Sep – Nov 2022

Camino de Santiago

A 61-day adventure by Susan and Jim's Travels & Susan Read more

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Trip start
September 18, 2022
Camino de Santiago
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- Day 1
- Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 4:23 PM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- United States Logan International Airport 42.37, -71.0242°22’12” N 71°1’12” W
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And we are off!
September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Sue and I are in terminal E at Logan airport, waiting for our flight. Ready to fly off to Paris, the first stop on our trip!
TravelerSo exciting! Safe travels!!
9/18/22Reply
Traveler have a good camino!!! hope you won't get too much rain.
9/19/22Reply
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- Day 2
- Monday, September 19, 2022 at 8:45 AM
- ☀️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 107 m
- France Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 49.000073, 2.56204449°0’0” N 2°33’43” E
Flying over France.
September 19, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Coming in to Charles de Gaulle.
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- Day 2
- Monday, September 19, 2022 at 3:48 PM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 78 m
- France Paris 14 Observatoire 48.836667, 2.32333348°50’12” N 2°19’24” E
Jet Lag day in Paris
September 19, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A marathon travel day. Little sleep and long delays. Over an hour to get through the Passport check at the airport. An hour on the train into the city from Charles de Gaulle. Some last minute Camino shopping and a cafe lunch.

Then we could check-in to our hotel for tonight, near the Montparnasse train station for tomorrow's TGV trip to the French Pyranees.

Then off for a Paris walkabout to fight off jet lag sleep. Now another cafe for some wine and dinner before finishing the walk-about back to Hotel Mistral!Read more
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- Day 2
- Monday, September 19, 2022
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 105 m
- France Le Mesnil-Amelot 49.002578, 2.57721649°0’9” N 2°34’38” E
Sunrise Over Paris
September 19, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
TravelerWave to the Queen. Safe trip
9/19/22Reply
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- Day 3
- Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 10:32 AM
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 74 m
- France Châtillon 48.808333, 2.30333348°48’30” N 2°18’12” E
Le TGV
September 20, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We are on the TGV to Bayonne. Travelling at 186 MpH! Update, the train seems to have peaked at 198 Mph!

We made 3 Camino friends in the train station, people seeking out fellow travelers in backpacks.

Fran, a woman from Rockville Maryland. She is meeting a friend in Saint Jean.

And Kevin & Patsy from Portland ME. Kevin is a recently retired Firefighter from Auburn ME. Kevin told me Malden Firefighters let him park at the station in Malden whenever he goes into Boston on the Orange line!Read more
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- Day 3
- Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 10:36 AM
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 124 m
- France Bonneval 48.191667, 1.39333348°11’30” N 1°23’36” E
TGV to St.Jean
September 20, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
The French countryside is whizzing by us as we sit comfortably on the train. It took a few minutes to get used to the fact that our seats are facing front but the train is moving backwards. This is just one more indication that I am going to be out of my comfort zone many times on this adventure!Read more
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- Day 3
- Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 2:18 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- France Nive 43.496667, -1.4743°29’48” N 1°28’12” W
Bayonne
September 20, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
The "train" to Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port has magically be converted into two buses! Great weather,sunny and very warm. Onto the Pyrenees!
TravelerLe Jour de train vite et les autobus magicals sera peut-etre le Jour le plus facile de ton pélérinage. Bon Chemin!
9/20/22Reply
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- Day 3
- Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 4:52 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 204 m
- France Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port 43.163333, -1.23543°9’48” N 1°14’6” W
Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, France
September 20, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Adding to Susan's post, about our first day in Saint Jean-Pied-deon-Port, as we get ready for starting our walk on the Camino de Santiago tomorrow.
Travelerready for the Camino! enjoy 😊
9/21/22Reply
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- Day 3
- Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 10:12 PM
- 🌙 12 °C
- Altitude: 185 m
- France Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port 43.163993, -1.23718843°9’50” N 1°14’14” W
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St.Jean Pied-de-Port
September 20, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
This quaint little town of St.Jean Pied-de-Port is the starting place for the Camino. Our first stop was to the Pilgrim office where we received our stamp. The volunteers made sure we had all the info needed to start our journey tomorrow. Made some cool friends already & ate at a lovely garden restaurant. Full & happy day.Read more
TravelerLooks like the Amazing Race
9/20/22Reply
TravelerLove the outdoor cafe!
9/21/22Reply
Traveler Let’s not reenact the drunken disorderly conduct scene
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 7:48 AM
- 🌙 8 °C
- Altitude: 169 m
- France Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port 43.161667, -1.23666743°9’42” N 1°14’12” W
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First 8 Kilometers
September 21, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌙 8 °C
We got an early start this morning, about 7:30.

We have walked just under 8km, to the Refuge Orisson, high on the side of the mountain. We will be sleeping here tonight, but we are not done walking another 8 kilometers, to the point where the Camino leaves the road,. Crosses over the ridge into Spain. We have arranged for a shuttle to pick us up there, and bring us back to our room. Tomorrow morning they will bring us back up the mountain

We have been told the steepest part of the climb is behind us, and we be walking up along the ridge until the pass into Spain..

The weather is fantastic today. Clear skies and warm temps. The mountain views are incredible!

Taking a long break here, having our second breakfast, before continuing!Read more
Traveler So beautiful
9/21/22Reply
TravelerBravo et bien faits les pélérins!!!!
9/21/22Reply
TravelerThis sounds like walking the AT, where you leave the AT to go to a town to get food or stay somewhere, then walk or get a ride to the exact spot you left. Beautiful commentary and pictures!
9/21/22Reply
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 7:59 AM
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 221 m
- France Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port 43.156667, -1.2443°9’24” N 1°14’24” W
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It's Just a Hill, Get Over It!
September 21, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
A fellow Pilgrim shared those wise words as we briefly rested during our climb over the Pyrenees this morning. We are halfway done for the day & having lunch at Refuge Orisson. The scenery is breathtaking & totally takes my mind off of the very steep climb we have today!Read more
Traveler So sweet
9/21/22Reply
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:31 AM
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 772 m
- France Bois d’Orisson 43.108333, -1.23833343°6’30” N 1°14’18” W
Horses and Sheep and Goats! Oh my!!!
September 21, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Finished our first day of walking, another 8 kilometers. Just a bit longer than we expected, but no big deal.

Back at the Refuge for the rest of today!
TravelerWonderful!
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 7:08 AM
- 🌙 8 °C
- Altitude: 772 m
- France Bois d’Orisson 43.108333, -1.23833343°6’30” N 1°14’18” W
Almost Sunrise over the Pyrenees
September 22, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌙 8 °C
TravelerEnjoy your day😘
9/22/22Reply
TravelerThanks
9/22/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 8:12 AM
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 838 m
- France Bois d’Orisson 43.108333, -1.2443°6’30” N 1°14’24” W
Beautiful Morning in the Pyrenees
September 22, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
It was a very cold night here last night, but it is a beautiful morning with the sun shining creating mist over the mountains. The first group of walkers are heading out. Goodbye Orisson!
TravelerSpectacular!
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 9:05 AM
- ☀️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 1,196 m
- France Arnéguy 43.058333, -1.26833343°3’30” N 1°16’6” W
Back at Croix Thibeault
September 22, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 9:05 AM
- ☀️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 1,196 m
- France Arnéguy 43.058333, -1.26833343°3’30” N 1°16’6” W
Au revoir France ! Hola España!
September 22, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
We have made it to the top of the Pyrenees!

Col Lepoeder, over 5000 feet elevation.

All down hill now to our stop tonight in Burgette!

Thanks to Jeanne-Marie for gentle correcting my spelling of España

Update: Added my #Samberging photo from the top of the Pyrenees! How did we miss that!!!Read more
Traveleret viva España!!!! beautiful pictures!!!!
9/22/22Reply
TravelerLove the horses!
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 9:09 AM
- ☀️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 1,231 m
- France Arnéguy 43.058333, -1.26666743°3’30” N 1°16’0” W
A Happy Ending!
September 22, 2022 in France ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Today was a hard day for me. My pack is 19 lbs and this is the first time I carried it up to the top of the Pyrenees Ridge and then down a very steep descent. Between the rapid descent and "old knees" I was in pain by the end of the day. Thank goodness there were sheep, horses and beautiful views that kept me going. We arrived at Roncevalles at 12:30, took a break, then walked another 3 Km to Burgette. Our BNB in Burgette looked like "heaven." Clean, hot shower, and a clothesline, Never before, did these things mean so much. A hot shower, a place to wash our clothes & charge cell phones changed my attitude. We found a pub a block away, met Camino friends we had barely knew before, enjoyed dinner with them and today turned into a wonderful day. So tomorrow...we're having our packs shipped. It's supposed to rain for the next 4 days. Taking it one day, maybe hour, at a time !Read more
TravelerThe pub will change your attitude for sure!
9/22/22Reply
TravelerOh, the knees! 😫 take care.
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:56 AM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 1,296 m
- Spain Roncesvalles 43.026667, -1.343°1’36” N 1°18’0” W
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Roncevalles
September 22, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
We made it to Roncevalle, down in the valley. The steep descent was exhausting.

In the valley views photos, Roncevalles is in the foreground nestled between two hills, Burgette in in the background in the middle of the valley

The packs and shoes are off, we are eating lunch and taking at long break before our last 3 km to Burgette.Read more
TravelerGive yourselves rest and hydration. Great work.
9/22/22Reply
TravelerBien fait mes chers. J’aime bien le photo de tes pieds mon frere. Ils t’ont bien servis!
9/22/22Reply
TravelerThe views!
9/23/22Reply
Traveler Sorry. But these toes need some loving attention
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 5
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 2:18 PM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 940 m
- Spain Roncesvalles 43.008333, -1.3243°0’30” N 1°19’12” W
We made it to Burguete
September 22, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
After a long break in Roncevalles, we shuffled our way along a flat, shady trail to Burguete

If you ever read Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises", you have heard of Burguete. Jake gets bored with Bull Fights in Pamplona, so he and a friend go trout fishing here. Oddly enough, Hemingway himself fished here. Go figure.

We checked into our Casa Rural. Now we are having drinks and dinner with fellow pilgrims ar a bar that has a Jai Alai fronton out back. Dinner tonight with Diane from the English Lakes Region, Gino (a motorcycle cop from Belgium and Karl from Hanover Germany.Read more
TravelerThank you for making Burgete real for me! Looks wonderful.
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 6
- Friday, September 23, 2022 at 8:47 AM
- ⛅ 12 °C
- Altitude: 897 m
- Spain Auritz 42.988333, -1.33666742°59’18” N 1°20’12” W
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From Burguete to Zubiri
September 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
So far Burguete is my favorite little village. Yes, I want to move there, open a little casa rural with a huge vegetable garden, make all my own garden food, have the best geraniums & other annual flowers & live happily ever after!

Our 18.9 km trek (about 11.7 miles) today was filled with lots of different habitats, from treed forests & craggy rocked paths, to paved stone and open fields. Lots of cows, sheep, horses & goats. I never get tired of taking pics of these animals living the good life -- eating the grass & taking naps. Walking today was not the walk in the park I thought I was going to have. The end was a pretty steep decline with a rocky trail leading into the little town of Zubiri where we are staying tonight. The good news is that the rain held off until dinner time. By then we were showered, found several Camino friends to eat with & were enjoying an outside dinner at one of the cafes.The trail could have been a bit slippery if we were walking during the showers.

Pretty excited about my end of the day purchase from the pharmacia after another killer day my for knees -- 2 knee braces! Hopefully I won't be whining in any other future posts!Read more
Traveler I hope they help. Nothing worse than troublesome knees. 🙏🏼
9/24/22Reply
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- Day 6
- Friday, September 23, 2022 at 8:47 AM
- ⛅ 12 °C
- Altitude: 897 m
- Spain Auritz 42.988333, -1.33666742°59’18” N 1°20’12” W
Espinal
September 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
We have started day 3. First big decision was to send our packs to our next Pension in Zubiri. It will help us recover from yesterday tough hike. Sue is switching to going with the day pack from now on. I'll give my back

We have made it to the first town, Espinal. Stop for cafe con lèche and fruit smoothie!Read more
Travelerone day you should try : churros con chocolate espeso ! yummy 🤤😋
9/23/22Reply
TravelerBien fait pélérins!! Choir sage d’envoyer tes sacs à dos en avance.
9/23/22Reply
TravelerChoix sage
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 6
- Friday, September 23, 2022 at 10:34 AM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 877 m
- Spain Aurizberri 42.98, -1.37166742°58’48” N 1°22’18” W
Lintzoain
September 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
An early afternoon break to eat our apples and prepare for our last and biggest climb if the day. Next stop Zubiri, our destination today.

Apparently every town has a Fronton
TravelerYour doing fantastic. Great pictures. 💛
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 6
- Friday, September 23, 2022 at 11:02 AM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 958 m
- Spain Aurizberri 42.975, -1.38166742°58’30” N 1°22’54” W
We have staggered into Zubiri
September 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We made it to our destination, last climb of the day was the biggest and last downhill was steep and rocky.

Several pilgrims have convinced Sue that knee braces work, so we will look for a pharmacia for braces for her. Update: found them!!!

Pension Zubiaren Etxea is right next to the Rabies Bridge, if you walk a rabid dog over the bridge, it will be cured! We need to try this with Joe Toomey, the next time a bat bites him!

There was a food truck on the Camino today that had a sign that said, "If you are desperate for a husband/wife, leave your underwear here it will bring you good luck." The box was full of panties! I did not take a photo, it was kind of gross! :-)

One other nite, and there is a photo, I left my Fitbit home (one less device to recharge), so walked with my Fitbit tan line. Now I have a Fitbit auburn line!

Now off for beer/wine and a Pilgrim dinner!Read more
TravelerLa boite de culottes avait-elle un coquille St Jacques dessus? Le “match.com” de Camino!! Bien fait pélérins!!
9/23/22Reply
TravelerWhere do I send the caches of Scotch?
9/23/22Reply
TravelerPamplona
9/23/22Reply
Traveleraddress?
9/23/22Reply
Pamplona will be a nice change from being in the boonies. Especially if the Scotch makes it there in time. Hope the knee braces work for Sue. [Franny]
9/23/22Reply
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- Day 7
- Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 8:49 AM
- 🌧 13 °C
- Altitude: 574 m
- Spain Urdániz 42.916667, -1.51166742°55’0” N 1°30’42” W
Zuriain
September 24, 2022 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
A much easier day so far, walking down the Rio Arga valley. Up in the foothills at first, so lots of ups and downs. Then right along the river bed, nice and flat.

Over cast and drizzle and sprinkles, but no real rain.

Stopped in Zuriain after 11k of walking at a riverside café.

Another 8 or 9 kilometers to today's stop in Villa a, just outside of Pamplona.Read more
TravelerGood Morning.
9/24/22Reply
TravelerWhat is the temperature so far?
9/24/22Reply
Traveler60-70 degrees depending on if there's Sun. thinking a lot of Senora Bellew & wishing I could retrieve more of what we learned!
9/24/22Reply
TravelerBien fait pélérins!!!
9/24/22Reply
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- Day 7
- Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 9:07 AM
- 🌧 13 °C
- Altitude: 533 m
- Spain Zubiri 42.93, -1.50333342°55’48” N 1°30’12” W
Above the bar in Villava
September 24, 2022 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
A pitcher of Sangria is calling my name & I won't have to worry about finding my way home😇! The only problem will be climbing the stairs to our room after walking 10 miles today. The knee braces definitely helped, hoping my legs get used to these distances soon!

We have made friends with some fun people who were staying in the same "pension" in Zubiri as we did last night. These folks are from St. Louis, Southern CA, & Queensland Australia. Even though we are all walking at our own pace we continue to bump into the same group during at rest points, cafes during the day or at lodging places in the evening. We all had breakfast together and then started on our way.

Our walk started on the road, and then we were on a path through farms and then along the river.

Had a delicious Spinach Friata at a rest stop in Zurain. We saw fellow walkers picking figs from fig trees. The sun was out, then it wasn't, then it rained. This was repeated at least 5 times today.

Right now we are sitting at a laundromat. Just switched our load from the washer to what we thought was the dryer. However, when we saw the the suds happening in the dryer we realized "garbigailua" is the Basque word for wash. Well our clothes are going to be super clean!Read more
Travelerlol
9/24/22Reply
Traveler🤣🤣
9/24/22Reply
TravelerCourage aux tes pauvres genoux!!!!
9/24/22Reply
TravelerLove the Basque Country!!. Hope it shows you kindness. You’re doing so great!
9/25/22Reply
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