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Camino De Santiago
  • Kathy Thielen
  • Kathy Thielen

Camino De Santiago

A 79-day adventure by Kathy Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 4, 2016
  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    3 Days Takeoff!!

    September 1, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Collecting a couple last-minute items and will see what I can actually pack. Something's gotta stay behind and I'm hoping it won't have to be the travel backgammon set that Mom sent me!

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    2

    The Adventure Begins

    September 5, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Taking off this morning to get out to my starting point. Portland > Chicago > Madrid > Biarritz > St Jean Pied de Port. Should be there by tomorrow at 3pm-ish. Will chill there for an evening and hope to start my walk on Wed, Sept 7.Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1
    11121

    First 2 days: Sept 7-8

    September 8, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Left St Jean De Pied de Port (pic #1) Tue AM & arrived in Orisson by lunch; the longest 6 miles (10 km) I can remember ever walking, due to 85+ temp & 30+% humidity. Was glad I stayed put for the afternoon instead of continuing on to Roncesvalles, another 11 km of up, then 4km of steep downhill. Beautiful view from Orisson (pic #2).
    Day 2 has been misty and cool, perfect for the 15km trek to Roncesvalles. Missed some great views, I'm sure, but this allowed me to focus on the sweet cows, horses, and sheep grazing about. One of my new favorite sounds is the cow bell (worn by both horses & cows); even if I couldn't see them, the sound let me know they were out there, grazing leisurely. The trail also took me through a beautiful beech (mostly) forest. (pics 5-6).    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    21

    Zubiri & Pamplona

    September 10, 2016 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Fri, Sept 9: More cool, comfortable travels from Roncesvalles to Zuburi - a little over 20km. Beautiful views and towns along the way as well as a pilgrim terrier named Yogi.

    Sat, Sept 10: Another 20-some km to Pamploma! Sun was out and temp was up, but not quite so brutal as first day. More hiking through forest and a lovely town or two.
    Lost a trekking pole off a bridge as I was admiring the view, but nope, didn't get a pic as I tried instead to recover the pole. No luck, but one pole still comes in handy.
    Pamplona is fantastic & a great place to people watch. I found a swingset too!    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Falling Behind in Posting Updates!

    September 14, 2016 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Hi Peeps! As I suspected, I'm not doing so well at keeping up with the posting, and don't imagine I'm going to be getting any better.

    Trust that all is well and I'm having a fantastic time. I will try to post some pics tonight or tomorrow night.

    Today I did just under 30km and am settling in to an albergue in Logrono. About to get a 30 min leg massage for 15€! It's going to feel sooooo good!!!    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    Pamplona to Puente La Reina

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Sun, Sept 11: 25km on a very hot and sunny day! Always great to reach the albergue, hit the showers and grab a beer. Another refreshing beverage in the area is tinto de verano, which is red wine with lemon fizzy water - so good! As we left Pamplona at 6:30 Mon morn, many of Sat night's celebratory were still stragling out of the bars.

    Pic #1 - looking back on Pamplona
    Pic #2 - cool wrought iron art work of pilgrims
    Pics #3 - 4 passing thru town of Obanos
    Pics #5 - 6 Puente La Reina

    Walked through town of Puente La Reina feeling beat and then had to hoof it up a long dusty hill to our albergue. We were rewarded for this final grueling bit with a gorgeous swimming pool which was thoroughly enjoyed.    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Estella to Los Arcos

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Tues, Sept 13: 21km walk beginning with a beautiful light rain. Felt fabulous after 2 previous days of heat. Passed the fountain that pours red wine and drank a little bit from my scallop shell (which many pilgrims carry to indicate they are, indeed, pilgrims). The day warmed up to around 70° and was beautiful.Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Los Arcos to Logrono

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Wed, Sept 14: 29 km today! Weather was lovely with some nice clouds to keep the heat down. Many beautiful vistas and continue to pass through vineyards, rolling wheat fields, and olive tree groves.
    Passed thru Viana where they were having a festival and got to see them block up the main street shops and the corridor and then run a few bulls through on their way to the bull arena. Was told that in these smaller towns they don't typically have bull fights, but instead, various games of bravery where the last person standing in the ring with the bull is the winner. Took a good video, but now see I only have the option to load pictures, not videos. 😒    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    Logrono to Najera

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Thurs, Sept 15: 30 km, baby (almost 19 miles), longest day yet! Another day scattered with beautiful clouds, perfect for the walk. More great views and towns to pass through. Pic #2 is just a fantastic giant bull cut from metal, standing on the hilltop. Pic #4 is a man who has been volunteering on the Camino for over 30 years. Today he is stamping our Peregrino Credentials (we collect stamps along the way as proof of where we've been).Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    Najera to Santo Domingo

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Fri, Sept 16: 21 km, another beautiful day. A bit of rain along the way, but not even worth throwing the poncho on.

    Pic#1 Sunrise
    Pics #2-3 breakfast with some Camino pals
    Pic#4 full rainbow
    Pic#5 Santa Domingo Cathedral
    Pic#6 view from cathedral tower    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    More Santo Domingo

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Fri, Sept 16

    The albergue we stayed at as well as the cathedral in Santo Domingo, both have chickens! In the albergue they were out back, but the cathedral had a place for them inside. No time here to give you the story behind this, but it's a pretty good one.

    Pic#1 chicken graffiti
    Pic#2 rooftops as seen from cathedral tower
    Pic#3 chickens in albergue

    Another festival tonight. Najera also had one last night, but the locals there didn't seem quite as excited about it as they did here. Fun music and dancing in the plaza! The locals enjoy a drink called kalimotxo - red wine + coke. Will give it a try at some point.    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Santo Domingo to Belorado

    September 17, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Sat, Sept 17: 23 km in much cooler weather (~64°).
    A few critters, more beautiful scenery, and two methods for roasting peppers along the way.

    Pic#1 a sunflower that someone had added a smiley face to
    Pic#4 San Pedro Cathedral in Belorado    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1
    31

    Belorado to Ages

    September 18, 2016 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    Sun, Sept 18: A little over 29 km today, beginning in a crisp morning air. Another amazing walk. Legs and feet feeling very tired tonight. Tomorrow headed for Burgos & planning a 2-night stay, possibly splurging for a hotel room.

    Pic#1 full moon(?) in the morning as we are on our way
    Pic#3 me with Jenny (D.C. area) & Young (S. Korea)
    Pic#4 my fabulous Camino family and me having an after dinner drink before 10pm albergue curfew    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Ages to Burgos

    September 19, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Mon, Sept 19: Wow! Got into Burgos and splurging at Hotel El Cid, directly across from the cathedral. Check out the view from my room!

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    21

    Burgos Pics

    September 21, 2016 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Tues, Sept 20: Again, wow. Burgos is my favorite "large" city so far along the Camino. The cathedral inside was almost too overwhelming to capture with my silly cell phone camera. Check out a couple of highlights from the day and evening though.

    Pic#1 pedestrian/bicycle promenade along the Rio Arlanzon
    Pic#2 entrance from the promenade into the main plaza where you come face to face with the cathedral
    Pic#3 cathedral
    Pic#4 people here seem to love their dogs as much as the folks in Portland
    Pic#4 chillin' with a pilgrim in bronze in front of the cathedral
    Pic#5 Camino friends    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    Burgos to Hontanas

    September 21, 2016 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Wed, Sept 21: developed a bit of tendonitis just above my left foot so had my backpack courriered today to meet me at the albergue in Hontanas where we finally stopped after a 31 km (just over 19 miles) walk. First day walking through the mesetas . . . open, flat stretch of land with huge blue sky's. Another beautiful day.

    Pic#3 more sunflower fields with a few smiley faces created in the flowers
    Pic#4 sunset from our albergue
    Pic#5 part of my Camino family: (L to R)Young from S. Korea, Agustin from Argentina, Harley from Canada, Antonio (Spaniard now living in Germany)    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    141

    Day 7 on the Meseta

    September 27, 2016 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Sept 27: Been walking across the Meseta now for one week! Today was a very short 11+ km into Leon where we checked into hotel rooms and are kicking back a little.
    Another beautiful city, cathedral and lots of cafes/restaurants. Will be saying goodbye to a couple of folks here after today so may be out celebrating a bit later tonight. Some of us may stay in Leon for one more day . . .

    We've been starting out walks each day between 6:30-7:00am when it's still dark out, but one morning we started at 5:30am to get a little more time in under the stars. Below here and in the next post are some pics from along the way (Sept 22-26). Will create new post tomorrow for today's walk into Leon along with a few pics from tonight's celebration (possibly).

    Pic #1 a morning mist, leaving
    Pic #2 chilling in a great tree at the albergue in Boadilla
    Pic #3 passing through Fromista after leaving Boadilla, we cross the lock gates (esclusa) of the Canal de Castillo
    Pic #4 sweet dawg friend on the Camino
    Pic #5 going through a village after a night in Terradillos, we walked through a courtyard where the trees had been decorated with knitting; definitely reminded me of Portland
    Pic #6 a morning sunrise    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1
    11

    Meseta Pics Continued

    September 27, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Pic #1 "hobbit house" in town outside of Terradillos
    Pic #2 another sunrise
    Pic #3 Arco San Benito as we pass through Sahagun
    Pics #4-5 nothin' but sky, sunflowers and wheat fields as far as the eye can see
    Pic #6 bridge over Rio Porma in Puente Villarente    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    A Few Pics from Leon

    September 29, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Leon was a beautiful city! In retrospect it would have been good to stay a second day there, but we moved on instead. Just a couple of pics here, and more people and dogs rather than city sights.
    Sent off friend, Young, off with a lot of tasty food, drinks and some dancing. Very fun evening.Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen

    Today in Astorga

    September 29, 2016 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Did 26 km into Astorga today, ending our walk through the Meseta. Yesterday's walk from Leon was brutal since it was along the highway. :-( Today was half and half, taking us through a couple of really sweet smaller towns.

    Pic #1 at dinner in Villadango last night, the elephant print on the wall is the same one I've got at home (looks much better in my house)
    Pic #2 not sure what breed these 2 beasts were but they were being used in the sheep farm I passed today
    Pic #3 fun drinking fountain/statue; as you run the water to fill your drinking vessel, the run off from the drain is pumped back up to the statue's water bottle and a trickle comes out for him too!
    Pic #4 in Astorga    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1

    Back to the Mountains!

    October 2, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The last 3 days have been fantastic, walking back toward the mountains and passing through lovely villages. Along the way I met a sweet Camino cat who climbed right onto my lap when I knelt down to pet it. Another pilgrim I talked to later that day said the same cat jumped on his back pack & went along with him for about 1 km. I also got to hold & have a photo taken with Julie, the Harris hawk!

    Pic #3 stork nest on an old church; I've seen these huge nests all over the place, though apparently it's the wrong time of year for the birds to be hanging out in them as I haven't seen a one

    Pic #5 ahh, the mountains once again

    Pic #6 another Camino kitty    Read more

  • Kathy ThielenCamino De SantiagoKathy Thielen
    1
    2

    Sat, Oct 1: Walking to Ponferrado

    October 2, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The morning was cool and very misty when we started out, reaching La Cruz de Ferro as the sun was coming up and trying to burn through the clouds. I left a stone there in honor of Jamie, a special member of the Lombard Animal Hospital team (where Willy goes each week) who I learned just 2 days before had passed away. I'm thinking of her a lot right now as I continue my walk; she was very excited for my Camino adventure and had often shared stories of her own outdoor adventures with me.
    The day cleared up and there were more amazing views as the mountains appeared once again around us.

    Pic #6 castle in Ponferrado    Read more

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