Estella - a Shorter Day

September 22, 2017
Estella
It was a short day today as promised.  I arrived at the albergue around 1pm and the guys had a bed already booked for me.  Our Finnish nurse developed knee problems and we lost track of her at Pamplona.
The albergues vary:  most are mixed sleeping rooms.  The one today has 3 beds  and we have our own shower, which is a rare treat.   Some places have meals, the usual thing being a shared meal.  Or they offer a kitchen where you can prepare a meal with your own food.  Most place's have sheels and blankets, the private albergues anyway.  They are a couple of Euro more, but worth it.

The later in the day you arrive: you run the risk of the choice beds being gone, such as the lower bunks.  I have only had one upper so far and it served to remind me that I am no longer 13.

My sandals gave up the ghost today, so I need a new pair.  I really should have brought my walking sandals but that is hindsight.  And walking around town barefoot is not a option.  Forge on, I must. 

Lorca - a L O N G slog!

September 21, 2017
Lorca
Well, I did it.  I made the albergue at 7pm exactly.   I manage to get my laundry on and I am having a cervezo con Limon (large) while waiting for my paella.  Tomorrow WILL be a shorter day.
The rain let up and I stored away my poncho for the day and kept on.  I saw lots of olive trees and vinyards.  I also tasted some of the grapes :  but not too far in because of the mud.  Roman roads may be romantic, but they are hell to walk on. 

Tomorrow  is Saturday ,  so I must buy some groceries because everything is closed on Sundays in a Catholic country.  

Though, some one has informed me that the bars are open.  So what more do you need?

I think I need one more tshirt to keep me going while everything is in the wash.  Now I have jettisoned my sleeping bag (I

haven't needed it since I got here) I have space to carry it.

Going to try to get some sleep no.

A short walk to Pamploma - How to communicate better

September 20, 2017
A short walk to Pamploma
Guess who I ran into when I got back to the albergue?  The Three Amigos are together again! We continued our walk this morning (about 4km or so) and checked into a private albergue, I've had a shower, my laundry is being done and I have a European simple card with unlimited Internet for 20 euros.  So now I am connected wherever I go without being at the mercy of free WiFI.

I am  now sitting in a side walk cafe/bar enjoying pintxos and cervezo con Limon, and life is good.  Cervezo con Limon is a beverage that consists of beer and a shot of not too sweet lemonade.   It is nice, refreshing and doesn't go to my knees. 

It is now siesta time and every thing is closed, except to this place.

On a meteorological note, both yesterday and today have been sunny and clear.  What a relief!

Trinidad de Are - Realization about the scope of this project

September 19, 2017
Trinidad de Are

It was  another long day today.  That  much more because I was alone.  My American buddies went on ahead because they are faster walkers than I am and it would not have been fair to hold them back.  The Pension I was in last night did not have WIFI nor does the albergue I am in tonight, so the letters are piling up in the outbox. 

I have to remind myself that I am still in the mountains so there are a lot of ups and downs and the Camino varies between dirt, pavement, cement that looks like paving stones and sometimes so narrow it looks like a goat track clinging to the side of a hill. None of this makes for fast walking at the best of times and I didn't manage to arrive until after six.

I had a shower, sort of, and tomorrow I will be looking for accommodation earlier in the day so I can get some laundry done.  It should be easier nearer to Pamplona. 

Espinal to Zubria

September 18, 2017
Espinal to Zubria
Today was rough:  starting out in the rain, then uphill over the mountain (brutal  climb) and down the way down: and the trail was  shale outcroppings and slippery.  We covered 15 km but it seemed like more. We walked from 8am  to 5pm, and all the albergues were filled.  So we got a room in a pension. And another pilgrim meal, salad, chicken ( and fries) with wine and cake for a mere 10 Euro. 
I have a blister on my toe and I am sore.  Suprisingly , I have not had much trouble getting up in the am.  Granted,  I have had no late nights either.
I miss you so much, and the kitties too. It is a general consensus that having you drive the support vehicle and scout out the good bars might have been a good idea.

There was no WiFi so the message could not be sent until Sept. 20

Espinal to Zubria

September 18, 2017
Espinal to Zubria
Today was rough:  starting out in the rain, then uphill over the mountain (brutal  climb) and down the way down: and the trail was  shale outcroppings and slippery.  We covered 15 km but it seemed like more. We walked from 8am  to 5pm, and all the albergues were filled.  So we got a room in a pension. And another pilgrim meal, salad, chicken ( and fries) with wine and cake for a mere 10 Euro. 
I have a blister on my toe and I am sore.  Suprisingly , I have not had much trouble getting up in the am.  Granted,  I have had no late nights either.

I miss you so much, and the kitties too. It is a general consensus that having you drive the support vehicle and scout out the good bars might have been a good idea.

There was no WiFi so the message could not be sent until Sept. 20

What a Way to Start

On the road to Roncevalles
It is 2:30, I have been on the road since 8am and I have made it to Val Carlos - 7 km - All up hill.  This is not working as I had hoped.  It could only be worse on the Napoleon Route.  I may be short, and be of French heritage, somewhere along the line, but I don't have an army behind me and I  am not that much of a masochist.

I am not what language they speak here:  it could be French., Spanish and the outside chance of Basque.  Maybe all three at the same time which would make it something like Chiac.

 It is also pissing down rain.  I am taking a taxi the rest of the way to be reunited with my dry clothes .