LIVE from the Camino Arrived Roncesvalles!

[Amanda Surbey]

That was hard. Oh, so hard. But so beautiful it made me weep at times. Will try to post something on the blog later if I can stay awake …

 

[peregrina2000]

So happy to hear this. Buen camino, Amanda! It's always such a pleasure to "see" the Camino through the first timer's eyes, so I will be enjoying your blog, I'm sure. Laurie

 

[ranthr]

Well done! Buen camino!

 

[wayfarer]

Congratulations on completing one of the hardest days. Have a great Camino and enjoy every step.

 

[ezbeer]

Amanda, buen camino!
Let us more ditailes, at what time you started, how long it took

 

[Amanda Surbey]

7 hours and 45 minutes. Weather was gorgeous. Even a bit warm for a while -- I took the legs off my trousers, but later it got windy, so I put them back plus added my hat and gloves for a bit.

Hotel wifi is slow. I'll let you know when I get the blog to work.

 

[Rachael]

I'm looking at my Roncesvalles photos again, just to revive those wonderful memories.

Wave to the vultures!

 

[cher99840]

You made really good time and even came in a bit under your initial estimate. As you progress, please be kind to your feet, as their happiness is directly related to your own.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Well done Amanda! See no worries.

 

[david g]

Congratulations on making it! I'm so happy you had good weather, as the views are so amazing. Looking forward to hearing more updates.

 

[wayfarer]

Keep an eye out for my sign tomorrow Amanda, you will pass it on the way to Zubiri.

 

[alexwalker]

Keep an eye out for my sign tomorrow Amanda, you will pass it on the way to Zubiri.

I saw it in April, and had a good laugh!!! Thought about you right there. It's a really good one! Was it YOU that tagged it?

 

[Amanda Surbey]

Was unable to post blog with photos (not sure why), so removed them (shared them on Facebook). Blog now up. See my signature for the link.

 

[Amanda Surbey]

No blisters! But my arthritic toe is suddenly (starting on the train ride here) finding the edge of my boot now and then. This is new and worrisome.

On my other foot, I have a hairline stress fracture. Had it for a while now. Had my Rx inserts adjusted for it last week.

Felt some strain in the muscles, etc in my soles from time to time yesterday. Positively GIMPED to dinner. But that's not unusual for me after a long ramble (or even a short one).

Hoping to cut walks a bit short during this first week, but tomorrow can't get shorter than 21km.

 

[daesdaemar]

Awesome!

 

[MichaelSG]

The "gimp" to dinner is officially called the Camino Shuffle. Get used to it. Buen Caminho!

 

[Amanda Surbey]

Hahaha

The "gimp" to dinner is officially called the Camino Shuffle. Get used to it. Buen Caminho!

Hahahaha!

Whenever I gimp from my car to the front door after a hike, I will think of this.

 

[wayfarer]

I saw it in April, and had a good laugh!!! Thought about you right there. It's a really good one! Was it YOU that tagged it?

No, I saw it first in 2012 on a very wet day when I was at the "what the hell am I doing here" stage. It gave me the courage and inspiration to keep going.

 

[Al the optimist]

Really take it easy the next few days. Maybe jacotrans?

 

[Mike Savage]

well done! Don't push too hard though.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just wanted to join in the "don´t overdo it" camp. These first few days can be a great easing in to the rhythm of the Camino or they can push you into a wall that ends your walk. Take care, be kind to your feet, Amanda. There are lots of places to stop and rest or stop and sleep. These are the days to indulge, you´ll have plenty of time to be an "authentic pilgrim" later. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[kmrice]

But my arthritic toe is suddenly (starting on the train ride here) finding the edge of my boot now and then. This is new and worrisome.

There is a product called "tubos elásticos" available in any pharmacy (farmacia). It's a silcone tube wrapped in a cloth lining. You cut off a piece the length of your toe, slip it on, and, at least my my case, get instant relief. They come in at least two different sizes so make sure they are the right width. Most pharmacists, in my experience, are very helpful.

One downside, as with any foot bandage, is that it might cause your foot to bind somewhere else.

Good luck.

Karl

 

[Amanda Surbey]

I have some of that, but sadly, the arthritis is in the big joint of my big toe -- think bunion. Can't get anything around it since it's the main part of my foot.

It wasn't bad today. Everything hurts, but now that my feet are up, it's okay.

 

[Thornley]

I have some of that, but sadly, the arthritis is in the big joint of my big toe -- think bunion. Can't get anything around it since it's the main part of my foot.

It wasn't bad today. Everything hurts, but now that my feet are up, it's okay.

Amanda , have a good lunch each day in the best restr. , write up your diary and then sleep.
If the feet, knees or any other part of your body starts to cause pain SLOW UP
And please don't worry too much about us forum mob....if you worry about face book and all the other social media instead of your limbs the walk will be very short indeed.
Be careful going into Zubiri.

 

[Amanda Surbey]

Zuberi was a white knuckle ride down. But no falling!

 

[Saramago]

Zuberi was a white knuckle ride down. But no falling!

There is a nice little shoe/sport store there in Zubiri. I switched up my insoles there. It's near the grocery (would be the left street after muni which you will take to leave). Funny thing in Zubiri - there is a salon there and another pilgrim and I had had a laugh that we would go in and ask for the "pilgrim's rate" on services. Both of us had been elsewhere prior to SJPdP. We were enjoying a coffee outside nearby so just for the heck of it we popped our heads in and were immediately shooed away. Haha

 

[s. brown]

Zuberi was a white knuckle ride down. But no falling!

I am really enjoying your blog. Keep up the good work. Write as much as you can with details (easy for me to say, isn't it?!) And please continue to include details of your meals, good and bad. In fact, it's the "good and bad" part about everything that you do well. Hope you're having fun.

 

[steve392]

I'm enjoying your blog immensely and it is inspiring me to keep planning my camino. It's great hearing all the ups and downs that you are experiencing (and I don't mean just the hills).
Keep going and make your family and yourself proud.
Buen camino.

 

[WldWil]

great blog. I love the tearing pages. You are making me reweigh my stuff again and it is months before I leave.

 

[susanawee]

Hahaha



Hahahaha!

Whenever I gimp from my car to the front door after a hike, I will think of this.

Zuberi was a white knuckle ride down. But no falling!

Agree about the descent to Zubiri....good to read that you made it with no falling.....I too am enjoying reading your blog.....keep travelling safely Amanda and Buen Camino...

 

[Stephen]

Festina lente!
I like the blog.

 

[Olivares]

Amanda-- if you are taking industrial amount sof Advil might as well get to a pharmacy and buy Ibuprofen 600 mg pills. Take it with at least 400 mg of Magnesium. This combination proved a Camino-Saver for me many times. Ibupprofen took care of any muscle inflamation, Magnesium expedited recovery, reduced cramps, and stretch exercises before and after walking kept injuries at bay. I recalled a particularly painful cramp on my foot between Palas de Rei-Arzua. Upon arrival to Arzua, I applied pain cream to my foot, took one Ibuprofen, a Magnesium pill, put my foot up, and the next day I woke up feeeling like new. Buen Camino!

 

[smj6]

Fun reading your blog, Amanda, and looking forward to more.
Buen camino
Suzanne

 

[Kerstinh47]

Oh my , oh my, oh my... You are getting so close! It's a lovely feeling, mixed with a pinch of melancholy at the thought of being finished soon (at least it was for me, here and there during the last 100k). Hip, hip hooray for you!

 

[MichaelSG]

Keep on, keeping on Amanda. Remember to enjoy these last few days. Enjoy every conversation with every fellow pilgrim, waitress, hospitalera, etc. Smell the air. Hear the crickets. Feel the rain. Watch the stars move. Gobble down the pulpo and quaff the wine. You'll never know if this turns out to be a once in a lifetime experience so go home with no regrets about what you didn't do. Have fun!

 

[Robo]

Great Blog Amanda. Enjoying reading it immensely.

 

[David Baylor]

great blog. I love the tearing pages. You are making me reweigh my stuff again and it is months before I leave.

When are you going? I am from Wisconsin as well and my son and I are going in June.

 

[WldWil]

I plan to walk out of SJPDP on September 4th. I am in the Green Bay area if you ever want to compare some notes.

 

[David Baylor]

We'll be coming up from Madrid and zig zagging on several routes to approach Santiago from the South. Nice to know that Wisconsin is well represented here.