Camino

August - September 2024

Our big retirement adventure part 1. We are walking the Camino de Santiago on the Frances (the french way) from St Jean Pied Deport, France to Santiago, Spain for a total of 879 km. Read more

List of countries

Spain
France
United States

Categories

Backpacking, Bus, Car, Couple, Culture, Hiking, Sightseeing, Train, Wellness

10.5kkilometers traveled

Means of transport

Flight9,049kilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Camino
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- Day 31
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 9:39 PM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 880 m
- Spain Astorga 42.454217, -6.05127642°27’15” N 6°3’5” W
A little update
September 11, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
The kilometers make no sense here. We passed several markers that had the same distance on the but they were kilometers apart.

As near as we can tell, we've walked about 541 km, which is about 338 miles. That leaves us with about 270 km more to get to Santiago.Read more
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- Day 32
- Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 9:48 PM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 1,153 m
- Spain Rabanal del Camino 42.482155, -6.28292242°28’56” N 6°16’59” W
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Day 30 - Astorga to Rabanal de Camino
September 12, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
After a great rest day, we started walking again today. Teresa's getting hooked, at one point, she said, " it actually feels good to be walking again".

It's amazing how the km go by quickly when your feet and legs feel better. We did 13 miles, it went by fast, we even took time to sit and enjoy the day.

Teresa's done a great job of picking places to stay. Tonight, we're in a private albergue with an amazing host named Kim. She had cookies, fresh baked banana bread, and coffee for us when we arrived. She did our laundry and made reservations at a restaurant in town for dinner. She's awesome.

The landscape has changed from farmland to more pine forests as we head into the mountains. We have a big climb and decent tomorrow.Read more
Traveler A lot of walkers, is this a more popular stretch or was this pretty usual all along?
9/12/24Reply
TravelerIt had definitely picked up since we left Leon Darrah.
9/13/24Reply
TravelerIt's getting busier as more people are starting caminos closer to Santiago. Also, we've seen an increase right after a bigger city, like Leon. Butgos and now Astorga.
9/12/24Reply
Traveler Shoes!
9/13/24Reply
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- Day 33
- Friday, September 13, 2024 at 9:46 PM
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 586 m
- Spain Molinaseca 42.537368, -6.51963742°32’15” N 6°31’11” W
Day 31 - Rabanal to Molinaseca
September 13, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
It's a roller coaster of a walk today. Lots of ups and downs, with a good uphill climb up to the Cruz de Ferra.

Met some new people today, 2 guys from Philly and a couple from Australia/New Zealand, Mike and Jo. I walked with Craig from Philly most of the afternoon. The guy is 76 and walking this part of the camino. We did 16.5 miles today on rocky terrain.

We stayed in a nice albergue and had a traditional Brazilian dinner homemade by our hosts. It was delicious. Another great day on the camino.Read more
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Camino
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- Day 34
- Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10:00 PM
- 🌙 18 °C
- Altitude: 484 m
- Spain Cacabelos 42.599567, -6.72568442°35’58” N 6°43’32” W
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Day 32 - Molinasesca to Cacabelos
September 14, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Good day of walking , mostly on paved surfaces today. My quads feel it from the rocky steep walk yesterday, so it was a nice break today. Started out cooler this morning, but the stars were out when we left the village.

Walked through some rural neighborhoods with gardens and livestock. Got into some vineyards where they were harvesting grapes and ended in a cute little town in wine country.

The change in terrain has also changed the houses some. Instead of the terra cota roof tiles, they've turned to black slate roofs.Read more
Traveler Beautiful countryside!
9/14/24Reply
Traveler This is just breathtaking! Ancient and spectacular!
9/14/24Reply
Traveler Now I know it’s you, Russ! Pictures of MEAT! LOL
9/14/24Reply
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- Day 35
- Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 9:04 PM
- 🌙 19 °C
- Altitude: 630 m
- Spain Ambasmestas 42.664336, -6.94393642°39’52” N 6°56’38” W
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Day 33 - Cacabelos to Vega de Valcarce
September 15, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
It was a long but enjoyable day. We went about 18 miles today(somewhat unintentionally) as we were supposed to save our legs for a climb tomorrow. However, we like to add complexity to our adventures.

We took 2 alternative routes today. One was through the wine country and was an easy walk....the other was a climb of about 2400 feet in elevation gain and about 12 km. We were the only pilgrims on that route as we saw no one in about 4 hours.

Ended up in a cute little village for the night. Tomorrow, we climb one of the bigger climbs on the camino. After today, it should be a breeze.Read more
Traveler Looks beautiful. I think it was a wise decision
9/15/24Reply
Traveler Wow👍 What an amazing adventure😋
9/15/24Reply
TravelerImpressive Teresa and Russ - good continuation!
9/17/24Reply
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- Day 36–37
- September 16, 2024 at 8:46 PM - September 17, 2024
- 1 night
- 🌙 18 °C
- Altitude: 1,287 m
- Spain Fonfría 42.731171, -7.15729742°43’52” N 7°9’26” W
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Day 34 - Vega to Fronfria
Sep 16–17, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Big climb today, thank goodness my feet have healed or it would have sucked. We climbed 3100 feet over about 12 km through beautiful mountain woods and pasture land. As tough as it was, it was a good day.
Passed through some cool little villages along the way. There are lots of cattle in the fields and cow poop on the trail.

In the village we're staying in tonight, the cows were being milked, then walked themselves to the barn for the night. Good-looking animals as well.

Had a nice pilgrims communal dinner n a round house with about 30 people attending. All in all, a great day!Read more
TravelerI had a Find Penguins memory pop up from 8 years ago today - Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro!
9/16/24Reply
TravelerTerri, that's crazy!
9/16/24Reply
Traveler Great pic!
9/16/24Reply
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- Day 37
- Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 9:19 PM
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 542 m
- Spain Samos 42.729373, -7.32779942°43’46” N 7°19’40” W
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Day 35 - Fonfria to Samos
September 17, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
I have to add this to yesterday's blog.
As many of you know, I can be a little competitive at times. I've had to learn to let go of trying to catch up to the pilgrims in front of us or being pissed off when we get passed by little spanish ladies. We have a pace, and that's the best we can do, however...yesterday we were on fire! We passed 5 pilgrims during our walk yesterday. It was a record day for us. 2 were younger guys, and 3 were 70 year old ladies from Florida . We kicked ass!

Today was probably one of the nicer days we've had walking so far. The weather was perfect, the legs and feet felt great, and the scenery was spectacular. We had shade, went through little villages, along a river, and only did about 18 km miles today.

I had one of my favorite lunches, meat and cheese, and just had a relaxing vibe all day. And we passed 2 people today...

A great day on the camino.Read more
TravelerYou competitive? 😂.
9/17/24Reply
Traveler That's a lot of meat! Looks yummy!
9/17/24Reply
TravelerWay to take out the 70 year olds!!!😂 amazing pics!
9/17/24Reply
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- Day 38
- Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 9:26 PM
- 🌙 18 °C
- Altitude: 531 m
- Spain Barbadelo 42.769061, -7.44502642°46’9” N 7°26’42” W
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Day 36 - Samos to Vilei/Barbadelo
September 18, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
It was a shorter day today, only about 12 miles. A nice walk into Sarria visiting with a young man from the Bavaria region of Germany. The countryside of Galicia is really nice and reminds me of southern Oregon some.

We are about 110 km from Santiago at this point. The vibe of the camino will change from solitude to more people walking as this area is a starting point for many walking the camino on a limited schedule or even a school trip. Other camino routes also join here for the last 100 km into Santiago. We witnessed two larger groups showing up at our hostel tonight. We hope to beat them to the trail in the morning.

We've walked approximately 430 miles to this point. Putting it in perspective, that's like walking from our house in CP to Seattle. It was a little hard to imagine we could have done that. 5 more days and we'll be in Santiago..
Yikes!Read more
Traveler Had to put thus pic of the kids at Disney World in Florida.
9/18/24Reply
Traveler Getting our km's in, too!
9/18/24Reply
TravelerWow! You’re almost there! Amazing.
9/18/24Reply
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- Day 39
- Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 9:29 PM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 545 m
- Spain Gonzar 42.825179, -7.69292942°49’31” N 7°41’35” W
2 1
Day 37 - Vilie to Gonzar
September 19, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
A little longer walk today, a little over 16 miles. The morning was warmer than the past few days due to being overcast, so we were peeling layers early on.

Nice walk with some rollers to get us huffing and puffing. There are definitely more people on the trail now, but we took a few alternative trails and saw fewer people. You can tell the newbies by their clean shoes, ours look like crap.

It's been a little bit of a bummer not seeing all the people we've walked with over the last month, but we're getting used to that. We are keeping tabs on them through WhatsApp, which is nice to see where they're at.
I was interested in these structures used for drying food, I believe. I'll need to do a little research on what they're called. It's the first we've seen on the trail so far.Read more
Traveler The drying structure.
9/19/24Reply
Traveler And another
9/19/24Reply
Traveler It's an hórreo. Sounds a little like Oreo. 😊
9/19/24Reply
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- Day 40
- Friday, September 20, 2024 at 9:15 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 569 m
- Spain Palas de Rey 42.87264, -7.86725742°52’22” N 7°52’2” W
Day 38 - Gonzar to Palas de Rei
September 20, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Today was fairly anticlimactic as we just walked. The morning was foggy, and the day stayed pretty cool. We had a touch of rain for a bit but nothing like we had earlier in the trip.

I found out that the name of those structures is Horreos. They're a granary for drying grains and corn. They're meant to keep things inside dry and rodents out. With good air flow, it also reduces mold issues. They first were used in the 17th century, and in this area is they are trying to preserve them.

Had a nice surprise in one village where they had a donation based coffee, water, and food set up. Nice people and a great atmosphere to come across.Read more
TravelerThe horreos is a cool little structure. I like the chapel pics too.
9/20/24Reply
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