Walking the Camino de Santiago
(from my journal) Vega de Valcarce 24 April 2013 Fun hiking day in the morning, walking off and on with Smith and Tara, Santiago, and Stella and Diego. In Villafranca del Bierzo, I mailed a box home of souvenirs, the first volume of my journal, some extra clothing, and Francine’s extra knitting project. Smith and Tara also posted home a […]
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(from my journal) Cacabelos 23 April 2013 On paper, this should have been our easiest day. Unfortunately, it was 27° C. We arrived in Ponferrada in good shape and only slightly behind schedule. But there was the Castle. We waited almost an hour for it to open at 11AM(ish), and we then spent over an hour exploring the structure and […]
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(from my journal) Molinaseca 22 April 2013 Too tired to think properly. Spectacular climb to Cruz de Ferro, Francine, Mark, and I. Saw some peregrinos there we had prviously met in Rabanal. Saw a forest fire in the hills – two helicopters put it out. Lord, may this stone, a symbol of my efforts on the pilgrimage that I lay […]
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(from my journal) Rabanal del Camino 21 April – Sunday! Francine’s second day, and the Benedictine connection continues. It was a rough day, and we only reached El Ganso – our intended lunch target – at 2PM. Broad path between road and horse path gave way to walking beside the highway. The views were spectacular – the mountains got larger […]
» Read more(from my journal) Astorga 20 April Breakfasted in the Benedictine hotel with Francine. We walked to the bus station – maybe 1.5 km – and caught the 9:30 bus to Hospital de Órbigo. Walked across town to Puente de Órbigo and walked across (and back across) the astonishing medieval bridge there. Took café con leche (second breakfast!) at the bridge, […]
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(from my journal) León 19 April In León after a relatively easy 18km walk, made only slightly more difficult by the fact of walking on sidewalks for much of it. This is a fantastic city! It’s probably my favourite so far – other than Pamplona of course. Narrow, crooked streets, bursting with life and commerce. The Cathedral is glorious. There’s […]
» Read more(from my journal) Mansilla de las Mulas 18 April Another long Meseta trek. Breakfast in El Burgo Ranero. Met a cat outside the bar who begged for food. Power-walked after El Burgo Ranero – not sure why the energy. Met back up with Eamon at rest area about 5km before Reliegos where we lunched. Second half of lunch in Reliegos, […]
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(from my journal) Bercianos del Real Camino 17 April Francine is in flight! Meanwhile, today was another introspective Meseta day – bleak, virtually unchanging scenery pushing thoughts deep within with little distraction. Entered the Province of León. Just before arriving in the town of Sahagún, at a little place called Ermita de la Virgen del Puente, I crossed the halfway […]
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(from my journal) Terradillos de los Templarios 16 April / St. Bernadette Today started out with 17.5 km of nothing. It didn’t get much better as the day went on. Lots of time to think, about what comes next, about literary projects and games, about my sins, obsessions, and demons. Accidentally left my fleece behind in Calzadilla de la Cueza. […]
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(from my journal) Carrión de los Condes 15 April A record-breaking 34km day. The walk to Frómista along the Canal de Castilla was very pleasant. It was not yet hot – we left at 7:30 – and a cool breeze blew through the trees beside the canal as Eamon, Mia, and I walked in the morning light. Lunch in Frómista, […]
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