Month: September 2019

Having journeyed from Leon to Madrid and onward yesterday I arrived back in Bexhill last evening to a somewhat cooler climate (and it got darker earlier).

A visit to the A&E this morning saw a change of dressing on my foot with instructions to have it changed every two or three days for the immediate future. Such fun. Also, Maggie can confirm that my foot looks a mess.

In my two stabs at the Camino walk I’ve covered a total 311 miles so I’ve only(!) another 189 miles to go, hopefully next April or May.

I’m sorry if anybody has come late to the party but – where were you??

So, in the words of somebody called Arnold…..I’ll be back.

Hasta la vista.

It’s happened again. On seeking medical advice this morning from the local hospital in Leon I was told not to carry on walking the Camino. A couple of days ago I found a small blister on my heel but missed a larger one. Did the usual things with plasters etc but on the journey the latter part of yesterday and during this morning everything had been rubbing and my foot had become a right mess. After a two and a half wait at the hospital I was ‘operated on’ with the result I’m missing a large area of two layers of skin under my heel. I took a couple of photos but I’m not going to show them as they’re a bit gruesome.

Anyway, booked on a train and a plane tomorrow and should be back at Gatwick by the evening.

I managed to hobble around Leon for a short while after I had cannabalised my new walking sandals to accommodate my heavily bandaged foot. Saw a few sights (like the hospital, the pharmacy for antibiotics, etc) but the hostel is very near to the cathedral which is a very impressive building even with the scaffolding. There seems to be quite a buzz around here with people promenading and dining in the warm sunny evening.

Few photos, I wasn’t really in the mood, the pain had begun to kick in. Anyway, yet another ‘just before sunrise’, one side of the cathedral and the view from my third floor lodgings in the centre of the old town.

I could be about 90 by the time I finish the Camino but I’ll try for the last leg(!) next April/May. It’s beginning to get cooler in the mornings and evenings and some hostels shut down in October.

Just short of 20 miles today. Accommodation very nice, comes complete with a cat and a well laid out garden to relax.

Had a drink in the local bar after arriving here and was given a free plate of something spicy. Discovered later it was octopus and potato in a spicy sauce! Also got a second drink free – not sure if that was because I ate the octopus.

After clean white sheets and single bed last night it’s back to the sleeping bag tonight. Sharing room with three German ladies and just had dinner with them. Actually we’re the only people in the hostel tonight.

I read a book by Tim Moore called Spanish Steps earlier this year in which he tells of his trip on the Camino with a donkey. And lo and behold – no, it wasn’t Tim Moore.

Second photo is of a procession in Mansilla celebrating the birthday of the Virgin Mary. Then just before sunrise this morning followed by that drink and questionable dish I had.

Should be in Leon tomorrow.

A distance of 22 miles on a very hot day. Staying in a more upmarket albergue (hostel) tonight with no bunk beds and just four persons to a room. I’m sharing with an American, a German and a Northern Irish.

As usual on arrival it was a hot shower followed by a cold beer.

The last six miles of today’s walk was through the middle of nowhere (there’s a surprise) but you always know when you’re coming to a town or a village as the first thing you see in the distance is the top of the church before anything else.

Again, didn’t take too many photos as too busy walking. First one is a view from my lodgings, then a field of sunflowers all facing the same way, hobbit holes near Moratinos, built to store large barrels of wine, and a metal sculpture in Sahugun.

Over the halfway mark now of the original 500 miles but I won’t say it’s going to be downhill the rest of the way.

Although yesterday I said today would be a short walk, in the end it was another 22 miles. If I had opted for the shorter walk I would have done it by about 11.00am. Taking the longer route I finished at 2.45pm.

Part of the route today came with a warning (according to the guidebooks). There was a 17km stretch which had no resources like villages, watering points,shade or shops. You were advised to take plenty of water and pace yourself.

No much in the way of photos as I took very few today. The first is of storks (I think) feeding in a field and the second some domestic animals. Not exciting at all. May do better tomorrow.

Must think about dinner now….

Managed to do 22 miles today in slightly cooler weather than yesterday by virtue of a following breeze.

I’m walking through an area called the Meseta which goes on for miles and miles and miles. It’s mainly wheat and sunflower fields but the wheat has been harvested so its brown stubble. The sunflowers are yet to be done. The terrain is generally flat but there wa a pretty stiff climb this morning.

A mixed bunch of people at the dinner table last night – two Canadians, a Belgian, an Estonian, two Germans, a South Korean, two unknowns and me.

Today’s photos are a rainbow over an abandoned convent, sun up, the canal near where I’m staying tonight and a long and winding road. I don’t know where the rain was in the rainbow photo but it wasn’t near me.

Tomorrow’s target mileage is shorter as it’s a longer one the next day.

Well, an extremely hot day to do 20 miles but I did it by 2.30. At one point walking in the middle of nowhere I felt like I was walking on the top of the world with big blue sky and the all round distant horizons.

On arriving at Hontanas the second thing I did (after checking in) was to have a litre of ice cold Estrella (for €2.70!) That’s lager for the uninitiated. Sitting here doing this blog is giving me a thirst for another one.

Anyway communal dinner is in 20 minutes time so perhaps then.

Again didn’t take many photos but here’s a couple. One of Burgos cathedral just after sunrise and one of the countryside (surprisingly showing a road).

Probably heading for Fromista tomorrow.

Till then….

Not a great deal to report today, most of it was spent travelling. Just had a nice cold beer (well you had to when it’s pushing 28°) and something to eat. Start walking tomorrow so an early night. (This is dull stuff, I’ll try and find something more interesting in the future.)

Didn’t take any photos today but here’s two anyway. One of the glass window at Bilbao railway station, taken last May and one of my daughter Laura’s new kitten (I’m sure Helen will like the latter one).

Back tomorrow.

Time to crank up the old blog again after the ignominious stop back in May. Maggie and I came back from Scotland yesterday evening after a week away so today I’m spending rushing around doing the things that need doing (like packing) before the taxi collects me at 3.00am tomorrow morning.

It’s a flight from Gatwick to Bilbao and then bus from there to Burgos. I start walking Wednesday morning, heading west. I’ve got about 310 miles to cover and as with my previous stint I’m hoping to do 15 to 20 miles a day, possibly more if the weather’s favourable.

Watch this space for further news….