Month: September 2014

Charlie. It is hard not to be a little defensive about our slow pace. We end up entering into long explanations when asked where we came from that day or when we started, two of the most common questions. We’re comfortable with it but it isn’t a sound bite.

We went 10 miles yesterday but today is only 4 because we wanted to stay in Santo Domingo which we didn’t have much time in last trip. (See, now I’m explaining it to you!) At breakfast an English bloke asked where we were going to today. We looked at each other and laughed and started explaining.

Wynette. Sunday. We stopped for coffee in Azofra this morning. Two German men, photo above, were at the next table and speaking to each other in German while Charlie and I talked to each other in English. When they got up to leave we all wished each other “buen camino”, as is the custom. Then one of them playfully said to us in English “Have a nice way.” That is pretty much the English translation of “buen camino”. We all laughed at that.

Update Monday: This morning when we went down to breakfast, we found ourselves sitting across from these same men. We had all ended up in the same B&B. We found out they are from Berlin and are a father and son. (Father with the ponytail.) They are walking the Camino over four years, one week each year. We really liked them.

Charlie. They are everywhere in La Rioja, right by the trail, and look luscious. They are very good.

Charlie.

Only on the second plate please.

Charlie. With some loners that got away. Maybe haybale stack would be more accurate.

Charlie. FYI

Charlie. We have walked 12 days, gone 88.2 miles, 7.6 miles a day. We have used our sheet sleeping bags once, had sheets the other 11 days, and had towels 10 day. Six of the places were albergues.

Amazingly we are one quarter done. We are a day ahead of our planned schedule. We will get to Ponferrada. Coincidentally we were watching a bicycle race going through Ponferrada as we were having lunch today. The last quarter will be the Camino Finisterre.

The way-slow way is working out well. Wynette’s feet are doing okay and not too stressed. We are not tired at the end of the days. We sleep until we wake up.

It has been a bit hot and humid but it is cooling off now.

We have had almost all good food and sometimes amazingly good food.

People have been friendly and helpful. The main exception, the albergue in Los Arcos, makes a great story. It was so bad it was funny.

Wynette has been doing great with her Spanish. It has been very useful. We have learned to ask for things, like salad instead of French fries.

Because we go slowly we can stop a lot and look at things and think about what we are seeing.

Taking pictures of markers has been fun and keeps a record of the day on the trail. It is fun to go through them and recall the day’s walk.

Daily Log:
Date, Day, Miles, Average, Town, Hotel
16, 0, 0, Zizur Mayor,  AC hotel 
17, 1, 8.4, 8.4, Uterga, Perdon 
18, 2, 6.5, 14.9, Puerta la Reina, Jakue 
19, 3, 9.5, 24.4, Lorca,  Bodega 
20, 4, 6.5, 30.9, Estella, Christina
21, 5, 6.6, 37.5, Monjardin, Montdeio
22, 6, 7.5, 45.0, Los Arcos, Puente 
23, 7, 5.0, 50.0, Torres del Rio, Oca
24, 8, 7.1, 57,1, Logrono, Portales
25, 9, 8.2, 65.3, Navarrette, Cantaro
26, 10, 5.4, 70.7, Ventosa, Aguadas
27, 11, 7.0, 77.7, Najera, Calle Mayor 
28, 12, 10.5, 88.2, Ciruena, Victoria 

We have gotten a lot of enjoyment as we get to places remembering the first time we were there. We remember little things like what people were standing there as we passed and where we talked to the woman from Ireland (for example).

We are finding that we didn’t get enough of these places the first time. We were too tired or distracted or something. This gives us a chance to complete the experience. It has been very satisfying.