I'm off at last

[rioja routard]

Hi pilgrims / pèlerins / pelegrinos

Fly to Santander tomorrow, overnight train to Ponferrada, then straight onto Camino. My backpack is 5.5 Kg and I'm REALLY pleased about that. I assume Ponferrada is around 200km from Santiago; as I fly back from Santiago de Compostela on 9 September, if I do around 30km a day I should make it? However not pressuring myself, just want to enjoy the way of St James. As I've said before I did Burgos-Ponferrada in July, in all that suffocating heat!

I need to regroup my strength and face Court when I get home to restore the previous rights I had to see my children. The Camino will give me that.
Anyway Buen Camino to everyone

PEACE

 

[ivar]

Buen camino James!

... by the way, Santiago has 32c today... it is still warm...

Un saludo,
Ivar

 

[papajohn]

James, Ultreya and sus eia. Thank you for sharing your inner and outer journey with everyone. I have 30 days and counting til I begin. It seems so long and yet so short. John

 

[rioja routard]

I'm back, refreshed but sad it over

Hi everyone,

Ivar was right, it was a furnace out there. Continued from Ponferrada, where I last left off, and did Santiago in 6 days walking, 123 km via Samos, I think? No plans where to stop, just stopped when tired. I can not say how much kindness there is from the Spanish people who run bars, restaurants and Albergues. It was a bit of a circus on the last 110 km but people live as they must, they have their own codes. My priority was to walk, I thought about accomodation when I was tired of walking. Still met some really good people out there; Denise from Milan with her dog who had walked from Logrono and Phoebe from Cork who had walked from St Jean Pied de Port. She continued to Finistere.
Bit spooky walking through smouldering forests. All my spiritual objectives were achieved. I thought about this ancient way, soaked with purpose and belief. It was a very special feel to it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one to experience the power of the Camino.

Had lunch at a really nice Albergue but too early to stop. Seemed really cosy and friendly, Xan Julian, the Santiago side of Palas de Rei.

Went to mass at the chruch in Sarria and as the sacrement was been taken some French girls from Paris (pilgrims) started singing which was really beautiful. It was very moving, perhaps one of my best memories of what I have so many.

It is so addictive, walking, praying with the feet. Feel like doing some more next year from Roncesvalles, who knows?

Many thanks to all the contributors on this site, your information has been of great value and thanks to Ivar for a great job, and warning me about the sweltering September heat! Gracias.

Anyway Buen Camino