Category Archives: Camino de Santiago 2017

So after my ‘Day in Santiago’ I had planned to take the train back to Madrid but I hadn’t realized it was a holiday weekend a “puente.” In this case the holiday was Spain day or National Day also called Pilar. She’s the Patron Saint of the Spanish government and military. Actually, you are alwaysContinueContinue reading “Episode 19 – Santiago to Madrid, 2 days in Madrid”

So I was up at 7:00 and in line at the Pilgrim’s office at 7:30 with maybe 5o people in front of me. Soon a handful of pilgrims had lined up behind me when a taxi pulls up with my favorite Camino companions Matt, Janus, Pila and Fever. They jumped out and joined me inContinueContinue reading “Episode 18 – A Day in Santiago”

As planned I was on the road out of Arzua by a little after 6:00 am. It was cold. In the 30’s, I think, but I’m never sure because the conversion to farenheit is complicated. (Why in the world is the US the only place in the world that isn’t on the metric system?) ItContinueContinue reading “Episode 17 – Arzua to Pedrouzo to Santiago”

Another couple of great days on horseback. Picaro is really a wonderful horse, he and I have become fast friends. All day long it’s another incredible panorama, vista, town or village, each one lovelier and more beautiful than the last. I’ve been having so much fun. For some reason, groups of pictures are easier forContinueContinue reading “Episode 16 – Samos to Portomarín and Portomarín to Palas de Rei”

People in the small towns near the Camino tend to walk or run on the Camino for their daily exercise or daily constitutional. Often, they are coming toward you from the opposite direction and they always offer you a nice “Buen Camino.” Sometimes for fun when I see someone coming towards me on their dailyContinueContinue reading “Episode 15 – O’Cebreiro to Samos”

At some point I believe that I used the word “glorious” in an earlier post to describe something or other. I don’t remember what but whatever it was, it wasn’t. That was hyperbole but the hike to O’cebreiro was. O’cebreiro itself is unbelievable. A restored mideivil town with a church that dates to the 9thContinueContinue reading “Episode 14 – Bierzo to O’ Cebreiro (or from Leon to Galicia)”

Well it’s 9:30 am Sunday morning and I’m enjoying the beautiful breakfast buffet at the Parador so which option did I choose? I thought carefully, reviewed Brierly and others thoughts on the subject and consulted with my fellow peregrinos in the plaza in Bierzo over wine and tapas last evening and ultimately made my decisionContinueContinue reading “Episode 13 – Villafranca del Bierzo morning update”

Everything went really well this morning. I was on the road before 9:00. My feet really did feel pretty good. No undue pain or discomfort. I guess that nurse at the Hospital de la Reina knew what she was doing. I think the compression socks were helping too. I still was shaking my head aboutContinueContinue reading “Episode 12 – Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo”

It’s a beautiful clear crisp morning although it’ll be in the 80’s by noon. I really think those compression socks are going to do the trick. They are keeping the dressings in place and my feet are snugly in my boots and pretty comfortable. It’s only 12 or 13 miles to Villafranca del Bierzo andContinueContinue reading “Episode 11 – Ponferrada Morning Update”

So as I blogged last night, the distance to my hotel in Ponferrada is over 20 miles. The first 15 km (10 mikes) are basically up to the highest point on the Camino Frances at 1515 meters and then pretty steep down and that’s what concerned me the most. Here’s a picture of the elevationContinueContinue reading “Episode 10 – Rabanal del Camino to Ponteferrada”