Trekking the Camino 2019

Awoke at 5:45 am this morning and started our walk 2 hours later. Still struggling with organizing stuff bags, after washing clothes daily. Seem to be constantly opening and closing backpacks, typically looking for things or adding objects we overlooked earlier.

Huge group of pilgrims started the walk with us – as we started our 14.5 mile hike to Zubiri. Started out in the enchanted forest (supposedly haunted) and passed through three or four beautiful villages in the first 10 miles. Continue to add to a growing list of international pilgrims we have met and walked with periodically throughout the day, as an example: Mary, Mary Elizabeth, and Mary Katherine – from Ireland, Tim and Carolina (England & Spain), Evelina (Germany), Anna (Holland), Bruno and Margaret (Germany), Georg and Sylvia (Austria)and Vanessa (Switzerland) – along with two or three other couples from the US. The last two miles of our hike was a very steep and technically difficult descent into the town of Zubiri. Beautiful village adjacent to a majestic river. We were very lucky to find accommodations in a small private albergue – as several pilgrims arriving after us had to keep hiking toward other towns further down the Camino.

It has been three difficult days, but all five of us have had an incredible experience – and best yet, no blisters !

Camino Day 2

This morning we watched an incredible sunrise on the deck of Orisson Albergue. Began our hike at 8:00am and immediately started climbing, almost continuously, for 2,800 feet. On the way, had incredible views of the French Pyrenees, saw beautiful horses, the famous statue of the Mother Mary, and markers of pilgrims that had died on the Camino. About 5 hours into the hike we entered Spain. At the apex of the walk we looked down at our destination, the former monastery at Roncesvalles – now a 183 bed albergue. Three miles and 2,600 feet downhill later -we arrived at our lodging for the night. Not a great night’s sleep – as lights came on every time anyone entered the bathroom and the flushing of toilets echoed like a jet engine all night long. Still, a beautiful sight, with a small cathedral. Saw the famous old albergue that Martin Sheen stayed in his first night on the Camino.

Camino Day One

First day of hiking ended at the Orisson Refuge (hostile) 2,500 feet above St. Jean Pied de Port. Very steep incline for the entire 8 km – with few flat spots to catch your breath. The scenery, however, was as advertised -“absolutely stunning”. Relative short first leg,but a great way to start this journey.

CAMINO EVE! We are about an hour from St Jean Pied de Port and the start of our 500 mile pilgrimage. Biarritz is a beautiful city on the coast of France. The five of us have had two full days in France ahead of our walk. I think we are all more than ready! BUEN CAMINO.

Well friends, if you are reading this post you undoubtably know about our latest quest to fight old age – a 500 mile walk across northern Spain.

Besides Jim and I, the other fellow ‘pilgrims’ in our group are our good friends Steve and Vickie Mitchener, my incredible sister-in-law, Kathie Smith, and our lovely daughter, Alecia – who will be joining us in Leon, Spain for the last third of the Camino.

Our walk should take us approximately 36 days, and over the course of 500 miles we climb collectively over 45,000 feet in elevation. We take all clothes and equipment in our backpacks and will be sleeping in both public and private alburgues (hostels), as well as a few inns and small hotels.

We have all done a good bit of training – with and without backpacks – and at this point I think we are ready as we will ever be!

We will send you our next update on Good Friday, from St. Jean Pied de Port, France – as we start our first day hike – across the Pyrenees Mountains.

Buen Camino, amigos!