My Apologies

Just a few words to say how sorry I am that it took me so long to get to writing about my trip.  I was hoping I would have been able to post some things from the Camino, however I did not have much luck with internet connections.

My plans on my return was to meet up with my sister in London and we would fly together to Germany. That all went well.  However I was a bit under the weather on the flight back. I spent a few days just trying to get back to normal eating and such.  My sister and I did some sight seeing and were having a good time. Then one morning I woke up with both knees swollen and a lump in my calf, making it difficult and painful to walk. It was so strange that it took a week after my camino for any pain or injury to show up.

I took the time to mend and now I am in better frame of mind to write of my Camino.

More to come.

Day 1 - Roncevalles to Zubiri

The alarm woke us up at 7 am. Our ride would meet us just down the street at 8 am. This gave us an hour to get breakfast and pack back up. We were basically packed.  Last night we did the "what did you bring" thing where you virtually unpack and repack your bags. So after a quick clean up and breakfast of croissants and orange juice we were ready to head out.

We stepped out to meet the day. The sky was overcast and looked a bit threatening.  I said a slient pray that Roncevalles had better weather. When we got to the meeting spot we saw a group of other pilgrims waiting there. We just kept to ourselves at this point. Only when the van arrive did the others move towards us. We exchanged where we were from. The 2 couples were from America. One of the gentlemen commented that yes the Americans were taking the van over the mountain.  He went on to tell us that they were going to Pamplona. They had to change with plans due to his wife having an illness or injury the week before they were due to come over. They felt the mountain would be too much for her, so they will start in Pamplona.  You just never know what the Camino has in store for you!

Our van pulled up a bit before 8 and we all piled in. The ride back up the mountain was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand it was just a nice pleasent drive. Then when I stopped to think about it and remember back to being on the road, walking down the road, it really hit me how much we had done last year. Sometimes it seems like we didn't do much, but on this day I knew we had really walked a lot those days. The road seemed to go on forever, winding back and forth. How had we done it and in the rain to boot!  I had a renewed appreciation of our efforts.

Leaving Roncevalles

As we drove along, the sun started to peek through the clouds. It looked like we would have good weather to start with after all.  We arrived a little before 9 am and we were soon on our way!  We were looking forward to the coffee stop already! The guide book said it was about 3 km in, so that would be an hour give or take. No Problem!

We arrived at a little cafe sooner than we though we would. Either the guidebook was wrong or this place was new. The place however looked like it had been there a long time. We found a table outside, in the sun and sat down to our first cafe con leche of the trip.

With us leaving out of Roncevalles so late we thought we would be the last ones. However as we sipped our coffee we saw other pilgrims passing by.  Not that it was a concern but it is nice when you know there are others on the path with you.

The path to Zubiri was not too bad. In fact it was a nice walk. There were some assent and descents, but nothing like the Pyrenees. I can see how this day would be welcome after walking over the mountain.  The rain held off for most of the day. It was funny, we would stop for a coffee or break and it would start to sprinkle. So we would pull out our coats and put on our covers and then head out. As soon as we were on the path, maybe 5 minutes at the most, the rain would stop.

We arrived in Zubiri around 4 pm.  We were booked into an Alburge that had private rooms as well. They also served a pilgrims meal, which is great not having to go look for food.  We had time enough to shower and rest a bit before dinner. We took a walk around the town and found a little market open. We stopped by to get some food for tomorrow and beer for the evening.  Which turned out to be an adventure on its own.  Funny thing when you carry your bags on the plane, you end up with out a cork screw or a bottle opener for beer. We should have stuck to cans.

We had dinner with the early group at 7pm. I was so happy to have it early. I was hungry. All that walking really works up an appetite.  It was nice to be able to just go down to dinner in socks and/or sandals. I was done with my boots for the day.

The dinning room was full. We were shown were to sit. They fill up one table at a time. There was room for 9 people at ours. We found that our table mates were from France and one young man from Germany. It was funny because here we were in Spain and we were using more French and German that night. Lucky for me the German guy liked to speak and practise his English.  These people would become our "camino people or family" of sorts. The people you see through out your journey. The ones you wonder how far they got or where they are. Its odd really. Most people go on the camino to get away from people, and yet we form these bonds, well I am not sure bonds is the right word, but connections with other so early on.  I guess its just the way.

Our meal was nice. We had a starter of soup, broth really and then a choice of pork or fish, with bread and wine and ending with dessert of Lemon custard or tiramisu. All in all a pleasant evening. Soon it was lights out for us. We set our alarm to wake us for breakfast, which was also included in the price.


                                                      Day one- 22 km

I used a fitbit to track our progress. However on this day the battery died at 13.9 km.

Camino Part Two

On my way.........

The start of the second part of my Camino for me started with a train ride to the Nuremberg Airport. All in all it wasn't a bad trip. Since I now live in Germany, it was easier to get to Biarritz this year.
Simply a train to the Airport, a flight to London, and then a flight to Biarritz.  It is odd that even though i had a long layover in London, going through Madrid or Paris would not only have cost more, but would have been even longer layovers. Strange but true.


The flight from Stansted to Biarritz was uneventful. The sort of flights you always want. Everything went according to plan.  As we boarded the plane we saw a good amount of people with backpacks as well. I started to mull over in my mind how all these people have come together to walk the Camino.
No one really said anything to each other at that point, but when we landed and started to make our way thru the airport there was a look from one another that said " i know what you will be doing".

After getting through immigration we saw my name on a sign. Our ride was there waiting for us! We had booked with Express Bourricot  (www.expressbourricot.com) to take us and others to St. Jean Pied du Port. It was nice that the van was full because it made our cost less, which is always helpful. After a short wait for our fellow pilgrims we headed off to St Jean. 

Last year we took a bus to St Jean from Bayonne, which is about the same distance as from Biarritz.  The roads wind through the mountains. The experience was much better in the van than in the back of a big bus.  It was strange and yet comforting to see the sights once again.  The trip took around an hour. 

We were left off just outside the tourist office which is on the main street. It worked out well because our Hotel was not far at all. We double checked we had reservations for tomorrow morning to Roncevalles. Yes we did, in fact they had so many people going they needed to book another van. So we were scheduled for 8 am, with a full van, which like i said reduced our cost. I was liking this! 

Pizza with Egg on it? Trying new things.

After checking in to the room, we ventured out to get supplies from the local Aldi. We were hoping it was still open. Even though the sun was still out and shinning, we knew it must be getting late. 
We found some croissants, fruit, boxed orange juice and some wine. We were set.  We headed back and stopped at the restaurant we stopped in last year. We had remember it for having really good pizza. So we ordered a pizza and some wine.  However this year the pizza was not so good. Sad but true. So back to the hotel for some wine and final planning! 

Tomorrow we continue on our way........from Roncvellas to Zubiri.....22 km. 

Well the time has finally come. Tomorrow I will start to make my way to Roncevalles to pick up where I left off last year.

I have finished packing my bag. The bag is weighing in at around 19lbs/ 8 kg roughly. That is with food. The good news is that as the trip goes on the bag should get lighter. Well at least in theory. I am not worried about it. I think it will be fine.

I am not sure if I will be able to post from the Camino on my phone to here yet. If I can I will post a bit as we go. If not I will post how the trip was when I return.  We only have a week again this time around. We are hoping to do about 100km or from Roncevalles to Los Arcos.

Buen Camino!

Tolietries

Tolietries are a very personal matter.  You will need to take the things you are comfortable with. Some of us can go with the bare minimum  of a bar of soap, tooth brush and toothpaste. Some have to bring more.

Last year we did the bare minimum, the bar of soap that could do hair and body. However we did not like it much.  I found at the end of the day when I took my shower I wanted to smell good, fresh and pretty.  I know that is probably vanity talking and on a pilgrimage I shouldn't think that way. However I felt so much more relaxed when I felt clean and smelled clean. So this year I will be taking a body wash that smells nice to me. That is one of my luxury items.

Here is my toiletry bag. Note I am flying and not checking my bag so all my liquid are 3oz or less.

Toothbrush
Tooth paste

             

floss
shampoo/conditioner 2 in 1
body wash
sunscreen
hair brush/comb
q-tips
cotton balls
deoderant
Anti chaffing stick
face wash wipes
body puff
hand sanitizer
hand lotion

*sunscreen can double as hand lotion.

8 Days to go....

With 8 day before I begin my travel to the Camino, I thought I would write a bit about what I am taking.

Today is the first aid kit. Since first aid seems to be one of the concerns of many. I read somewhere that we carry our fears, and I believe we do. This is clear in what we choose to carry in our first aide kits.  I am choosing to keep it really simple.

Contents:
assorted band aids/plasters
Neosporin spray/antibiotic ointment
cleaning wipes
needle and thread
pain reliever
moleskin
Imodium tablets
benadyl tablets
medical tape
ear plugs

all of this fits in my little pouch and weighs in at 4 oz.

I have just put in a few of each, basically a weeks worth. Once again with the idea if I need more I know I can get it.

note: I have my perception medication separately.

The Countdown Begins- 14 Days

Well at least we are down to the final two week before my next stage of the Camino de Santiago.
Yeah! Time to finish prep and relax a bit before going.

The key is not to over do any training. I think I have that bit covered.  I am giving myself some down time.  The last I wrote I was going on vacation with my grandson to London. I knew we would do some walking, but man oh man did we walk!  On one day we walked 16km. In fact most days we walked at least 5k a day and more on most days. It was good training. Two of those days we had our backpacks on for the majority of the day.  And the walking might not sound like much, but that was to include stairs and escalators we walked up and such.I will say my legs were aching. But I good its a good ache.

So on my return home, I decided to take it easy for a bit. At least as far as the walking went. I have been busying myself with the itinerary and room reservations. We have decided to stay in hostels, inns, hotels, pensions, and such. With private rooms for sleeping.  So I decided to go ahead and book the rooms ahead of time. This way we are not "racing for a bed". We should be able to just walk at our own pace and enjoy the walk. There is peace in knowing I have a bed to sleep in and a place to shower.

This week I have some other things to take care of, no camino things. Yes, there is another life outside the Camino world.  I will be posting my packing soon. What I packed and how. I may include my packing list as well. I am a list sort of person.

I am really looking forward to this trip. It seemed so far away and now its nearly time.