And now for the photos - Astorga to Acebo

Day 1:  Astorga to Santa Catalina via the detour to Castrillo de Polvazares

First marker as we headed for our Albergue

Gaudi Palace

The detour brought us to a very nice hotel where we had a cafe con leche.  We found that most little villages were mostly deserted.  This was Saturday and still very few people were out and about. 

Coblestoned village of Castrillo de Polvazares

 Our detour also took us via a forest of trees uniformly planted...

and on into Santa Catalina.

Stork's nest...one of many we would see

Almost deserted Albergue...so cold!!!!

Day 2:  Santa Catalina to Rabinal to stay at Albergue Gaucelmo run by the Con-fraternity of Saint James.  This is where we met a lot of our companions for the next few days.

Heading towards those mountains and hoping for no snow

Evidence of the pilgrims passage

Gaucelmo Albergue and stories of afternoon tea with scones

 Day 3:  Rabinal to Acebo...our first real "hill" climbing to 1500m.  Uphill was to be the biggest challenge of my Camino

Leaving just before sunrise

Every photo opportunity was a chance to rest so I took LOTS of photos.

Foncebadon at 1400M reminded us of a ski chalet

Marjarin meeting a group of school kids on 3 day Camino to Ponferrada

a more private Iron Cross

We reached the Iron Cross and found it very crowded so we started the descent...

Forest fire captured our attention

Our first descent was like walking on marbles.  Hard to look up to see the view.

ready to do it again

I am in the UK waiting to travel home tomorrow.  The last couple of days in Santiago were lovely.  I made it to the pilgrim's dinner at the parador and walked around the city many times.  my feet are very happy walking and would have loved to continue on to Finestere but that will happen next time.  Got to see my German friend in the square yesterday afternoon and took the roof tour of the Cathedral.  I will post a selection of photos from each day when I return. Buen Camino.  A tired but happy pilgrim...j

Santiago...too soon

we arrived this am in beautiful sunshine.  the mass was impressive and we are now out and about sightseeing...love the feel of the city although it does seem a bit strange to walk with a goal of simplicity and be greeted at our desitination by all that we left behind.  more reflections once i get to a keyboard that speaks english...xoxo...j

sunny days are here again

Hi Everyone who is still following me.  I have had an amazing 2 days...the sun came out and and we had 2 good days of walking...25kms yesterday from Melide and 23 today to the outskirts of Santiago.  it´s almost over.  I met a wonderful person from Germany who was hobbling  along with 2 sore knees.  We went to the same albergue in Melide and i gave her a reiki treatment.  The next day to my surprise she made the same 25kms walk and is here today with us.  I say i am surprised but really shouldn´t be.  Also met a couple from NB who have been walking since early March and a woman from Cape Breton (who know about Big Hill Beth)....nice to talk to Canadians.  Experienced pulpo in Melide in a very traditional place with lots of locals.  Also watched the soccer playoff with my German friend.  All is well and I will be sending atleast one more message before heading home.

i have taken so many tractor photos for Sam and Noah i hope to write a storybook for them....happy pilgrim....j

3 more walks

Hi Everyone:  just completed day 12 which puts us in Melide.  A couple of long days ahead so we can walk into Santiago Saturday morning.

we had great weather heading out of Sarria...sunny but crisp.  The crisp has continued but now we are having rain or very heavy mist. 

the tourist walkers joined us at Sarria so it was like the 401 the first day as they settled into their pace.  We have met a mom from New Zealand walking with her 2 kids...they are on a round the world trip for 1 year and the Camino was on the list of things to do.  Great experience for them.  We have also met a group of 3 that started in St. Jean and seem to be travelling at our pace.  We are together tonight and head out again tomorrow.  Walking most of the days on my own as Sheila is in a faster groove....but that is OK.

last night our hotel in Portos was closed so the neighbour of the cafe owner took us in ....a big room with 2 double beds and fleece sheets...heaven!  such nice people.

more later....j

Training has paid off

can´t quite believe that all that walking in the snow this winter would come in handy.  Today I woke up to a white world.  The monestary across the street was snow covered, as were all the trees and hills.  As I set out it really started to snow.  So beautiful.  A good day walking into Sarria where I met up with a well rested Sheila.  We set out together again and ended up in a beautiful albergue (according to plan) and are enjoying our roomies...not much else to report other than I am very happy and completely at ease with this life of a pilgram.

lots of hugs to Sammy and Noah....xoxo...mama tune

Hail Samos

literally hail...I walked from Fonfria this am in the icy fog, snow, sun, rain, hail and more rain.  Quite the adventure.  My walking partner took a day off and went to Sarria by taxi to wait for me.  Unfortunately the albergue that I was headed for is closed at the moment but I found a nice room to myself rather than bunk in with the guys at the monestary.  As I have been walking I compose my blogs...there was an excellent on on nature, specifically all the one time only sights I have seen like the wisteria on the museum in Ponferrade in full bloom like all the photos and the formal gardens in Vallafranca with the peonies blooming.  The hills are purple with heather.  But that blog didn´t get posted as there has been no internet in the mountains.  Another topic was on the birds.  Wow ...they sing all the time.  Another on the people.  My senses are on overload and I stop so often to take pictures of yet another beautiful scene.  Just a few steps further and there is something else just as remarkable.  I have made friends with many dogs along the way and the odd cat. 

today I could probably figure out how to post photos but I am charging my reader in the USB port.  You´ll just have to ask to see them.

Marusia the little hotel on the left just before Las Harrerias (sp) is the best so far.  Pariso or something close to that name. 

buen camino all...j

walking in sunshine yay-ay and don´t it feel good

we are having exceptional weather.  coming down from El Acebo the trail was in blossom.  Wild flowers and lavender everywhere.  it was a difficult decent but would have been even more so if it was raining.  We had a nice rest in ponferrada and headed out today to Villafranca.  lots of up and down after many kms of concrete and highway.  we decided to wander along through the vineyards to get off the highway and really felt the heat of the sun this afternoon.  Tucked up in the little San Francisco hotel on the main square.  Tomorrow we are taking the high route out but sending our packs forward by taxi.  no blisters but very sore feet.  life has become extremely simple...even blogging is more than my brain can process. 

a fellow pilgram is an 8 year old boy from Chicago travelling with his spanish mom...being home schooled along the way and still has enough energy at the end of the day to play soccer with the local boys!

our surprise today was a man who had set up a fruit stand in a shaded wood.  fresh fruit cup by donnation.  another fellow was carving wooden scallop shells...will show you when I return.   buen camino...the tired pilgram...j


Dad we are meeting lots of people and everyone is very friendly, so stop worring.  Sorry to hear about Ian.

gratful pilgram

It´s hard to believe we have finished day 3 and our now in El Acebo...right on track.  Going slow but enjoying the magnificient views and getting used to the pilgram ´routine¨;  We had a nice walk into Rabinal yesterday and thank you to Darlene for sending us to the Confraternity of St James albergue...you are a legend there Darlene for you homemade  muffins.  We enjoyed the comforts and the tea.

also thanks to Ann for insisting I take two sticks...they were invaluable as we climbed up to pino alto and back down on the rocky trail.  So far no blisters or unusual aches and pains.  We are enjoying the company we meet...last night ¨hasty Case´´ from holland who thought he would be able to do 50 kms each day...but to his credit he is averaging 37.  Back in Astorga we met NickMick whom we helped decided between his Japanese and Koren girls.  We´ll never know if he followed our advice.

Tomorrow on to Ponferrada...wish I could figure out photos but we are lucky to have found a free laptop in the little El Acebo restaurant (1st on the right on the way in Ann!)...loving our experience here...buen camino

ps Marusia, Kai and Pat I left you and hola in the guest book at Raninal....j

hola.  arrived in madrid with no problems and booked into the Emparado hotel.  lovely to have a good sleep.  our last night in the barn we felt like we were being blown off the hill...huge winds and rattling windows.  the baby lambs were bleating all night long.

got our bus yesterday to astorga and spent the afternoon wandering the town visiting the museums.  met our first pilgram <<´lola<<<<<<< who gave us <<lots of advice>> bu tmost of all to keep a pilgims attitude...that it´s not a race.  she was up and out by 7 racing towards her next town :).  our day was leisurely with a detour to a beautiful little town with a flush toilet just in the nick of time.  first manifestation of the Way :).

will try to up load a photo...buen camino

ps no luck with that....there is quite a process to get photos from the phone to the computer. no time at the moment.  just imagine snowy peaks in the distance and gently rolling red clay hills behind us.  it is very green with the leaves just popping.  there was frost on the ground this morning leaving Astorga but now lovely and warm up against the stone wall at the albergue.

Spring has sprung....

We walked down into the village and back this morning...lots of hills so great training for our days in Galicia.  I couldn't help capturing this mama sheep and her twins.  So proud of her babies.

Buen Camino....j

Hills, Hills Everywhere

I arrived yesterday afternoon in Manchester after an uneventful overnight flight.  Sheila has been renting a converted barn in Rainow...a small hamlet (where else but England can you use the word "hamlet"?) in Peak District National Park.  The views from the barn are stunning and the hills daunting.  We'll be heading out on a walk through the countryside tomorrow but for now I am content enjoying the views and visiting with her family.

Buen Camino...j

Wet and Wild day .....

Today was my last walk with the Friday Camino group.  I looked out the window early this morning and was greeted with freezing rain.  Add that to the list of weather conditions we faced over the last several months of Fridays.  Undaunted, I got to test my rain gear and stayed nice and toasty.






But on my quick visit to Noah and Sam they had this to say about the day in general....

One more sleep....and then I am off.

Buen Camino.....j

As I count down the days before I go to Spain, I am reflecting on how easily I manifest what I REALLY, REALLY want at the moment.   The other day a friend called me the "mother of manifestations".  What a great thought to take with me as I head to the UK to meet Sheila and then on to Astorga where we will begin our 2 week journey along the Camino de Santiago. 

I didn't plan to blog about my experience but here I am wanting to share my adventure with those who have inspired me and helped me to prepare.  This time last Spring I answered the call of  my Friday Camino group, led by Darlene ... "let's walk, Pilgrims!".  And we do.  We walk in snow.  We walk in rain.  We walk on ice and in mud. We walk in sunny weather with the bite of winter still hanging on to the Spring winds.  Best of all, we walk within developing friendships, founded on our mutual enjoyment of the simple pleasure of getting out to walk.  Soon I will be able to add my experiences of the Camino to those of the others.


What will manifest along the path?  Stay with me to find out.

Buen Camino!  An excited pilgrim...j