Month: September 2014

Charlie. A typical pilgrim goes 15 miles (25 km) a day. In 2013 we averaged 11 miles a day about 75% speed. This time we planned 7-8 miles a day and are making a bit over 7 miles a day over the first six days so we are right on target.

The idea was not to walk a specific number of miles but to take our time, stop whenever we want, have afternoons to explore towns we passed through too quickly last year,  etc.

It had been working out great so far. We love having free time each day. We are not exhausted at the end of the day. We are being gentle with Wynette’s feet.

Another way to look at it. Say the average pilgrim is 40 years old and walk 15 miles a day. That is 600 mile-years a day. We are walking 7*65=455 mile-years a day or 75% speed, much better 🙂

Charlie and Wynette. This is Susan from Manhattan and Jill from Australia, who we met on the trail and who are going short distances like us. We stopped at a bar and all had fresh squeezed orange juice in the shade.

Charlie. We stayed at a lovely casa rural in Villamayor de Monjardin, a big name for a tiny town. We stayed here in our 2013 Camino also and were happy to be able to stay here again. The picture above is our room. Here is the breakfast room.

The front door. As you can see they filled up, four rooms.

Just outside our room.

And the amazing ceiling.

Charlie. A twofer but it still doesn’t get us down. This was the first day we started in the rain. It has been hot so we welcomed the rain and cloudy weather. It only rained for an hour or two but was a nice walking day. Here is me in my fashionable rain kilt.

Look

Charlie. At least once a day you see a shoe or pair of shoes cast off by the trail, usually on a marker post. We see a shoe but to the person who discarded them it is an instrument of foot torture. Most pilgrims have some foot problems.

Charlie.

When we finally get good wifi I’ll make a gallery of my huge collection of trail marker shots. Wait for it!

Charlie.

Charlie.

Charlie. It started raining and thundering. Luckily there is a cover around the square. This photo was taken from our pension room window long past bedtime.

Charlie. We have been getting up early to avoid the heat. It is a lovely time to walk.