Walking day 6

So with almost a week behind us we do notice certain things . We're getting stronger ! Yay ! 1 week ago a slight uphill was truly hard for me . Now it's just hard :) shins are ok , my back is getting used to the backpack . Tom and I walked part of the day separate . It's nice to have some alone time . I take pics of wild flowers, he listens music or talks to fellow pilgrims . Today we are at a very nice albergue in Najera . Tomorrow we will sleep in a nice parador :) which are luxurious hotels in old monasteries or castles ! But all our fellow hikers splurged too so we will all hang out together tomorrow again . Still loving all of it !sore feet and legs included ha ha 

Weather

Well it's going to be an interesting week . There is a heatwave coming week . Tuesday to saturday 85 to 90 degrees and sunny for 4 days !! This area  is normally not known for severe heat in May/June but we will get it ! It will be a huge problem for lots of hikers there they are not used to this . Already now we see lots of people covering th selves so they don't burn . Walking 8 hrs in the full sun will do that no matter how often you put sun tan lotion on . You sweat a lot so have to reapply a lot . Hopefully I will have some advantage with my training I did in Florida 

Walking day 5 " buen camino "

So today was our rest day . We "only " hiked 4 hrs . After this its another 4 days of 7 to 9 hour days. What stood out today is when we left Logrono how many locals actually greet us and say "buen camino " ( wishing us a good walk) you would think they don't care after hundred of years seeing pilgrims walking through their towns ... But they do . It is very nice every single time . After Logrono we see less of our usual fellow walkers . Some stay a day in Logrono and others walked a whole day today . Which is fine . That way you keep meeting new people . We are now in a very simple but nice albergue . They have a nice roof terrace where we will sit later . Our laundry is drying lol and we are enjoying $0.80 wine   . The hostess is cooking dinner and all smells great so we will enjoy our $10 pilgrim menu tonight . I keep writing the prices just because it stuns me every time how cheap it is ..... And good :) 

Tapas crawl

Seriously..... The best tapas I ever had . So fun to do a "tapas crawl in Logrono . 

Look on the map Myles :)

Walking day 4 and yesterday evening

Break on top of another hill . Tom checking pics he took 

Weird .... People left rocks and intimate notes everywhere . Not just at Cruz del ferro (memorial we pass by in 2 weeks )

So yesterday evening we had drinks and dinner with our walking group for that day . Interesting combo Kastas , a 40 year old guy from Lithuania . He work 3 months at the time on big grocery store projects all over the world . This year in Nigeria . Then there was Ken from Sweden , a funny young 30 year old guy who is in his 8th month of a trip around the world .... Not all on foot ha ha ,and Helen from Denmark who works as a computer specialist at some big company . Very interesting stories all day . Today we only saw Helen there groups change often during the day depending what pace you walk . Today we arrived in Logrono . A big city and famous for Rioja and tapas. So tonight we'll go on a tapas crawl ! One drink and a few tapas and on to the next place . Should be fun :) we still feel great . We like km 4 to 17 or so but the first few km your body is stiff and it takes half an hour or so to get back into the good pace etc . The last few km of the day seem to take forever . Sore and tired as you are they are tough . But we do it :) and do it well . So many walkers have injuries already . Severe blisters ( one lady we met from Iceland had to have them treated in the hospital :( Tom and I have great gear and take every morning 15 min to tape our feet . My shoes work great and expensive insoles pay off ! We also make sure we get plenty nutritious food so we stay strong and energized . Also decided to fill our camel paks with bottled water only . Cheap so why take the risk to get stomach issues as some hikers did from the water fountains. Ok that's it for today :)))) 

Walking day 3

After yesterday's long 16.5 miles(26km) day and again a 16.5iled on the schedule for tomorrow we are enjoying a easier day "only" 11 miles (17,5 km) today . It was great fun today . We met a lot of people and had fun talks with several while walking and during breaks . You run now into the same people sometime during each day . Feet are less sore then yesterday and toms knees seem to be grateful for this shorter day ! We are now enjoying some quiet time at the albergue and have a great room for 35 euro'a and "splurged" on having all our dirty laundry done fir......... 1 euro ! The owner is baking breakfast cake for tomorrow and it smells great ! Breakfast will be 3 euros :) off for some vino and food soon and to bed early because it will be a tough long one 

Day 2

A long day today ! We're exhausted after hiking 16.5 miles through the hills but it's such an amazing experience that you just deal with the soreness . From other pilgrims we hear that the first 3 to 4 days it's the hardest on the body ... After that it becomes a mind thing ! I can't post all my pics but it's just so beautiful ! Wild flowers everywhere and we walk for hours through vineyards , wheat fields and every 3 hours or so a medieval town .  As far as our daily routine goes so far ha ha . Start walking between 8 and 9 after a coffee and a small sandwich , then around 11 a brief break for another coffee and a banana :) , lunch once we are 2/3 on our way so around 2 . And dinner at 8 . One thing that has been the best thing I brought along are my hiking poles ! The paths are often so rocky that I would trip/fall if I didn't have my poles for balance ! Hopefully a good night of sleep and on tomorrow :) 

Walking day 1

In one word WOW ! AMAZING ! We are sore for sure but we made it !!! It turned out to be 16 miles (25.5 ) ! No blisters ha ha (well tommy got a tiny one ) and all went well. The packs feel fine . I'm fine with the weight I carry ( however I'm sure I'll feel it when I wake up tomorrow ) the scenery is absolutely beautiful . Rolling hills .... Well after we crossed the mountain . Just amazing . Met some nice    People . Actually having wine now with 2 ladies from the USA . Tommy is sound asleep :) 

Pamplona day 2

Nice little streets everywhere

First "hills" to cross in the background

Dinner 

Breakfast 

Today we saw just about all of Pamplona . We walked 10 miles (16km) so that was a good warm up day . It's truly a very nice town with friendly people and great food . However we disliked the best rated tapas bar here . Again all is super cheap compared to the U.S.A .this mornings breakfast was 2 nice sandwiches with eggs and chorizo,2 freshly squeezed orange juices and 2 cafe con leche(cappuccino) all for $7 ! We also ate our first "pilgrims meal" appetizer (pasta with tomato sauce)and entree of  wiener Snitzel and patatas and dessert and a bottle of wine $13 per person . Tomorrow we will try to have an early start there the mountain we will have cross looks impressive . Our first stage will be 14 miles (23 km) I'll post a picture from today's view of it however it doesn't show too well how high it is :)   We also went to the Camino store and picked up our Camino passport . You get a stamp at each town you stay and at the end you get the "compostelas " which is the Camino certificate ! Ps Myles today your first picture of a city name :) 

And finally ....here we go !!!!

With all my possessions for 5 weeks on my back (18 lbs ) it's FINALLY time to go.

Time to say goodbye to most luxuries that we take for granted. Washing machines (yep mostly hand wash or now and then a Laundromat), blow dryer (that I will miss the most ha ha) "what to wear ?" well I have 3 sets for walking and 2 for the evenings so ha ha that will be a fairly simple choice. No TV. Unless I want to watch Spanish shows in the few hotels where there will be one. And aside from the evenings, very limited WIFI. So I can leave that smart phone in my pocket all day :)  :)  :).

 But I think it will be all compensated with what, in the end, is the purpose of this trip:
Spending time with Tommy, time to notice AND enjoy our surroundings, no rushing,  no work to have go to, time to think about ???? who knows what will come up ha ha, talking to fellow hikers from all over the world. Challenging myself physically etc etc.
 I Can't wait to take those first steps in Pamplona Tuesday morning !!! (we will arrive Sunday evening and will take a rest day Monday to recover from jet leg )

But first let me get to Pamplona :)
It will be a very long trip to get from here to Pamplona.
First a 2 hr drive from Bonita to Miami, then an 8 1/2 hr flight to Lisbon then a flight from Lisbon to Madrid (where I will meet up with Tommy) then we will take the train from the airport to downtown Madrid where we will catch the train to Pamplona which will be another 3 hrs.  so roughly 24 hrs.YAY ! The weather outlook for our first week looks still great. Around 65/80 (17/25 Celsius ) degrees and mostly dry. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

I took a complete break from hiking this week to get well rested. Sadly I didn't sleep too well due to pre jitters. Hopefully once there, the exhaustion from hiking and being in the outdoors all day will change that quickly :)
The next blog entry will most likely be from Spain. Hope to "see you" there :)
For now I want to thank everybody that texted, emailed, send me a message on FB , walked up to me etc to wish us well.....I truly appreciate it !
ADIOS AMIGOS!......I'm ready !!!! Nervous....but ready! BUEN CAMINO !

                                       Can't wait to walk on that path and to see this view!

                                                                  That's "The Way " !

2 days !!!!

So it's actually time to wrap up all prep for real !
Wow!!!!
Just had a great Tapas dinner at Lamoraga in Naples,( to get into the Spanish mood), with my friend Ichele who kind of triggered my interest in the Camino.
We both can't believe it is almost a year ago we first talked about this and now I'm actually leaving in 2 days !

I am SUPER nervous. It's a good nervous though. It's more that all the prep and anticipation is finally coming to an end and the real trip can start. I have moments of fear and thoughts like : "what if I twist an ankle" or " what if my knees can't handle all" etc....however these thoughts quickly leave my head again once I start thinking about what an adventure this will be for me and Tom.

The weather for next week should be great for hiking. 65 to 75 degrees (15/22 Celsius) with a slight chance of rain. I would be 200% happy with that. Walking in 90 degree and very humid weather is NO fun.

I have been playing with my I pod to see what I can do...it looks like I cannot post video's but can post pictures. So that will have to do.  I can tape video's and safe them but just not directly post them on Blogger. We'll see. Maybe Tommy knows how to do this.

                                                               Pre trip Tapas night

and....1 week!!!

well....what can I say? 1 week left. SO close now.
Taking care of last things that need to be done like :)  :

                                 Last pamper/pedicure session before they will be put to work :)

another task done

So the fact is that there MAY be bed bugs on the Camino........and there are bed bugs in 1 star to 5 star hotels all around the world nowadays. However it is one of these things that freak me out.  I can handle less then clean bath rooms (hey we used to go camping all the time) and I can handle simple sleeping arrangements.....but bugs freak me out.....not all bugs but bed bugs !!!!
So I pretreated all my gear and clothing today that I will bring with me. This should prevent hopefully an encounter.

I sprayed some yummy insecticide on all and let it dry in the sun for 3 hours. It should be good for 6 weeks :)