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A Jackie Gleason fan! ;) Will begin my fourth on 11 April from Roncesvalles, a circuitious route from new expat home in Portugal. Bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles prompted by an inspired commitment to same April departure from same Abbey early April 2002. Now older! Heavier of hip, lighter...
...look of refugio, hotel at end of street looked grey and grim, turned around and ended up freezing my derriere under three wool blankets and that d***ed REI "sleep sack" on a floor mattress in Lorrasoana. Pretty good mileage for a newbie ... and with Lady Scarpas, brand new, too! Oh, in a...
I am thinking the Camino Invierno from Ponferrada to Santiago. I have saved the .pdf to my Iphone 1 but thinking to print out especially tricky bits! As it will likely not be before May, it should be quite lovely and quiet.
Romance ... Fell briefly in thrall with a blue-eyed Irishman who presented as in dire need of an emotional, spiritual and psychological "fixer-upper": at the time, my specialty! (Ask any of my husbands.) The Camino is one fine opportunity for the stunning clarity it awards the pilgrim with...
😉 "..never would have worked ..." I mean! Married to a Scot (never to be mistaken for a "Brit") and eye-rolling familiar with how both sides of the pond get their argy-bargy up over correct pronouncements of the naming of things and the (im)proper use of fork and knife, I think you were well...
Oh Rita, fair Camino Saunterering Lady! I had two bouts of Covid 2023, which has done a number on my "breathlessness" and, at 79, slowed my planned weight loss. . So 11 April, my fourth CS, I plan to be "sauntering forth" from Roncesvalles and make it as far as Viskarret. First CF in 2002, I...
Yay, ECCO fan! I live in Coimbra, Portugal and this, my first winter, I stepped outside apartment, looked at the glistening wet pavement, looked down at my ECCOs and thought, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" Actually, I think I was paralyzed with fear, as I had just had a right hip...
In past four years, moved three times, had Covid twice (has done a NUMBER on my breathing), food poisoning, right hip beautifully replaced and 9 months hunched over computer expat'ing myself from Missouri to Portugal. 2023-24, winter in Coimbra, gloom and rain, repeated often and...
Icebreak should be stronger and t'istn't. My 200 has a snarky hole and just lamentable even after a cold wash. The rip at cinch of (previous) Osprey 36 and somehow missed in clothing review in January. What I miss (almost) more than un cafe solo-- which is saying a lot -- is the Icebreaker...
My last of 3 previous Caminos was 2019. I've had Covid twice, which affected my breathing (apparently not unusual). I had a right hip replacement in 2022 and that took a minute to regain even a semblance of walking strength! Moved to Portugal in 2023, just purchased a Forclaz Women's backpack...
Cherish with your entire being you have this solitude in which to refresh your spirit, in whatever way that is appropriate for you. St Jimmy the Everpresent Encourager is rightalongside you!
Leaving Coimbra to either train or bus to Pamplona on 08 April. One night in Pamplona, perhaps an emergency dash to Dacathlon; shake off the travel sitting. I have given up on Amazon.es living up to its erratic delivery times and bureaucratic nightmare of returning that which does not fit...
At 77, I upped stakes in USA and moved to Portugal last summer. Landed smack dab and blinking in a Portuguese dawn in the middle of a train strike, because the Pope is coming, and nothing says "we need more money" than having a transport strike in the middle of the Pope's visit. My Lisbon...
Camino Francais, Astorga, May 2002. A English peregrina and myself sought dinner. A pilgrim friendly restaurant (sadly, I cannot recall the name) posted an opening time of 7:00pm. Asombre! So off we scurry, to be met by a warm owner/cook/server/manager. Just us. Spotless interior...
I would greatly appreciate a packing list from your good lady wife as I plan my fourth Camino. I started with 17 lbs in 2002 (no "Gossamer Gear" options then: it was a Kelty something or other) and in 2012 and 2018, I had still not learned my "less weight in the pack"lesson. I moved from...
On my first CF in 2002, I, too, could not sleep. Not. Sleep. And I tossed. And I turned. Those bunk bed springs rattled like tin plates when I turned, so i was exhausted, sleepless and embarassed. I think I went three days at one point on 10 hours of sleep. Oh, and I was just a barrel of...
Recommendations sought for a sleeping bag for early April start from Roncesvalles - CF. A bit of a thrasher myself. Third Camino and resolute to refugio rather than private accommodation and want to be prepared.
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