A different kind of adventure. Day 10.

May 28, 2016

Found a bus to Burgos. We are not alone. Talked to several people traveling to different points along the way. Burgos is a larger city. We will have to find a different bus or spend the night there.

Today is adventurous as any day. We are now in Burgos. We will catch a bus to Leon at 17:30, from Leon to Astorga at 20:30 and from Astorga to Ponferrada at 21:30, then walk/taxi to the Hotel El Castillo at 22:15. I called ahead for late arrival. The next day back on the Way tomorrow.

We have walked 122 miles so far with 128 to go. The guidebook has it 8 stages but I think we will take 9 days to walk it. We should reach Santiago by June 6 and spend two nights there. I don't think we will make it there by 1200 so the next day we will go to mass at the Cathedral. It would be nice if they swing the giant incense thing but doubt it.

Then on June 8, we will fly to Dublin and spend a short day before flying home. That's the plan anyway.

Short walk to the Supermercado. It's like an indoor market on first floor, 2nd floor standard grocery store.

I went for a short walk, turnded right 3 times and ended up lost about 7 blocks away. Happens every time in a city. Nothing is built  on a grid. Were squares outlawed during medieval times?

Sights in Burgos. I have no idea where or what since I was lost.

GM: You should buy one of those new inventions... a map.

Joyce: Can't believe it's so warm in PA. It's cold here at the bus station. Watching Spanish music videos. 15 degrees (59 F)

Navarrete. Beautiful church. From the other day.

Made it on the bus to Leon. Two more buses to catch.

On bus to Astorga leaving at 20:30. We have to catch another in Astorga to Ponferrada at 21:30. The bus station is on th eother side of town from hotel so will try to get a taxi. Plan on 24km tomorrow (15 miles).

Might leave a little later in the morning. Mom wants someone to water her roses. I will ask Fletcher. He is supposed to be our groundskeeper.

Final bus. Ponferrada is a town of 68,000. Will definitely have to find a cab. Should get there 22:23.

It is now 48 degrees outside as we drive over a mountain. mom is not unhappy that we are re-starting our walk on the other side.

We made it! Taxi was right there waiting for a fare at eats ion de autobuses. I would have preferred walking 20 miles following yellow arrows. Harder to get around in spain than in other countries I've been. I have been relaxed until today, but it has all fallen into place. We lucked out finding one person actually working in Burgos to get our tickets. If you hit towns during siesta, forget about it.

Back to routine, got mom gauze, tape and a needle. This place has tub so she is relaxing. I am savoring a grande cerveza. Hotels are cheap here. Fancy hotel with backside washer even for $55 con breakfast. Dublin will not be so cheap.

Left little toe. Very sore

Right little toe sore. Knees OK. Popped blisters and hope healed by tomorrow.

We've cut the distance down to 250 miles. Mom will just have to suck it up.

A new PR. Day 9.

May 27, 2016

Stop at 8:30 at Pantano de la Grajera about 4 miles out of Logrono, a reservoir park path all the way. Will be on trail near highway most of the way. Still have 14 miles. Mom has blisters and a little run down.

Mom wants to run from Grassflat with us!

Leaving Logronos

Logronos

Heading into Naverrete

Naverrete

Going up another hill for church on top. Supposed to have some bodegas around here. (Hobbit holes for vino and mushrooms)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Iglesias Nuesyra Senora de la Asuncion

I don't think I wrote this about the church we went to mass in Pamplona. There were squares about 3'x6' with hooks and numbers as the floor. I guessed correctly that there were 217 people buried under the floor.

Puerto del cemetario

Lots of rocks here

Dawn, remember the hat you got me for Christmas? Once was lost but now is found?

Remember the SNL skit with Belushi: hamborger, hamborger, hamborger. Here is no Pepsi, Coke.

In Ventosa, 11km to go (6.8 miles) have 11.6 miles in. Old SNL skit. John Belushi & Dan Akroyd, Eastern Europeans with cheeseborger stand. No Pepsi, Coke. That's Spain.

I've been getting a little running in. Mom has me stop and take a picture then run to catch up.

Decision time: after walking 11 miles you can take a short cut and go 6.9 miles without stopping or walk a half mile farther and get a break before moving on. Answer:

Made it! 18.4 miles to Najera. Mom picked it up real good after Ventosa but hit the wall around 17 miles and went downhill fast. Her new distance PR. We walked for 9.25 hours. 2 miles an hour because we spent over two hours or more resting. mom spent an hour inside the Cathedral in Navarrete.

Joyce: Thanks for the video Aimee. I can't wait to see all my grandchildren! Tell Tanner to leave clubs at home. He's a hockey player not golf!

Garry: We are arriving @ JFK Thursday 6/9 @ 1845 via aerlingus flight 109. We do indeed have to stay in Dublin for 22 hour layover.

Mom  having pasta for 1st course

Grocery store food for bus ride tomorrow

Chrystal: So I just told Gavin that you guys were heading home earlier. And he said "tell your dad that is the most sensible decision he has ever made on his crazy excursions!"

Joyce: I agree with that. I am so ready to stop walking.

Garry: Tell him we are still doing 250 miles and completing the pilgrimage and we are also going to St James Gate next to the Guinness Brewery. We still have 130 miles to go. Tell Gavin I need to get home to get ready to run across TN.

Chrystal: His response "And you're back at being an idiot"

Joyce: Haha! Funny Gavin

Garry: Why do we run across TN? We have to get to the other side to get our cars. I suppose it's idiotic to postpone my heart procedure two weeks for VolState also? Some people don't get it...

A new set of plans. Day 8.

May 26, 2016

The hiking is fun and the daily stops along the way are fun eating different things and meeting people. We get into the towns early and after cleaning up, resting, eating, with a little touring leaves hours just trying to fill the day before you can go to bed. So although the walking is fun we aren't enjoying ourselves all that much any more. We are doing well together but we both are feeling like 45 days away from home and family. We are going to complete the Camino but we may make some adjustments. Tentatively, we might cut it down to 250 miles. An 'official' pilgrimage requires 100km (62 miles).

We are currently in Sansol for cafe break. Got 4.2 miles in in 90 minutes. Plan on another 12.9 miles today to the city Logrono.

Regardless of what we decide, we will be walking 10-24 more days.

Made it 12 miles by 11:15. Challenging walk but nice. Had lunch then found correos (post office) to mail 4kg (10 pounds) of stuff ahead to Santiago. Rested light load. Off for 8km (5 miles) to the city of Longrono. Still in Viana, nice town.

A month of travel & 250 miles seems like a good pilgrimage. Hope Yinz ain't disappointed in us.

The walking is not bad, enjoyable. Although the last 5 miles int eh sun are a little warm.

The Camino has different routes and different starting locations. Some started 1000 miles away, a lot in St. Jean but even more skipped the Pyrenees and started in Roncevailles others Burgos. Since one has to walk at least 100km, the guidebook also said many people will join in Sarria; 115km from Santiago. We talked to a college group from MO, their prof has them skipping 4 days in the Meseta region to fit in class schedule. The other routes in Spain and northern routes are all shorter. All that being said, we do plan on finishing. We are at 102 miles now an plan on walking 18.5 tomorrow to Najera putting us over 120. The next day we are thinking of taking a bus to Ponferrado, 210km (130 miles) from Santiago. That will give us 250 mile and officially complete the Camino.

Now that we are thinking of only being on the road 9-10 more days, we are enjoying it a bit more. Got a fancy hotel in the heart of the city but after 17.5 grueling miles, mom doesn't want to get up. Her feet are a little blistered and sore.

I took us to the wrong hotel and we had to back track 9 minutes. She wasn't too excited to get an extra half mile in to put us over 18.

Joyce: I am laughing at Dad's response but can hardly move. My feet are killing me! Might have been the worst physical day besides the first and next with knnee pain. Looking at a longer walk tomorrow, my feet are elevated and room service for supper.

We found a Correos (post office) and shipped 4kg (8 lb, 13 ounces) ahead to Santiago.

My feet are so dry, they have split open. Mom said two cross to form a Crucifix.

More Camino sites

Another uphill hike

Many vineyard fields

Always Camino signs and yellow arrows to lead the way

Another hill

Beautiful countryside

5/16 Close house & drive to NJ

5/17 Newark to Boston to Iceland to Paris

5/18 drive from Paris to Bayonne 8 hours, walk to train station, bus to St. Jean

5/19-27 walk 8 day, rest one from St. Jean to Najarve

A lot left

5/28 bus/train/drive to Ponferrado?

5/29-6/6 8-9 days to Santiago

6/7-8 Return home

I got mom a chocolate negro while I look for more food y cerveza (ice cream cone, dark chocolate)

Joyce: With chocolate coated waffle cone. Very good!

We might fly to JFK, might need instructions on getting trains to near Hampton.

We are hoping Ground Hog Day or What About Bob are on TV tonight.

Since we knocked two weeks off and aren't pressured abotu getting back, we are a lot less stressed and enjoying the trip again. We are working well together as a team. 148 miles left and arranging other travel is still a challenge, but we will figure it out.

Watching Trump on BBC. We have talked to people all over the world. They are a little bit worried, especially the Canadians.