Progress

Some of you are interested in where I am and where I am going. 

Of course the Camino is a perfect life analogy, so if you have any inside information on the latter, I’d be grateful if you’d pass it along. 😊

This shows you the northern route of the Camino from Irun along the coast until the Camino turns away from the coast and southwest toward Santiago. You can see where I am in relationship to the beginning at Irun. 

I have walked a total of 310.8 km (talk about precision). In the interest of time and also because I’ve had a couple of unexpected days of sickness, I have skipped along by bus for part of the coastal distance from Irun while still walking the 310.8 km.

Now I am in Ribadeo. You can see where I am about to turn away from the coast. 

I will now be entering the province of lovely Galicia, though, which will make up for the lack of views of the sea. 

Galicia is beautiful, like a combination of being in the North Carolina mountains and of being in a fairy forest. It might be my favorite province of the four. 

Here is a photo taken in Galicia from my last walk to Santiago in 2016. 

I think I have about 220 km to walk to Santiago. I hope to walk that entire distance. 

Grrrr

7 October

Leaving Soto Del Barco

Walk To Soto de Luiña

Hotel Casa Vieja de Sastres

I chose the title for this post at a moment of frustration. This stage had any number of ups and downs, ups and downs, which really made no sense to me. 

But I admit to being spoiled and childish. 

My experiences today (not to mention the perfect weather) more than made up for my hard work. 

Muros de Nalón. 






These eucalyptus trees could be two hundred years old. 






A glimpse of the sea. 


I am not a big fan of graffiti. It is everywhere it seems, obviously under bridges but also defacing the sides of old buildings and churches, which really bothers me.

However this was nice, so I “embraced it.”


I don’t know much about bridge building (of the literal type), but I am a good observer. And I have seen very little of this type of construction. It is everywhere it seems in this part of the world.


This was a complete and delightful surprise. I had walked under bridges and through eucalyptus groves for hours, then turned the corner, and saw this. 


Then it was back to the woods. 


This was a tough day, and so I celebrated when I saw my hotel in Soto de Luiña. 

Rain... but just enough for cidre.

Friday 4 October

La Isla to Villaviciosa

The weather was looking as though it could go either way...

...but it decided to rain. 


This is cidre country, and it was a day for walking through orchards. 

I came upon this adorable carport and took a photo...


...and just then, Nicholas, the proud owner of the little red car, appeared. “Hay nada gente,” he said gesturing around. There are no more people in his village except for four families.


Beautiful little church for pilgrims...


...who may want to have a spiritual moment before continuing on the way. 


Another little Pilgrim respite.


I walked much of the day with Katerin of Russia. I’ll tell you more of her story later.




I ran into Martin, who is on the right, further on down the trail on another day. He is a hospitalier, or person who volunteers to stay at an albergue to receive and to help pilgrims, in Finesterre (the last place a pilgrim can walk before the sea). He said, “I am the cooker!“


Favorite bar in Villaviciosa...


...and favorite Spanish food. 

Near Perfect

3 October 

Ribadesella to La Isla and Colunga

What would be the recipe for a perfect day?

Would it include a marina and walk along it?

Beautiful villages set against blue skies?






Or what about great new friends with a playful spirit?






...or fun murals for stepping right into the action?












...or maybe a curious explorer we can follow as he leads the way. 

Llanes to Nueva

Wednesday 2 October
Ribadesella, Asturias

Walk from Llanes to Nueva

Immediately upon leaving Llanes the Picos come into sharper view. 

Going through the tiny village of Poo, pronounced pō-ō, I saw a dozen people at the bar for coffee from France, Czechoslovakia, Australia, the Netherlands, and San Diego. No, I didn’t throw the last one in just for a joke.


I didn’t stick around long enough to get a really good photo of it, but this bull has a gold ring in his nose. I hope you can understand why. 

 

Morning sun is beautifully reflected off of the Picos. 


Older part is in the foreground. 


Village colors, me gusta. 


Picos getting closer, or I should say I am getting closer to them.


Convent from the 18th century. 




Fabulous French foursome. Denise gave me...


...her Camino bracelet. 

The rest is a smattering of the rest of the day’s walk for you to enjoy.