. Burgos is a beautiful town. We checked into the municipal albergue which is ran by the government. Saw my 1st DaVinci painting 🖼 As we walked the city and took in the sights, we were speechless regarding the beauty and history of Burgos.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Part 6 of day 12

    July 5, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Big decision was made to take a zero day tomorrow. Not an easy decision to make but one that was necessary. We have to consider that Italy is still ahead of us and we want to enjoy it and not have William wobbling around. I'm doing very good physically overall. All those 10 mile day I put in for 3 mos are paying off now, but as you can see in the videos, I look very tired. The swelling around my eyes doesn't seem to go down even though my sleeping is better. Rest will do us both good.
    It was weird eating fast food. My stomach hurt so bad after taco bell and burger king that on my next food reviews, I won't eat more than a few bites.    Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler

    Day 13 Zero Day in Burgos

    July 5, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    It was so nice sleeping in. Being in a full size bed with nice sheets vs the cotton paper they give you at the albergues. Not complaining because that's part of the journey I have chosen to take. It just reminds me of how much we take for granted. The little things...Read more

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    Day 14 to Hontanas

    July 6, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    We started the day with fresh legs and ended the day by walking 20 miles. This section of the Camino is referred to as the Mezata because it's flat like a table, called mesa in spanish. Today's walk was very spiritual. I received a beautiful blessing from a nun at a church who touched my soul with her kind and beautiful words. 50+ yrs she had dedicated to her vocation and God. She was a special lady. This pilgrimage changes you, and I look forward to the new better version of me and us.Read more

  • MilesnSmileswiththeQuinnsWalka'bout thru Spain & ItalyTraveler
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    Part 2 of Day 14

    July 6, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    The Albergue we are at is beautiful in the middle of nowhere. Brand new. Only opened since March and run by a husband and wife. Met two great people. Stephan from Germany, who is 29, doing the Camino a 2nd time and Nick from Dana point who is 22 and just graduated from St. Louis Obispo. Home cooked meal by the owners and great conversations. The Camino provides what you need. Did you find our turquoise rock at the memorial rock site?Read more

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    Day 14 to Boadilla del Camino

    July 7, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We have walked/hiked 200 miles!!!! in 14 days🦿🦿 can't celebrate just yet because we have 300 to go but we are doing the happy dance. On our walk today, we saw several ruins, an ancient castle up on the hill, and visited a 9th century church that has been turned into a museum. We pushed miles again and walked a total of 20 miles. Next time someone asks me if I want to walk a marathon, my response will be, "Of course, no problem." Only 1 major climb, and we killed it. 12% grade, 1050 meters in distance, which is about a little over half a mile. It's been said that the 1st 10 days on the Camino, your body will be acclimating to the physical requirements of walking. The 2nd 10 days is a mental challenge, and the 3rd 10 days, it's a spiritual journey. I can tell my body is on-board by how well I did today's climbRead more

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