Day Five Logrono to Najera

I cannot believe I am on Day Five. I am already grieving that it will end.

I have 15 minutes to post this before we are for forced for lights out. These places do that. Last night I got in trouble because I had to go potty at 10:01, and I had to beg the manager to let me go. The entire bunks of 32 people heard it and laughed. How embarrassing.

Today was fabulous - 30 kilometers. I have no idea anymore how many miles that is. I just walk.

My Korean friend and I have the same length legs, so we are good together. Juan, from Spain, joined us for a 2 hour Spanish lessons. He is so animated and fun. He is like our Camino Dad.








The entire 30 kilomters were through wine region of La Rioja - AMAZING beauty! My camera took 1000 pictures, and now none of them are there ....it is in my heart.

Pilgrims food...oh yah.....

We had English and Korean lessons, stopped for coffee twice, met up with our Australian friends for lunch,   

and arrived at Albergue that is volunteer - hot lovely soup waiting for us.
We also met up with our "Spinese" friends - who are Chinese and live in Barcelona and speak fluent Spanish!

 NON coed bathrooms again - how blessed.

One thing I have learned in sharing coed baths - MEN CAN HIT THE TOILET - or else, pilgrims
 are extremely thoughtful.

We met up for dinner with Juan and his Basque friend, 4 Australians, 1 Korean, and two of us USA-ers. It was a wonderful authentic Spanish dinner, with great conversation by Juan, learning about Spanish history and struggles. Pork and Lamb chops with David - my Aussie buddy..

My body does not hurt in ANY place, which I am so thankful for. Many people are in horrid pain and I feel so sorry for them.

My friend the stick, IS my friend. The trouble with that stick being my enemy WAS my shoulder straps were too tight! I love my stick.

As I close tonight, I am thankful for this opportunity, gratetful to God, and love my family back at home - AND wish that each of them could to do one day.

Adios. I cannot even attempt spell check with the language issue....LOL

Day Four Torres Del Rio to Logrono

Today the rain was not bad' but really muddy and very slippery.

The stick I got from the Dutch man has not been my friend at all. It falls down when propped,  it trips people, it is heavy, I am always forgetting it and having to go back for it, and I have a blister on my hand from it. I saw another girl this morning with a similar stick and asked her if she likes it. She said "No, but it is special because a man gave it to me."  Same here! MUD MUD MUD

But this morning my stick was my friend as I walked with my Korean friend in horrid mud.

 My friend the stick kept me from falling many times, kept me off my forte. OH! I also figured out why that man called my butt forte  - hè must know of Buns of Steel!

Anyway, I also made the adjustment for my straps on my backpack  making them looser. It was an amazing difference! So, was my stick my enemy, or was it the straps that were to tight?

We joined up with 7 Spanish men and took turns singing each of our national anthems.

They shared wine from their flask (Bota made from goat skins) with us, and some candy. I bought a bota in  Logrono: 

Tonight for dinner we ate pig ears, nose, and lips. They were delicious!

We met up with two Chinese boys who live in Barcelona who like to plan our days and want us to be two days aheead of schedule. If we do their plan, we have two huge days ahead.

My bunk buddy tonight is a french man. We have girls and boys baths, not coed!!!!!

Day Three Estella to Torres Del Rio

It is 6am, usual waking time. I am in my bed posting for yesterday.

I began 6am yesterday waking solo. In about ten minutes I up with a 31 year old woman from Korea, and we followed the shells and yellow arrows out of town. Unfortunately for us, no  bars were open to grab coffee. (bars are for coffee)

It was a very demanding uphill climb for about 3 miles, but time flew by for us. She had been a school teacher, then entered a convent to find God. After four years in convent, she dallied that God does not just live in convent, but everywhere.

We stopped for coffee and a take out sandwich and continued. We felt great! At one point we found a beautiful cluster of grapes and gobbled them up. After about ten minute, both of us said "do your mouth feel funny?" We were tingling and burning. We rinsed our mouths with water and he'd we wouldn't die. We talked about death and neither of us are afraid to die. Then the most hilarious picture came to mind, which kept us laughing for two hours: If a pilgrim, dies here, in one hundred years there would be a skeleton with a backpack on, because no one would want to carry anything to steal. That is also why our things are safe - no one wants extra weight.

The say was hard but beautiful. We saw. Huge flock of sheep with a dog and shepherd. The sheep were getting out of control, leaving the pasture and entering out road, We looked at the shepherd to see what he would do, but he was busy talking on his cell phone and not paying attention!

We walked together the whole day, and made it 39 kilometers,is a lot of miles. When we arrived at Albergue, my friend from Hawaii was waiting. Taking off my pack I felt like my shoulders had to be bleeding. I could not raise my arms. I think I discovered the problem - 39 years ago when I back packed, there was only one size,which was always too tall for me so I always tightened straps all the way. I now have a women's small pack, so I will loosen them next day.

Last night there was a special pilgrim meal in the cutest restaurant with about 49 of us there...fabulous food and fun.

Today as I prepare for my day, I hear the rain POURING....you can only stay one night in each town in Albergues. I DID thankfully buy a rain poncho in Pamplona.

Only 29 kilometers today...sopping wet. Let's do this!

Day Two Puente La Reina to Estella

What kills me is by car it is much closer!  But no, all these people came to walk this. I am on a nine day 135 mile schedule from Pamploma to Burgos,

Day 2 I walked beginning with my new York friend, then met a sweet gal from Oklahoma who is here with her dad.  I booked it to next Albergue but near town met a HYSTERICAL lady from Honolulu..a transplant from Everett. We laughed so much. After we got settled in, went for a walk. We decided to go into  the tourist information office to see where we should eat dinner.  AFTER trying to follow a stupid map for hours!  She is worse with maps than I am for sure.

WELL she was telling us where to go, on the map, and we didn't know which way the map was facing. ( if you don't understand this, you are good with maps) We felt  confident that we could find the place...UNTIL she told us to go out their back door! We started laughing, trying to explain how bad we are with maps, ans I told her we are map bimbos. She asked what is a bimbo, and I said a women that is pretty that is not very smart. She said "oh! With white hair?" We lost it. Then she told
us that in Spanish it is tonta for  female, and tonta for males. We lost it....what is word for bimbo for males in english?

We sat at table in kitchen with some Australians, a dad and his son.

Made it with no pain, hallelujah.

HALLELUJAH! Day One Walking: Pamplona to Puente La Reina

I am in bed typing on IPad which is very difficult for me.

Above me in the bunk is an adorable Italian young man, next to me is a very nice Swedish young man. This I am getting used to.

This morning I took off on my own, stopped for coffee, and headed out, following the shells imbedded in the street.

 In one half hour I met up with two Canadians, a French man, and a woman from New York. The moment we got out of town, it was suddenly the Camino! With butterflies in my tummy, I prodded on.

I had lunch alone - it was peaceful and wonderful.

 BEAUTIFUL walking paths....

Today we made an elevation gain of 1000 feet  and went 14 miles.. I feel great! my hip is trying to whine a bit, but  am telling it to keep that to itself. I spent most of the day with Julia, whom I really enjoyed getting to know. 

We stopped a few towns out for breakfast...carbs....and grabbed a sandwich to take. After a few hours I went on alone, trying to get to next town quicker. Three towns before destination, a local man and his dog joined me.
  He spoke no English. It was a very


interesting few hours. He picked me figs,
tomatoes,  and grapes trying to get a kiss from me. I kept reminding him of my wedding ring and husband LOL! The figs were amazing!

Once I checked in to albergue and dumped my pack, I went for walk...now THAT sounds funny! I met up and Irish woman and her brother, a darling young German couple, a man from Australia, and "Hilga from Norway", as she introduced herself. Beautiful people.


Came back to albergue and met up with new York Julia, a very sewer, smart, and interesting woman whom I will visit on my next trip to New York in October.

We went to dinner and had a "Pilgrims meal" -  3 courses for $10.

Came back and took a shower, with a German man in next stall singing at the top of his lungs.

AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!

I Can Do This

 Today I rode train 4 hours to Pamplona, where I found my first Albergue.

Andrea did not tell me there are coed bathrooms. A guy next to my bed is from France, and two beds the other way is from Seattle! This is nuts to be doing it alone but EVERYONE says it is the best way to do this.

I met Hans, from Holland - I guessed where he was from on my first try. He introduced me to his friend, and I went to get something to eat with them. They treated since it is their last day on the Camino. I had fresh baby eels on a toast,

 with deep fried zuchini sliced under the eels. Delicious ...I also had a cider drink that tasted like lemons and apple. One of the guys gave me his walking stick for my trip and his friend carved, well whittled, a hole in the top for me to put string in. I told them I will find a wild Spanish horse and tear out some tail hairs for my tie.


I cannot seem to post pictures here from my phone or ipad - so I am sunk on the respect.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a difficult climb up and down a mountain and a long day. I am a little scared - actually very freaked out.

Pamplona is charming to all end - I am skipping my shower until I get more comfortable with the coed bathroom. Thankfully the stall are private.

I will TRY to post when I get internet but not sure if I will.

Weirdest Thing Ever Layed Eyes On

So, Gloria DeGrow told me if I see anything at all in Barcelona, it must be the Sagrada Familia....by Gaudi. Our word gaudy comes from this architect. Well, after 26 hours awake, and getting lost on foot for hours (because I was brilliant enough.to take off on a walk without looking at hotel name where cab dropped me off.)
The subway is on strike, so there was horribly long hot wait, with a zillion people crammed in.

I make my way to huge line to get in church, and am told it is by invitation only today! I bribed..no work. I said I will look on ground if someone dropped theirs...no luck. I cried and told her I catch a train tomorrow morning at 7am. She said "wait right here" and returned with a pass for me.

I cried again.

My pictures do no justice...see it here:  http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/docs_serveis/informacio.php


Tomorrow I end my isolation by traveling 4 hours by train to the beginning on my walk - Pamplona.

Don't Cancel - ADJUST

I like that - Don't Cancel - ADJUST.

I always have stories.

Why? I don't know - maybe I like stories?

My Spain trip just took a slightly different turn. We leave tomorrow morning 8am.

My friend Andrea, whomidearlyloveandamnotonebitmadat, just discovered that her passport is expired. I will ALWAYS love you Andrea - and this will be funny some day....it really will!

After three hours on phones with passport agencies, travel agencies, airlines, and talking to God, her ticket is now cancelled and I am going alone tomorrow.  She has appointment at passport agency to try for a speedy renewal, and is hoping to be able to fly Thursday.

I will look so ridiculous getting on an airplane with a backpack and sleeping bag at my age all alone! (maybe I will put it all in a rolling suitcase now?)

Plan is: go to Barcelona and wait until Tuesday when she finds out her estimated time to come (IF at all). She will have to email me, and I will have to find internet to see her messages, as I have no global phone.

While I wait for her message, I will walk around Barcelona 15 miles a day....sans backpack which will be nice! oh Yes! The tracts I am taking weigh a ton - perhaps Barcelona is my best unloading place?

IF she cannot come, I will train it to Pamplona and book it through our planned route - alone. (OR I may just go to Italy and eat gelato)

If she DOES come, we have to figure out where to meet. Hahahah

ACK! Panic?!?!?!?! A little - but I also am smiling at the turn of events that are totally out of my control. What does God want to show me? Show others? DO to me? Do to OTHERS? I will see... something is up His sleeve.

TWO More Sleeps!

Pamplona to Burgos

TWO more sleeps til I leave! My old backpacking days are returning....only this time with a real adult instead of incarcerated juvenile delinquents. (I used to teach mountain climbing at Echo Glen Children's Center - LOVED it)

Only a pack on my back - all I can think of is "The Rain in Spain Stays Mainly In The Plain" and that we are NOT taking rain gear - if it rains, we will hang out on a Spanish bar (coffee) until it stops. Andrea is my training buddy and Camino Pilgrim - she has done this 3 times before so I am in good hands....maybe

Made these pins for our backpacks - there is a story to these - will share someday!

I HOPE to get a few wifi times to post from my cell - that cell will be my only wifi and camera.

WATCH OUT SPAIN .......................................

I COMETH!!!!

LAST but certainly not least - hubs bought me a red light headlamp...LOL!!!!!

Camino Santiago Packing List - Rev 1

Only FOUR days until departure! SO ready for this! I think this is a Social Butterfly's DREAM trip

PACKING LIST FOR CAMINO

Backpack – Water Bottle - sleeping bag liner (for Albergue's)

Plastic Airbags that air squeezes out

medical kit - Contacts – Epi Pen

Sunglasses/visor

ear plugs (sleeping in same room with up to 150 people - will need these)

credit card/passport

Adapter for 220/charger, Phone for Camera and WiFi when possible, Spare Phone Battery,  ipod - charger

Tracts/Labels

Down Vest

3 pairs Smartwool socks(incl worn pair)

4 pair underwear (incl. worn pair)

3 shirts (incl. worn, short sleeve quick dry, and 1 Long sleeve thinsulate with thumb holes for cold mornings)

2 pair lightweight Lucy hiking pants, one pair Northface hiking shorts

2 sports bras

Running Shoes (Walking shoes)

Shammy towel

Flip Flops for showering

Downloaded Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" on phone for devotions

Sunscreen, soap (Dr. Bronner's Lavender ~ use it for clothes and body)

To Dream The Impossible Dream

Haha - life is grand. Last April my friend Andrea challenged me to start walking again - well to START walking. I WAS on a running program - until I broke my hip in October. After emergency total hip replacement, recovering from that - I just did NOT want to WALK. Boring. Slow. UGH...so I took her challenge.

The challenge: walk 200 miles in Spain. We booked our tickets to Spain to walk the Camino Santiago - only 200 miles of the 458 mile pilgrimage. THIS would motivate me to WALK.

I began in April - ever so slowly and boringly. Then, it became fun and I was determined not to let this young-27-year-old-active-girl be a lot faster than me. I determined that I would train for this - endurance and speed - in order to keep up with her. I even googled it.

We would go 20 miles per day. Lofty high goal.People said that is unrealistic.

Everywhere I went I walked - San Juan Islands, Maui, Puerto Rico, California, etc. I worked hard and broke in my new shoes in preparation for this trip.

Yesterday, one week before our departure, we came to our senses. We are changing our route - 135 miles, 13 miles per day average. It was a difficult decision, but she convinced me by telling me that there is a free wine fountain on this route. OK. I can do this

I am handing out gospel tracts "The Narrow Road That Leads to Life" - people will have plenty of time to read these.

Work Travel

Travel for work is brutal - 9 hours on planes, 4 hours layovers, stop in Florida, then on to Puerto Rico......etc. BUT I squeezed one full day in Puerto Rico for play. We rented a convertible and drove from 6AM to 7:30PM in search for the famous deep fried pork chop called Chuletas Can Can. We had them last visit there - but THIS place was where they originated. After hours and hours of amazing driving - we got there!

I call the day "Grand Prix Racing in Jurassic Park". If you could SEE the roads....amazing...they fork every mile with no signs. Everyone drives 89 MPH and use no turn signals. I am glad my brave nephew/boss drove while I snapped pictures all day. My arms were sore.

God is good - I am tired. I am home for 6 days until I go off again.