• Keith Aldrich
  • Keith Aldrich

Spain 2019 - Potes to Santiago

June 2019 Les mer
  • Arrived Oviedo - Got my Pilgrim Passport

    5. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Drove from Covadonga to Oviedo. Dropped of the rental car. Took a taxi to the hotel. Luckily my hotel let me check in at 11:00am. Dropped my stuff and headed to the Cathedral. Picked up my pilgrims passport from the Oviedo Cathedral - the original beginning of the Camino Primitivo. Toured the Cathedral which house the shroud of Jesus. Very cool to see. The afternoon was a bit chaotic. The bike rental company forgot the toe clips. I found a bike shop 2 miles away. I walked there from the Cathedral. No toe clips - only pedals with toe clips integrated. Unfortunately I didn’t have pedal wrench. So I walked back to the hotel. Got my back and rode back to the bike shop. They were closed for Siesta. So I rode back to the hotel. Walked around the park nearby. Then rode my bike back in the evening. They put on toe clips. And get this - NO Charge - they gave it to me. On them. Who does that? I kept offering to pay - they said no - on them. Wow. Awesome. Rode back to the hotel and crashed on the bed for a bit.Les mer

  • Oviedo to Cudilerrro

    6. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Started the journey this morning from Oviedo to Cudilerro. The first five miles or so through town were a bit stressful navigating traffic . Once I got outside of town it was amazing. Beuatiful one lane roads, colorful houses, farms, etc. Mountain climbs. Rivers. Reminded me a lot of Northern California. So glad I went with the e-bike. There is no way I would have got up some of those long climbs (2-3 miles) with all the weight I had. The Giant e-bike is a synchronized assist so it doesn’t work unless you are pedaling. It matches your power in assist mode up to 15 miles an hour then it turns off. Basically it felt like riding my road bike up Costco hill, but the assist was nice with all the extra weight - otherwise I would have been walking the bike or going up at a couple miles per hour. Felt a little guilty passing the pilgrim walking with their packs.Les mer

  • Arrived in Cudilerro

    6. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    It is everything I had hoped for and more. Cute little fishing village built into the Side of the hill. Checked into the hotel. Walked around. Bought a knife with bottle opener. No more caveman ripping the baguette to make a sandwich and now I can open a bottle of wine. Both a pastry that was cream filled, flaky and chocolate covered. YUM. And a coke. Been on a coke kick. Very refreshing and doesn’t taste as sweet as American Coke. Showered - washed clothes - hung them outside my balcony. Walked around the village. Sitting by the water drinking a mojito and updating my journal. It is 9:30pm and looks like it is about 7:00pm out. Can’t get used to how light it stays out so late. Dinner later.Les mer

  • Sunset in Cudilerro

    6. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Sat and watched the sunset. Drank a mojito. It is so odd that it doesn’t get dark until after 10pm. Then walked back to put pants on. Sat down to dinner at 10:30. Had fresh caught Bonito and some sort of custard chocolate pie with Cafe Con Leche. Can’t get over people still sitting down to dinner at 11:15.Les mer

  • Cycling Cudillero to Luarca

    7. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Slept until 8:30 after a late night dinner. Left Cudillero around 10:15. Arrived in Luarca around 3:30ish after 36 miles and 3525 ft of elevation gain. Legs were feeling it. It was non-stop climbing from the ocean up over a ridge only to drop back to ocean and climb right back up. Luckily it was a cool day and was treated to great views. Stopped for coffee at a roadside cafe where a dozen other pilgrims were resting.Les mer

  • Evening in Luarca

    7. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After walking back to my room to put on pants and a jacket as it was quite cool this evening with a breeze - I walked along harbor and the dozens of restaurants with signs that dinner is served at 8:30. So funny. In Folsom it is challenge to find food after Yoga at 8:45. Here it is a challenge to find food before 8:30. I headed to an outdoor cafe and had a cafe con leche and watched the world go by. I then ordered another. Then switched to Vino Tinto as I was pretty chill. Then another. Finally decided I should get some food around 10:45. I asked for my bill. $5 euros. I told him I think he forgot to charge me for something. He printed a tag. 2 wine 2 coffee - 5 euros. I was expecting at least a $20 tab. Walking back was too lazy to sit for dinner. Next to the hotel was a small hole in the wall to go shop. I got some pasta and a drink to take back to my room for $4 euro. He asked if I was a pilgrim and said he would give me extra for my important journey to make me strong.Les mer

  • Evening in Lourenz

    9. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Arrived tired. Dropped our stuff. Showered. Washed clothes and put them on the line to dry. Begrudgingly walked the 10 minutes into town to by groceries for dinner and breakfast. Walked the 10 minutes up hill to the house. Great little house with a view of the cathedral from dining room and kitchen. Jordan and Marie made pesto pasta and salad while I wrapped myself in a blanket on the couch. Then the three of polished a container of ice cream. Ate dinner around 10. Bed by 11:30Les mer

  • Met Jesus today

    11. juli 2019, Spania ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Walking along we come to a shaded area, a creek, a bridge,
    And a man selling hand carved jewelry. He is totally chill - gentle spirit. Marie and Jordan buy matching bracelets. I buy a small wood carved sea shell. We talk for awhile and I tell him he has a beautiful spirit about him and good energy. He says yes I know because I am a good person. He touches his heart and says you feel me and know me from here. He says he is part of the family of Love. He is here to spread love to others and says some just need a little extra help path finding their path back to love. Jordan asks his name as we are leaving. “Jesus”. Of course - what else would it be.Les mer