Countdown to Camino

It's a mere 33 days now before I take off to head out to Spain for 2 months. Very excited and very anxious! Need to find a way to trim 3-4 lbs off my pack . . .
3 Days Takeoff!!

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!
The Adventure Begins

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 hopeEn savoir plus
Madrid Airport

Cool curvy ceilings in this particular wing of Madrid airport!
First 2 days: Sept 7-8

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 theEn savoir plus
Zubiri & Pamplona

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: AnotherEn savoir plus
Falling Behind in Posting Updates!

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 willEn savoir plus
Pamplona to Puente La Reina

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 withEn savoir plus
Puente La Reina to Estella

Mon, Sept 12: 22 km, in more heat . . . ~90°
Scenic views, and critters before making it to Estella.
Estella to Los Arcos

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 (whichEn savoir plus
Los Arcos to Logrono

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 treeEn savoir plus
Logrono to Najera

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 aEn savoir plus
Najera to Santo Domingo

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#5En savoir plus
More Santo Domingo

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 hereEn savoir plus
Santo Domingo to Belorado

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 faceEn savoir plus
Belorado to Ages

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,En savoir plus
Ages to Burgos

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!
Burgos Pics

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 coupleEn savoir plus
Burgos to Hontanas

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 19En savoir plus
Day 7 on the Meseta

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, cathedralEn savoir plus
Meseta Pics Continued

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 eyeEn savoir plus
A Few Pics from Leon

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.
SentEn savoir plus
Today in Astorga

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 ofEn savoir plus
Back to the Mountains!

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 toEn savoir plus
Sat, Oct 1: Walking to Ponferrado

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 specialEn savoir plus