Category: 2022 Camino Francés
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Follow me again…
For all of you interested in following along my journey again on the Camino Portuguese. Feel free to follow my blog here. https://walkingtheway2023.blog/2023/08/09/preparing-for-the-trip
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Looking back on the journey
10/22- Left Finisterre this morning in a storm of rain. Still leaving it was sad. I wish we had better weather and I could have stayed longer, but the rain storm is supposed to continue for many more days. As I’ve said in previous posts, this journey was life changing; really an amazing experience full…
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Days 44-45 – Finisterre “End of the world”
Oct 20-21- Had a great rest day in Santiago yesterday, and got up early this morning and attended the traditional pilgrims mass in the Cathedral, as well as visited St James tomb. From there, headed to the city of Finisterre with my buddies Mike and Viola where I am spending the night tonight. I’m not…
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Walk Day 43 – Santiago de Compestella
10/19- Left a little later this morning due to the rain and high winds. While we only had to walk about 12 miles to the Cathedral, it was on muddy trails with 50 mph wind and rain. Today was an interesting day. It seemed the Camino wanted to give us all one last challenge before…
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Walk Days 41-42 – Amenal
Oct 17-18: The last two days I walked from O Coto through rolling hills, eucalyptus forests, and small villages. The weather has changed and it’s now turned cloudy with rain intermittently. My destination today is the town of Amenal, just 10 miles from Santiago de Compestella, where the Camino officially ends. I’ve walked over 525…
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Walk Day – 39-40 Ventas de Norón and O Coto
Oct 15-16 – Trekked through many towns and fields the last couple of days. I’m now 38 miles from Santiago de Compestella and will arrive on Wednesday. The last two days has taken me through beautiful countryside, cool and rainy weather, and as the trail has progressed, even the trees have changed from pine to…
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Walk Day – 37-38 Morgade
10/13-14- Making progress! I’m now 64 miles from Santiago De Compestella in the province of Galicia. The terrain is once again different as the paths take you through small villages whose primary industry is cattle farming. Most of the last two days has been about natural beauty and so I’m posting photos more than writing.…
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Walk Day- 35-36 Fonfría
10/11-10-/12 – left Villafranca on Wednesday morning headed to the very small village of Ruitelán. From there, on Thursday, I made the huge ascent in the mountains to the city of ÓCebreiro, and then to the final destination of the village of Fonfría. The walk to Ruítelan was crisp, clear, and beautiful today as I…
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Walk Days 33-34 Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo
10/9- 10/10 Had some rain both days so left a little later than normal waiting out the rain. I walked from Acebo to Ponferrada on Sunday, and then to Villafranca del Beirzo on Monday. Once again the landscape is changing as I head toward mountain ranges and a new wine region, Bierzo. The trail Sunday…
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Walk Day -32 El Acebo
10/8. – Left the Tipi early with Mike and Viola, heading toward Cruz de Ferro (The Iron across) today. This post will be slightly different, as today was very impactful, special and emotional. The Cruz de Ferro is one of the most spiritual and iconic parts of the Camino de Santiago. The cross stands on…
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Walk Day – 31 El Ganso
10/7 – Left Astorga at 6:30 this morning to the little town of El Ganso. This is the last town before I begin to make the climb to Cruz de Ferro at 1,505 meters tomorrow. As fall hits Spain, the colors are definitely starting to change. Still having great weather in the low 70’s, but…
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Walk Day 29-30 – Astorga
10/4- 10/6 I took one rest day in León on 10/4, and then hit the road walking 17 miles to San Martin El Camino on 10/5 and 19 more miles to the town of Astorga on 10/6. Started my rest day by touring Santa María de Regla de León Cathedral in León. It was absolutely…
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Walk Day 26-28 León
10/1-10/3- Walked a few days on the Meseta to my destination of the city of León on Oct 3. Because there wasn’t a ton to comment on each day, I decided to combine the three days into one post. My first stop on the walk on Oct 1, was the small little village of El…
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Walk Day 25 – Sahagún
09/30 – Hit the trail early this morning heading to the town of Sahagun. Sahagun is where you can also receive a halfway certificate on the Camino. The Meseta was beautiful today as well, no more rain, but clear skies all the way. Really some lovely countryside here in Spain. As I approached closer to…
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Walk Day 24 – Terradillos de los Templarios
09/29- Hit the trail at 6am today heading 17 miles to Terradillos de Los Templarios. Today was a cold morning with chances of rain later in the afternoon. Walking through the plains today there were very few places to stop in the open land. The long stretches of paths give you a lot of time…
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Walk Day 23- Carrión de Los Condes
09/28- Hit the trail early today heading from Población de Campos to to Carrión de Los Condes. Chilly day today and it is clear that fall has arrived. Walking through the plains here, I find them very peaceful and serene and can see why they claim this part of the trail a soulful walk. The…
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Walk Day 22 – Población de Campos
09/27- Woke up nice and early today and hit the trail leaving Itero de la Vega headed to the town of Población de Campos. Today was a relatively easy walk, as it was primarily level all the way to my destination. The plains are just so golden and beautiful and the sky and clouds continue…
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Walk Day 21 – Itero de la Vega
09/26- Got up early this morning and headed out from Hontanas to the small town of Itero de la Vega. Beautiful morning today in the plains of Spain. They say it’s supposed to be flat for a long while, but interesting enough, when I hit the city of Castrojeriz for my morning breakfast, and headed…
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Walk Day 20 – Hontanas
09/25- Today I walked from Rabe de las Calzadas to the town of Hontanas. The landscape has changed to flat plains for the most part. Walking this morning I can really see the landscape change, as I am now in the Meseta. This is the flatlands or plains of Spain. This will last for about…
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Walk Day 19 – Rabe de las Calzadas
09/24- Left at 6:30 this morning, saying goodbye to Burgos and headed to Rabe de las Calzadas. Shorter walk today as I am now at the beginning of the “Meseta”. Walking toward Rabe today was fun. Great views as usual as I head into the flatlands of Spain. A lot of pilgrims on the route…
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Walk Day 17/Rest day 18- Burgos!!!!!!
09/22-23- Left early Thursday morning from Santovenia de Oca heading to Burgos 24km (15 miles). Big milestone today, both reaching Burgos and walking now over total 200 miles!! For those interested, I’m averaging 39,000 steps a day. Today was a long journey through fields, forests, asphalt paths in cities, and very rocky paths in the…
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Walk Day 16 – Santovenia de Oca
09/21- Got up at 5:30 am and hit the trail from Belorado to Santovenia de Oca. It’s was 38 degrees this morning, so I bundled up for the walk. This was a big day as it was the longest distance I’ve walked 29 km (18 miles). It also happened to be uphill the majority of…
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Walk Day 15 – Belorado
09/20- Love these early mornings where I can get up and on the trail before the sun rises. Makes for a beautiful morning where I can beat the heat and get into the next town before it gets too hot or too late. It gives me time to really enjoy my whereabouts. Today I walked…
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Walk Day 14- Granõn
Sept 19- Woke up early before sunrise and hit the trail. Today I’m walking from Azofra to the small town of Granõn, which means “grain” due to the grain farming of the region. Still in the Rioja region, I found this view to be filled with vineyards at the beginning but as I walked on,…
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Walk Day 13 – Azofra
Sept 18- Today I walked 24km (15 miles) from Navarette to the small village of Azofra. I started my day at 6am in the chilly morning heading out of the beautiful village of Navarette toward the town of Azofra. Today was partially flat terrain mixed with elevation ascents throughout the day. The sunrise today was…
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Rest Day 11/Walk Day 12 – Navarette
Sept 16/17- spent yesterday (Sep 16) as a rest day in Logroño with my buddies Mike and Viola. This morning we were ‘up and Adam’ and headed to Navarette, walking another 15 KM (10 miles). Had a great rest day in Logroño yesterday. We stayed in a nice little apartment in town, and just walked…
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Walk Day 10- Logroño
Sept 15- So many amazing things on the walk today. Hit over 100 miles walked!!! A huge milestone for me. Today my journey went from the city of Torres del Rio to Logroño 24 km (15 miles). A lot of beautiful emotions today. Today would also be our 38th wedding anniversary if Tiffany were still…
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Walk Day 9 – Torres del Rio
Sept 14- I walked 21 Km (12.8 miles) today from Villamayor de Monjardin to the town of Torres del Rio. I hit the trail early today at 6:30am, headlamp on the forehead, with my Camino friends Viola and Mike. Today was beautiful weather, with cool breezes, a little sun, but overall walking through this wine…
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Walk Day 8- Villamayor de Monjardin
Sept 13- Got up early today in Lorca at 6am to get a head start and ahead of the heat. Sunrise is at 7:30 here, so I walked with my headlamp in the dark for a bit. After beautiful views, fun companions, not too difficult of a day, I reached my destination in 17k to…
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Walk Day 7- Lorca
Sept 12-Woke up early today, had a great big breakfast to prepare myself for the day, and hit the trail. Feeling tired from the extreme walk and the heat of yesterday, certainly was catching up with me. But pushing on!! Today my plan was to just to walk until I felt ready to stop, and…
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Walk Day 6 – Puente la Riena
Sept 11- Started my day with an awesome breakfast I needed in order to walk today. I walked 27 KM from Pamplona to Puente la Reina. Today was a bit rough due to heat. The sun was shining all day with a temp of 93! The first half of the walk today had us walking…
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Day 5 – Rest day in Pamplona
Sept 10 – Today was a nice day of rest in the beautiful city of Pamplona. Slept well in my hotel room and was well fed. Did a little exploring today. Mostly just relaxed and took in the people, scenes and food around me. Pamplona is a big city and one of the larger cities…
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Walk Day 4 – Hello Pamplona!
Sept 9 – Today I walked 27 km (17 miles) from Zubiri to Pamplona. I woke after an awesome nights sleep (no one in my room snored) feeling refreshed and ready to go. I mean, I’m walking to Pamplona!!! I ate the typical pilgrims breakfast at 6:30 then grabbed my things and was on the…
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Walk Day 3 – Zubiri
Sept 8- Happy Birthday to me!! Today I walked a full 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the pilgrim Albergue in Roncesvalles to the small village of Zubiri. Only about 400 people live there and since it is in the direct path of the Camino de Santiago route, it caters to the pilgrims with many hostels.…
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Walk Day 2 – The Ass-Kicker
Sept 7- So to say that today’s walk into Roncesvalles was ‘challenging’ is an understatement. I had known this would be the hardest of the entire journey and it proved itself to be. I started the 8-mile walk this morning with a light breakfast and a cafe’ con leche, greeting my Spanish couple again, who…
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Walk Day 1 – Charles’ Valley
Sept 6- I completed my first leg of the walk! Feeling good. No blisters! So many things to say today. I had always planned on splitting the 27 Kilometer walk on day one into two days. This is because it’s the most difficult of the whole walk, and represents one of the deepest ascents of…
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St. Jean Pied de Port
I made it! The starting point of the Camino de Santiago! This town is so idyllic, surrounded by green hills and the Pyrenees mountains; a little village that you expect Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) to fly out of the bakery and start singing at any moment. The town is full of bakeries and…
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Bonjour France!
I have now made it to my first international destination, Bayonne, France! Bayonne is a beautiful city rich in heritage and amazing people and food. I was here in 2018 for a few days and it feels like I’m being greeted by an old friend. I’m even staying in the same hotel as I did…
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Up, Up, and Away!
Here we go! My “pod” for my flight from SF to Paris. As you can also see, my backpack… everything I will need on my back for the next 30 plus days. Thank you Allison for sewing on my Camino patch. I am amazed this day is finally here. Excited, anxious, and a bit emotional…
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Preparing to leave
Hi everyone! I sit here with a bunch of new supplies in front of me and a single backpack that will hold all of my belongings for the Camino de Santiago walk, which I will start in September. It’s funny to see how few items I will carry. Three changes of clothing (one of which…
Walking The Way 