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Susan Alves
Susan Alves

Susan Alves

Living in: California, United States of America Read more🇺🇸California
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  • In Search of Yogi

    Home

    September 10 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    After a nice walk with Tyler, V, and Pika in the beautiful South Lake Tahoe Forest, we hopped in the truck and headed home. Tyler hitched a ride to Amber's house, in Sacramento, where his pickup has been waiting for his return from their Great Divide bike adventure.
    After dropping him off, we took the short jaunt up I-5 to Zamora, and Home Sweet Home! What adventure we had, seeing such diverse landscapes, beautiful places, animals and people. We felt so grateful and privileged to have this amazing adventure and experience, but there really is no place like home! ❤️    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi
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    South Lake Tahoe- Ty and V's!

    September 9 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    We decided to skip the dispersed camping at Gem Fields, as the truck transmission started to act a little wonky. We figured being out in the desert, in the middle of nowhere might not be a great idea. Instead, we made the 6 and 1/2 hour drive straight on through to South Lake Tahoe, Tyler and V's home. Along the way we stopped in Eureka, Nevada for lunch. After inquiring at the saloon, we were invited to walk behind the cash register,  and even though the restaurant was closed, were served some of the best Chicken Tikka Masala, at the Urban Cowboy restaurant behind the saloon.

    We arrived at Tyler and V's, at about 8:00 p.m. and were welcomed with hugs, barbecued hamburgers. We stayed up late catching up on Tyler and V's Great Divide mountain bike adventure, where they rode their bikes over 3,000 miles from the Canada to Mexico. What an amazing accomplishment! 

    The next morning after eating some of the V's delicious homemade scones, we took a 4 mile hike to Round Lake. The scenery was gorgeous, and the company even better as we had a delicious picnic lunch that Tyler had packed for us, near the lake. After hiking back, we hung out for a while, then went out for some delicious Korean food.

    It felt so great to see Tyler and V, and felt like we were getting a little piece of home right here in South Lake Tahoe! ❤️    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi
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    Lehman Caves, Great Basin

    September 8 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Before leaving Great Basin, we booked a Parachute Shield tour at Lehman Caves. We broke camp, buttoned up the Casita, and headed down the hill for our tour.

    After a brief introduction and overview, we entered the caves and learned about the man who "discovered" them, a cowboy/ rancher named Absolom Lehman. I couldn't help wonder about the native peoples who not only knew about these caves but had utilized them for years. When I asked the ranger about this, she said she would be happy to talk with me about it when we exited the cave, after the tour. I think I will do my own research when I get home. 

    The caves were beautiful, developing about 500 million years ago. Cave passages formed 500 million years ago when warm acidic water rose and dissolved the marble. About 20 million years ago, water passing through rock layers became acidic and dissolved away bits of calcite creating the stalactites and stalagmites that we see today. Besides the rare and beautiful formations created over the centuries of water dripping, the caves are also home to a variety of bats. We were carefully screened and walked through a disinfecting foot bath to protect the bats from a fungal infection called White Nose Syndrome. Though the bats at Lehman Caves have yet to be infected, millions of bats across the United States have succumbed and died from this disease. Lehman Caves is a beautifully decorated geologic wonder- we were so grateful to have visited this beautiful space!    Read more

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    Great Basin National Park

    Sep 7–13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Yesterday, we crossed the Nevada border, and rolled into Great Basin National Park. The change in landscape was mind-boggling as we moved from flat desert sagebrush country to Alpine Rocky summits at 10,000 ft. We settled into our beautiful little campsite at Upper Lehman Creek, complete with changing fall foliage, cool temperatures and a babbling creek. Great Basin is an international dark skies park, perfect for viewing the night skies. We went to a ranger-led talk in the evening, though weren't able to see many constellations due to the biggest source of light pollution In the area, the full moon!

    In the morning, we were greeted with a glorious sunrise and prepared for our full day of hiking. We were able to see two Alpine lakes, Stella and Teresa and proceeded on to the Bristlecone Pine Grove. These ancient trees live at elevations between 9500ft and 11,000 ft and live to be thousands of years old. What a privilege to share space with these ancient survivors! Next our trail led us to a glacier nestled beneath Wheeler Peak. At nearly 11,000 ft, the wind was gusting and the temperature was falling so we took a few pictures and headed out. We hiked back on the same trail we hiked in on and clocked 8 1/2 miles by the time we returned to our truck.

    We headed back to camp, had our celebratory beer, and fixed burritos for dinner. What an amazing day in the Great Basin Alpine Forest!    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi
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    Reflections on the Desert

    September 6 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    We did a lot of driving through the desert, from Northern Idaho through Central Utah and Central Nevada. I love the desert, with its unique expanses, hidden treasures, and the sheer vastness of it all. We didn't get time to explore the desert much, but were able to make some observations that stand out in my mind:
    Radio alerts signaling flash flood emergency  warning the possibility of injury or death in San Rafael county; a troop of 30 somethings sporting an animal fur coat, (85°), flowy white clothing, assorted chains, a chest bearing leisure suit, all dancing on a rock at sunset at Dead Horse Point; a Twilight Zone, alien endorsed jerky joint/ gas station; a trio dismounting their white Chevy dually leaving their 8-horse rig behind, strolling into Denny's, peering from beneath black cowboy hats, spurs jingling; low growing sparsely populated sagebrush reflected against a white expanse of sand as we traveled a divided black ribbon of highway 50. Again, I love the desert- the diverse, quirky, unique space that it is!    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi

    Zayne, Arlo, Avery, and Ezra🥰

    September 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Hi Zayne, Arlo, Avery, and Ezra!

    Papa and I have been having an amazing adventure and thinking about you along the way, too. We have traveled from the extremes of Yellowstone within a biome of Taiga Boreal forest to Canyonlands with a biome of high desert. 

    Here are some things for you to think about – as you consider the following questions, think about the availability of food, water, and shelter In each of the biomes.

    1. Why are the trees so much smaller in Canyonlands? 

    2. How have the animals adapted to live in each of these biomes? 

    3. How are their homes different? 

    4. What are 5 to 10 differences between these biomes? 

    5. Why don't bison live in Canyonlands? 

    6. Why don't lizards live in Yellowstone? 

    7. Which biome would you rather live in? Why? 

    We are bringing back two small souvenirs for each of you that might help you exist in either biome you choose! 

    Oh, and on our travels, we identified the license plates from 34 different states. Can you identify them from their abbreviations: SC; NC; TX; CO; IN; UT; MT; ND; SD; WY; NH; MD; FL; GA; ID; MA; OR; WA; NM; NV; NB; KS;  DoC; AZ; TN; MO; NY; PA; IL; NJ; VA; WI; CA; and IW. 

    We love you, 

    Bugga and Papa❤️🥰    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi
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    Canyonlands National Park

    September 6 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Canyonlands was kind of an afterthought as an addition to our adventure. As long as it was this close to Arches, why not spend a day at Canyonlands, too? What a great decision we made to visit this spectacular park! The landforms, colors, and diverse geography, were reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.  Canyonlands contains four distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and The Rivers. Our day focused on Island in the Sky, as it was most accessible and didn't require a four-wheel drive vehicle. 

    Again, we started our day early, going to the furthest end of the park to visit Mesa Arch and the beautiful views surrounding it. We continued on to Grandview Point. It's hard to describe the beauty, contrast and colors we observed and photos don't do it justice. Amazing! From there we continued to the Buck Canyon overlook and Green River overlook. The Green River converges with the Colorado River which worked its magic to help carve out the Grand Canyon! The short hike to Upheaval Dome was next. Scientists are unsure about the formation of this large crater as it is so different from the others in the area, but many agree that it was most likely formed by a meteorite. We continued on to Aztec Butte and were able to climb /scramble to the top of the slick rock to view the ancient  granaries. Crab walking on my hands and butt, I was able to observe this amazing area where native American people stored supplies for safe keeping. Finally, we visited Schafer Canyon viewpoint and the visitor center before returning to camp. What a spectacular day!    Read more

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    Arches National Park

    September 4 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Last night we rolled into Dead Horse State Park, after a 9-hour drive from Grand Tetons National Park. We set up camp, fixed dinner, took a short stroll around the campground and turned in for the night. 

    Arches National Park has a timed entry system where you have to reserve a spot to get in unless you arrive before 7:00 a.m. So... At 6:56 we arrived at the park kiosk to begin our day. We drove straight to Devil's garden a 7 1/2 mile hike highlighting several interesting red sandstone land forms and arches. It was a challenging hike at times, needing to scramble up rock surfaces, with dizzying cliffs on both sides of the trail. Due to my fear of heights, I had to cut the hike to Double O Arch short- where were the handrails, anyway?! We saw Platform, Navajo, and Landscape Arches. Our timing was perfect, as many times we were by ourselves on the trail, with a cool breeze. 

    We traveled down the road a little further, and hiked straight uphill to see Delicate Arch. This was a more popular spot with lots of people making the journey to see this spectacular expanse of sandstone. It was so much fun seeing this world community, hearing so many different languages, all so excited to see these stunning views and enjoying nature.

    We continued on and took another short hike to see Double Arch, Turret Arch, and North Window. We even got to take a look at some petroglyphs created by Ute native Americans, in around the 1600s when they first encountered white settlers. This is evidenced by inclusion of horses in the etchings. The contrast between the red sandstone, the sparse green trees, and the blue sky was stunning. As dark clouds began to fill the sky, it added another interesting element to the already surreal scenery.

    We left Arches, reminiscing about the incredible sights and scenery- What a privilege to experience this amazing place! 

    We continued on to the Moab Brewery where we celebrated with with a delicious dinner and Johnny's IPA, then headed back to the Casita at Dead Horse State Park.    Read more

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    Backcountry Kayaking- Leigh Lake

    September 1 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    We pulled into the kayak launch at String Lake at about 9:00am. We have become masters at avoiding crowds by arriving early and staying late. It's worked out well so far, as we nearly had the lake to ourselves! As we began to launch our kayaks, Mark's boat flipped, filling with water, and soaking everything! Still being close to the edge of the lake, he pulled everything out of his boat, bailed out the water, repacked and we were on our way- what a great sport! We kayaked to the north boundary of String Lake, then portaged our kayaks a short distance, down a ramp and into beautiful Leigh Lake. This gorgeous lake sits at the base of the Tetons, providing up close, detailed views of these amazing behemoths.  We paddled in about 3 miles, close to the base of Mount Moran, where we found our back country boat-in only campsite, Paint Brush Canyon.
    After setting up camp, setting the contents of Mark's kayak out to dry, and fixing dinner, we took an evening paddle around the bay- gorgeous! Our site was secluded- our only close neighbors being, loons, birds, a beaver swimming by, and an elk evidenced only by its bugling. The lighting reflected in the water provided a beautiful sunset, sunrise and a star show equally as beautiful in the sky and in its water reflection! 
    A beautiful morning, and perfect glass water led us back to the launch, giving us one more opportunity to take in the spectacular views, and reflect on yet and another amazing adventure!    Read more

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    Teton National Park

    August 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Yesterday we left Yellowstone and arrived at Colter Bay campground, in Teton National Park! We spent the day getting camp set up, walking around  Jackson Lake, and seeing what the visitor center had to teach us about this beautiful area. The jagged granite Teton mountains loomed high above and provided a stunning backdrop for Jackson Lake.

    This morning we got up early, and drove to Moose, where we hopped on a bike trail and headed for Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The scenery was amazing as the Tetons were on one side, with flat sagebrush plains on the other. Along the way, we spotted a Pronghorn antelope and an Elk bull leading his harem, at the National Elk Preserve.

    When we arrived at Jackson Hole, we locked up the bikes and had fun being tourists- treating ourselves to a yummy breakfast, flights of beer at two different breweries and checking out the shops in between. We got back on our bikes and returned to Moose, putting in about 27 miles, total.

    On the way back to camp we drove by beautiful Jenny Lake, checked out the visitor center, then located the boat dock at String Lake where we will be starting our kayaking trip, tomorrow. We have backcountry permits for a boat-in campsite, and will be staying at Leigh Lake tomorrow night. So much fun!    Read more

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    Backpacking Heart Lake

    Aug 29–Sep 1 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Instead of hiking, we decided to drive through Hayden Valley. It is an area known for an abundance of animals from grizzlies to bison. We decided to leave the animals to their natural environment instead of intruding on foot. 

    The next morning we set out on our 10 mile trip into the back country destination, Heart Lake. We headed out with our wilderness permits, bear spray, and everything we needed for a two-night stay packed on our backs. Along the way we stopped for relaxing, soak in the warm water bubbling down Witches Creek. Our hike led us to a beautiful campsite at the base of Mount Sheridan with Heart Lake directly in the front of us. Our site even included a hanging pole for our food and a pit toilet, with an amazing view! So much for leaving the animals to their natural environment, as when we arrived, notices advised us that there was a boar grizzly, and a mother with three cubs frequenting the area. We must have stored our food properly, as none of them decided to visit! 

    It was a beautiful campsite , though the clouds opened up and it poured for hours. We did lots of reading in our tent, taking short outings during breaks in the weather. In the late evening, bugling elk could be heard over the rain pounding the top of our little tent. We were grateful for its waterproofing capabilities, staying warm and dry. On our way out, the skies cleared revealing dramatic skies and amazing photo opportunities. We were able to take a close look at the geothermal features, especially mud pots and gorgeous scenery on the way out.

    After two amazing days in the back country of Yellowstone, we felt grateful for this amazing experience and that our bodies were able to get us there and the 10 miles back to our pickup. We shared a celebration beer and kicked back to reminisce about our fantastic journey to the Yellowstone outback.    Read more

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    It's the Little Things...

    August 25 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Today, as we hiked to Cascade, I was able to reflect on the little things that have been woven into the fabric of our adventure so far: the sound of Cascade Lake lapping at the shores, the sound of the Raven's wings as it ascends from our campsite, the tiny purple flower that announces itself along the trail, the hissing from the steam vents that can't be captured in a photo, a fish leaping straight out of the lake, teasing the fly fisherman just 100 yards down stream, a Colombian Spotted frog hiding in the shallows of the lake, a fuzzy caterpillar scurrying across the barren trail to find cover, hearing the banjo music from a few campsites down, discovering that cutthroat trout and graylings are the prize catches in Cascade lake.

    Seeing the brilliant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring reflected in the steam rising from its surface, catching the glimpse of a majestic bald eagle perched on a dead tree and wondering how long she was watching me before I spotted her, being able to see the difference between a Golden Mantle squirrel and Least chipmunk up close. When I look back at this partial list, I realize that these are not the little things at all, but important parts of a grand and detailed picture.    Read more

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    Old Faithful and Friends

    August 24 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    We drove into the parking lot at at 7:30 this morning, to view Old Faithful and avoid the crowds. This amazing geyser is not the tallest, but one of the most predictable, with timetables listed online. With a roar, water spouting and steam rising to the clouds for nearly 5 minutes, Old Faithful put on quite a show for us! This marathon of a day then led us to gorgeous Grand Prismatic Springs with its colorful algae forming a ring around a deep blue pool. From there, we hiked to the Prismatic Spring overlook for an even better view, then hiked to Fairy Falls. This beautiful little fall trickled over a cliff, into a grotto, forming a small pool. We continued our hike, until we arrived at Imperial Geyser. We were the only ones there and it felt like we had made an amazing discovery! This surreal geyser and its surrounding pool erupted continuously- such a hidden treasure! From there, we backtracked to our truck and headed back to see Old Faithful again and check out the visitor center. We also hiked to see the other geysers, thermal pools, and mud pots, at the Upper Geyser Basin. We ended our day having a cocktail, reflecting on this fantastic day, and had a delicious dinner before heading back to camp.Read more

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    Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

    August 23 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    I'm creating this blog post from a hammock, swaying gently, at our campsite in beautiful Canyon Campground. It feels great to take a break after our 9 mile there and back hike on the North Rim trail in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

    We got up, packed a lunch and got to the trailhead about 7:30 this morning. It was chilly enough to wear our puffy jackets as we started our hike, the only ones on the trail!

    We walked along the North Rim of this massive Canyon, saw amazing water  features, and beautiful colors on the cliffs leading down to the Yellowstone River. Along the way, we saw Crystal falls, rushing Lower Falls, gushing Upper Falls, gorgeous scenery from Lookout Point and ended at Inspiration Point. We ate an early lunch at Inspiration Point and marveled at the view before us! We then retraced our steps back to the trail head, getting to see everything from a different angle and perspective. Beautiful!    Read more

  • In Search of Yogi

    The American Serengeti

    August 21 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    After awaking to the alarm at 5:30 this morning, we treated ourselves to a day with a Field Educator, working for the Yellowstone Forever Institute. Joined by a couple from Italy, the four of us spent the day learning about Yellowstone's famous northern range, the Lamar Valley, (dubbed  "The American Serengeti").Our amazing guide shared information about the history, wildlife ecology and Yellowstone's delicate ecosystem. During the course of the day, we saw hundreds of bison,  a black bear eating wild berries, a grizzly bear and her cub ambling up a mountain, pronghorn antelope, an osprey nest with three fledglings, elk, bighorn sheep, and a coyote. Most of the animals were surprisingly close to the edge of the road and the bison, in rut, put on quite a show with their bellowing and grunting! Our guide also set up a high-powered viewing scope. Seasoned wolf trackers sent messages via walkie-talkie to our guide. Though we patiently searched, the elusive wolves stayed hidden. What a day- We felt so privileged to have this experience seeing Yellowstone's amazing creatures up close, in their natural environment!Read more

  • In Search of Yogi

    Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone

    August 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Leaving craters of the Moon, we continued through Idaho's high desert. We passed through the tiny town of Arco, it's claimed to fame being the first town in the United States, powered by atomic energy. We then noticed the Idaho National Laboratory, the Materials Fuel Complex, and nuclear waste management areas. Underground potato storage bunkers were not far away- I think I'll stick to rice for a while! We crossed into Wyoming and the West entrance of Yellowstone, and headed North toward Mammoth Hot Springs. Along the way, we saw a moose, pronghorn antelope, an elk and a black bear! The bear caused quite a scene, and a bear jam, resulting in a 40 minute delay. Not being in any hurry, we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery. The smell of sulfur greeted us as we approached Mammoth Hot springs terraces. These boiling springs have created limestone chalk white travertine terraces as they have traveled down the mountain. The beautiful formations are similar to some that might be seen in caves, and are only accessible by boardwalk, amazing! We finished our day by setting up camp at the Mammoth campground.Read more

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    Craters of the Moon

    August 19 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    More high desert guided us across the Idaho border and to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. This amazing 750,000 acre landscape was formed over 2,000 years ago by belching spatter cones and lava oozing through the Earth's crust. After getting the Casita settled in campsite 8, Mark unloaded the bikes and we rode to the visitor center. We returned to camp, prepared our dinner, and planned which hikes we would take to see this fascinating landscape up close. At sunset, and after the heat of the day had subsided, we hiked North Crater Flow trail, Devil's Orchard nature trail, Inferno Cone, Spatter Cone, Snow Cone, and hiked out to to the Dew Drop Cave where bats roost. After an beautiful sunset, we headed back to camp, set up the lawn chairs and gazed at the stars in this incredible dark sky park.Read more

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    We're Off!

    August 18 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Today marks the first day of our adventure in search of Yogi! Well probably, if truth be known, we would rather avoid the grizzlies in Yellowstone all together! Our longest travel day, about 9 hours, as we drove through our old stomping grounds of Alturas, we noticed many rigs filled with ladders, building materials, and assorted water and propane tanks. It was then we noticed the turn off for Gerlach-The Burners were making their way to their sacred meeting grounds! We passed through the Oregon border and were met with high desert, pronghorn antelope, and a sign that read " Mile 18 Highway 20 Golden Sage Rat Hunt"! We passed on the rat hunt and found our way to Crane Hot Spring. This beautiful Oasis is where we stayed for the night, soaked in the hot springs and watched the shooting stars as we fell asleep.Read more

  • Susan AlvesWalking the CaminoTraveler
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    Santiago de Compostela

    July 31, 2022 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    We arrived in Santiago de Compostela, and commenced with our daily ceremonial rituals of our arrival to new city: bigs hugs and a toast to the adventure of the day!
    The cathedral was beautiful; a parade of classic cars made it's way through the cobblestone streets, just in time for mass; and a bag pipe band made music in the streets. Throngs of pilgrims made their way to the Compostela office- seeing familiar faces, we stopped along the way to congratulate each other and snap pictures in front of the Cathedral. At the Pilgrim Compostela office- I was issued a certified document stating that: I walked for 31 consecutive days, covering 779 kilometers. Distance traveled is verified by a Pilgrim Credential, where stamps are collected throughout the journey at stops along the way. We also carried our backpacks the entire distance.
    I consider myself a goal driven person and have never really subscribed to the notion that, "It's not about the end result, but all about the journey." My experience of walking the Camino de Santiago was the exception. Arriving in Santiago was a beautiful experience, and, so was our trek: over the Pyrenees Mountains; through Basque country; navigating Castilla and Leon; over long stretches through the Meseta; over the Cantabrian Mountains; and through Galicia. Walking the Camino was ALL about the journey, from beginning to end. And what a journey it was!🏞️ Tomorrow we will take a bus to Finisterre, the Atlantic Ocean- the end of the earth to early Pilgrims. And, Tuesday I'll journey to my favorite place on earth- home! Love to you all!    Read more

  • Susan AlvesWalking the CaminoTraveler

    Santa Irene

    July 30, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Our last full day of trekking, 30k, prior to arriving in Santiago, ended in Santa Irene, a small farming community. Our albergue offered a communal dinner, so we got to share a meal with Victoria. from Romania, Peter from Austria, and Silvi from France. We shared experiences of the Camino, the translation of the word snore in 4 different languages, and how we would be feeling upon reaching the end of our journey. I was asked. if I thought I would feel sad when I reached Santiago, completing this adventure. I answered with a resounding No. It is true that s has been a privilege to have had this amazing journey of a lifetime, shared with a wonderful friend, meeting warm and interesting people from around the world, and getting an intimate view of Spain and the varied elements of Spanish culture. It is also true that I have the most wonderful husband, family, and friends in my home community who I love and miss terribly, and can't wait to get home to.!
    Love and much gratitude l to the warm and wonderful people of Spain who shared their homes, food, advise, stories, and hearts with this traveler from California.These wonderful memories that you have helped to create will be with me always.❤️
    Photos: so many kittens; heading up the Camino for milking; water fonts along the way for pilgrims; the kitchen in our albergue.    Read more

  • Susan AlvesWalking the CaminoTraveler
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    Melide

    July 29, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Another great day of walking, ending in the fairly large city of Melide. Throughout our days of trekking together, Marjory and I have shared stories and philosophies on life, social justice, personal growth, family, and living our best lives. We laugh frequently as we tromp down the path, cried listening to Joni Mitchell, share "trail hugs" and have dubbed ourselves "Camino wives." We are quite the trekking duo and have developed a deep friendship as a result our Camino experience. Love you, Marjory.
    Photos: horse cops are the best; beautiful sites; Audi meets 1000 year old building; random mix of chemistry and music; crossing the ancient bridge into Melide; amazing churches; and the opportunity to order a complete cow for dinner?!
    Tomorrow will be our last full day of trekking, before reaching Santiago. It'll be a 30K day, alarm is set for 4:30am, and a 7 piece band is blaring on a stage across the street. Who knows what time we'll be able to get to sleep tonight.😳 Love to you all!❤️    Read more

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    Ventas de Naron

    July 28, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Today we arrived in the tiny farming community of Ventas de Naron- the only place I' ve seen where corn and pine trees grow side by side. A few minutes to review our stats: 28 days of consecutive walking; spending the night in 28 different Albergues; covering 435 miles; with 3 days of walking to go! It has been exhilarating, challenging, difficult, brilliant, arduous, awesome, and at times, challenged our comfort zones, (sir- please put your pants on!).
    Animals/insects along the way: horses, donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, dogs, skinny cats, green frogs, thin green lizards, dead hedgehogs; birds, hawks, storks, snails, grey butt bees, striped beetles, banana bread slugs, tons of mariposas that have led our way, cicadas, so many flies, a dead mole, and no pigs, (although we've eaten a substantial amount).
    Photos: homemade paella for dinner last night; structure at each house for drying corn; crooked gate to the dark beyond; Jack's Spanish soul mate; breaking the 100 meter mark; a gorgeous sunrise; banana, (bread), slug; beautiful sights along the way. Love to you from Spain! ❤️    Read more

  • Susan AlvesWalking the CaminoTraveler

    Barbadelos

    July 27, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Another 30k day, following a river through countryside and farms. We decided to go the long route, (an additional 6.5k), to see more of the beautiful surroundings and to see the monastery at Samos. It also gave us time to reflect on some of the wonderful people we've met along the way: Rory from England who had never walked more than two miles in his life, who is walking the Camino in honor of his sister who is battling cancer; Maggie from NC who was looking for water in the street, suffering from food poisoning- we set her up with Pepto, Imodium, and a full water bottle; Jonna, Flo, and Paulo from Italy who greet us with loud yells and hugs every time our paths cross; Silvi, from France who we compare trail and walking notes with and philosophy on trekking; Patrice from France who tossed and turned all night, worried his snoring would wake us; Sonjay from London who is now surfing in the Bay of Biscay; the lovely Croatian couple who share stories of hitchhiking in Pakistan and Afghanistan, (he hides in the bushes until someone stops to pick her up, the hops in, too!); the German man who quit his job to walk the Camino- although his wife is pissed off, it's OK, because she is still working...🤔; the amazing Maria from Spain, who fell and broke her arm and nose, but keeps smiling, laughing and walking; Marshall from Willows, CA, who chased us down the trail to tell is we were going the wrong way; Kato from Japan, who studies English in the Netherlands?!; Mary from Alabama, who had a lung transplant two years ago, and whose experience is an inspiration, and the list could go on and on! On the Camino, so many wonderful people have crossed our paths- it truly is a small world, after all.🌎 Love to you all! ❤️Read more

  • Susan AlvesWalking the CaminoTraveler
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    Triacastela

    July 26, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    We reached Galicia today, and arrived in Triacastela, after 26k, at about 12:30. We started our trek at 5:30am, walking straight uphill, for the first 5k, our headlamps lighting our path. Walking in the dark is magical. The stars seem so close, as the full moon that guided our walk two weeks ago, has now decreased to a sliver. The tiny droplets that appeared in the beam of my headlamp, turned into a fog bank, and hid the view below the mountains when we reached the top. Walking in the dark is silent, allowing for things to emerge and transform. It also presents surprises, like the dog who was not sure that he liked me walking by his barn in the dark. After lots of barking, and a momentary standoff, he allowed us to continue on our way. As the sunlight emerged over the mountain range, we shared a cup of coffee and made a toast to the new day, and our last Tuesday, walking the Camino.
    Triacastela , our destination, is a small farming community, with gardens and cattle. The photos show some of the sites, including the cows who don't follow street signs, and the bathroom sign that gives explicit instructions, in case you need them.😂 Love to you all!    Read more

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