Camino de Santiago

September - October 2017

A 23-day adventure by Bill Read more

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Traveler Camino de Santiago
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- Sep 19, 2017, 12:41pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 84 m
- England Frindsbury Extra Luton 51.3521, 0.533751°21’8” N 0°32’1” E
Day 1
Getting nervous now!
September 19, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Final preparations taking shape, as I prepare to fly to Oviedo on 27 Sept and start the last 350km of my Camino de Santiago. Travelling to Leon I hope to start walking on 28th September and look forward to meeting new people. Hope to avoid blisters this year, but as ever will walk with an open heart, an open mind, and even open eyes!!Read more
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- Sep 20, 2017, 7:46pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 122 m
- England Tonbridge and Malling District Walderslade Rochester Airport 51.346264, 0.52852151°20’47” N 0°31’43” E
Day 2
Packing Decisions
September 20, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
So, it's a familiar feeling (panic!) what to take, what to leave behind. I am referring to a list I made some time ago...actually last year to see what I should put into the rucksack or not. I need to keep the weight down to about 10kgs (yeh some hope, it was 12kgs last time, but that was the hair straightners!!). So over the next 5 days various items will appear on the bedroom floor, be packed, taken out, re-packed, removed, and re-packed. At the weekend I plan to walk 20km with the pack fully loaded, but even then this may not influence the final kit. This has been a long time in the planning, and I can't help but feel emotional just thinking about it. Oh, and as the photo shows, I will be accompanied by my special "Sheppey" rock, I started with three, left one last year, will leave another this year, and will never leave this one behind its become to special (can't explain why).Read more
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- Sep 24, 2017, 5:02pm
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 122 m
- England Tonbridge and Malling District Walderslade Rochester Airport 51.346264, 0.52852151°20’47” N 0°31’43” E
Day 6
Last Training Walk
September 24, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
That's the last training walk completed and four and a half hours gone! Think i covered about 14 miles, and now I am aching a little, and need a cold beer. So, fly to Oviedo on Wednesday and still have huge confusion over where to start from, how far to walk each day, and whether to take the hair straighteners or not. Don't want to look too untidy when I go to mass in Santiago, now do I.Read more
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- Sep 27, 2017, 5:58am
- 🌫 11 °C
- Altitude: 135 m
- England Uttlesford District Takeley Stansted Airport Railway Station 51.889805, 0.26294451°53’23” N 0°15’47” E
Day 9
One small step...goodbye my love
September 27, 2017 in England ⋅ 🌫 11 °C
It's today! Waiting to board for Asturias and day one of the Camino de Santiago. It's a bitter sweet morning. Leaving the woman I love behind and stepping off into relative obscurity. Can't wait for 11th October and a hug (or three).
Each step a little closer, each day I will hold you near, as we part we shed a tear. But soon in each others arms we will be, and then together we will cheer.Read more
Traveler I love you with all my heart and am missing you already (even though you're sitting in front of me) xxx
9/27/17Reply
Traveler "You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!"
9/27/17Reply
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- Sep 27, 2017, 1:55pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 253 m
- Spain Asturias Oviedo Arcos Woody Allen statue 43.363601, -5.85047443°21’49” N 5°51’2” W
Day 9
Oviedo and beyond
September 27, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Transiting through the beautiful city of Oviedo en route to Leon. Stopped off at Oviedo Cathedral for a stamp (sello) in my pilgrims credential. It's where I flew out when I'd finished the first half of my Camino (St Jean Pied de Port to Leon). So now two stamps a year apart. Onwards to Santiago.Read more
Traveler That's a great shot! It was so lovely to talk to you earlier and know you're happy and safe xx
9/27/17Reply
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- Sep 27, 2017, 8:56pm
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 829 m
- Spain León Plaza San Marcelo 42.593372, -5.57030142°35’36” N 5°34’13” W
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Day 9
Leon - it starts here
September 27, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Tonight I'm holed up in the beautiful city of Leon and it's magnificent Cathedral. An example of what things just might have been had the reformation not have happened. Tomorrow it's an early start and off to Astorga and who knows where.Read more
Traveler What a great shot! I'm so pleased that your settled, happy and ready to get on your way! 381 😘 xxx
9/27/17Reply
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- Sep 28, 2017, 3:55pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 1,442 m
- Spain Castille and León Santa Colomba de Somoza Foncebadón 42.491948, -6.34282242°29’31” N 6°20’34” W
Day 10
Camino de Santiago - Foncebadon
September 28, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Foncebadon has the reputation for being the home of rabid dogs - but that's not true! I've seen more cats since I stopped for the night at Albergue La Cruz de Fierro. A tough day at the end - some 25kms walked today, with the terrain rising steadily to an elevation typically shrouded in mist or buried in deep snow. Had planned to save 6kms and stop at Rufugio Guacelmo, but even though it is operated by the kind hospitaleros associated with the Confraternity of Saint James in the U.K. I chose to walk on to be near the Cruz de Ferro early in the morning (see separate post - tomorrow or 29 Sept depending on when your reading this. It was a decision I was regretting near the end. My left hip is very painful and was weak and unstable on the last climbs. Some pain killers, shed the weight and it has eased. Yes, I will be careful !!!! Guess it's the cost of a total hip displacement some years ago. Now showered, washing done and drying, I'm relaxing and will go for some dinner about 6pm (5pm Uk). And then an early night and out early in the morning. Plan to walk to Ponferrada (24kms) tomorrow.Read more
Traveler I'm glad you're going to be relaxing. I hope that your hip pain ends soon. Be careful, Mr!xx
9/28/17Reply
Traveler Hip pain what hip pain? Long live Mr Ibuprofen and Ms Paracetamol!
9/29/17Reply
Traveler You're a trooper, you really are! I'm missing you so, so much xxx
9/29/17Reply
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- Sep 29, 2017, 4:25pm
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 541 m
- Spain Castille and León Ponferrada Río Boeza 42.543065, -6.58984742°32’35” N 6°35’23” W
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Day 11
Cruz de Ferro and descent to Ponferrada
September 29, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
The iron cross marks the highest part of the mountain pass and has become the place pilgrims leave behind a stone brought with them from home (or elsewhere) on the Camino. I brought stones from my birthplace the Isle of Sheppey (from the beach adjacent to the Catholic Church of St Henry and Elizabeth). I then passed through El Acebo a typically mountain village with rickety wooden balconies suspended over the road. Through Molinaseca; on to Campo; and finally to Ponferrada for the night. I am bedding down in the Albergue de Guiana. Ponferrada's Templar Castle is one of the best preserved examples of its kind and offers a glimpse into what castle life must have been like in the 12th and 13th centuries. Well enough of the history...my Albergue is 21st Century and while I've written this my washing has dried in the tumble drier!Read more
Traveler That's the smile I like to see xxx
9/29/17Reply
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Traveler Camino de Santiago
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- Oct 1, 2017, 5:51pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 900 m
- Spain Castille and León Vega de Valcarce La Faba 42.683582, -7.00664942°41’1” N 7°0’24” W
Day 13
Villafranca del Bierzo
October 1, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
I have descended into the town of Villafranca del Bierzo, lost the yellow signs and ended up nearly out the other side, nearly being run over just for fun. Villafranca del Bierzo is one of the prettiest towns on the Camino. It is full of narrow streets (along which cars speed!!) that twist and dare a pilgrim not to get lost. No matter your journey very steep climbs are obligatory.
The feet are beginning to be an issue (my biggest fear are blisters) but it appears to toe box on my boots is a little shallow and I have two (painful) black big toe nails!! So it's on with the Teva sandals today and what a relief. Oh and no mocking me, but I wore my walking socks too. Ok...it's continuing to be amazing, scenery is awesome and lifts the spirits at every turning. I may though amputate some toes. XRead more
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- Oct 1, 2017, 6:02pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 900 m
- Spain Castille and León Vega de Valcarce La Faba 42.683575, -7.00670642°41’1” N 7°0’24” W
Day 13
La Faba - Roasted Peppers and Kindness
October 1, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
I'm resting now in the hamlet of La Faba a small hamlet on the way up to O'Cebreiro. With little more than a dozen houses. The German Confraternity couldn't be more welcoming (something the English Albergue could learn from - maybe despite my intention to stop I didn't due to an officious English reception). My feet are very sore and I have a real risk of a blister. Couldn't stick my boots today (again) so it was in the sandals (and socks again). Missing fold at home, but non more than my love Emma. X
Dinner tonight was a delight, just three of us (Cindy from the USA - a hospital pharmacologist , Franz from Germany - I think he's an international Bank Director; and me (Bill) from England - a village idiot 🤤). We passed through enroute to La Faba the hamlet of Pradela (Bierzo) and received at the Albergue Pradela the most beautiful welcome and kindness from the hosts. We had witnessed as we entered the town a small group of people roasting peppers on an open fire in front of a house. We spoke of this at the Albergue, and not only were we shown the store of peppers, tomatoes, and various fruits, we were given a piece of chestnut cake (chestnuts are in abundance and fall on pilgrims heads frequently) and a jar of their roasted peppers to eat. It's safe to say they were delicious and didn't last the impromptu lunch break. Franz is a true gem, frequently producing from his rucksack a feast of breads, cheeses, and meats. His conversations have been a privilege to participate in, thought provoking and incisive. For me he typified why German's are regarded so highly and rightly so.Read more
Traveler I'm missing you so very much too and I'm sure your fold are xxx
10/1/17Reply
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