Tales from the Trail

Well after 800 kms and 32 days of walking, I finally arrived in Santiago de Compostela Spain yesterday.  The mind and body are still both working although the continuous wind and rain for the last 2 days has tested both. Despite the bad weather forecast I’m back on my feet in the morning to walk another 89 kms a coastal town called Finisterre – the place where the old pilgrims believed was the end of the world.

Here are a few more pics of the trip.

Astorga cathedral

The bell tower

A typical alburgue accommodation. Actually this one was one of the better ones as it had mattresses on the floor as well as bunk beds.

Cruz de Ferro. A famous landmark on the Camino, originally to help pilgrims find their way across the mountains. Traditionally each pilgrim adds a stone, bought from home, to the huge cairn below the cross

A little town called Molinaseca – for me one of the most picturesque on the walk

Another early morning sunrise

The outside of a small refugio where I stayed one night high up in the mountains (4 kms before O’Cebreiro for those that have done the walk). The owners provided a communal dinner which was a 3 course vegetarian meal – no small feat in Spain where a vegetable soup still comes with floating hock or bacon.

Lets just say the inside the accommodation was rather rustic….

There were 5 beds, mine was on the left hanging from the ceiling. The stairs at the back of the room led to a suspended bathroom. One lukewarm shower and a drop toilet that also doubled up as the shower drain. Needless to say when I dropped the soap in the shower, there was no way that soap was going to be found again!

Another one of my bed

Early morning light at O’Cebreiro

A cold and misty start from high up in the mountains of O’Cebreiro

A fellow pilgrim looking out at the path still to be travelled

More of the path

Yep, I’m still heading in the right direction

8am. Last morning of the walk to Santiago. Still dark, cold, wet and windy.

Yep, more of the same

Arrived at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela – soaked to the bone but here at last!

Hola.

Thanks for all the messages of encouragement – they are much appreciated.

Well I’m still upright.  It’s day 21 of the walk and I have covered 520km. The body is holding up very well considering, although the feet are definitely sore at the end of each day.  I have just finish crossing the mesetas – a vast expanse of flat open country that offers little in the way of interesting scenery or protection from the elements of the sun, wind and rain, all of which I have experienced over the past week.  I am now heading back into the mountains and will climb up to 1500 metres in the next day or so.  Here are a few more pics of the trip.

Big horizons

Outside the cathedral in Burgos

My bedroom for the night. The albergue was full so they put the extra pilgrims up in the gym next door. I was on one of the mattresses right in the middle. No five star luxury or privacy here!

Gateway of an old monastery on the path.

Big skies across the mesetas.

A feast during a festival in Leon. Not too much to keep the vegetarians happy here.

Street performers during the festival in Leon.

A village with a fine 20 span bridge

Autumn harvest

Early morning. The sun is rising later each day and so have begun walking in the early morning before sunrise. A great time to catch the first subtle colours of the day.

Well I have been walking the Camino Santiago de Compostela for 10 days now. I had been struggling with a couple of injuries for the first few days but generally doing pretty well now. Have met some very interesting people along the way.  I have ditched a few kilos from my back pack including my ipad mini so am limited in my photo options for the blog but here are a couple of the walk so far.

Crossing the Pyrenees

Crossing the Pyrenees

The gateway to Pampolona with some fellow pilgrims

Spain in autumn. It’s been hot, dry and pretty barren at this time of the year.

Along the way

The long and winding road

An early start with the sun rising

Arrows of all descriptions show you the direction of the path.