Category Archives: My First Camino

We left the beautiful old monastery in Roncesvalles after breakfast. We were among the last to leave. We stop at the road sign ‘ Santiago de Compostela 790k.  The guidebook says 751. So does this mean the ‘Way’ is a shortcut? It is a thick Scottish mist intermingled with rain. It is a hilly sectionContinue reading “Day 3 Oct 1 Roncesvalles to Zubiri”

Two Irish sisters staying with us at Orisson told us they had checked out the trail past Orisson yesterday and it wasn’t too bad. But they were wrong and hadn’t gone far enough. It seemed okay at first , but then the road went up and up and up. The grades were not as steepContinue reading “Day 2, Orisson to Roncesvalles Sept 30”

Day 1 can be summed up: OMG! Which when you think about it, is exactly what pilgrimages are all about: Oh My God, please forgive me for I have sinned….. Only 8k but 7.9 was all uphill. 3 hours to go 8 k. Some of the grades are 45%! Steffen took the lead, and weContinue reading “Day 1 St Jean Pied du Port to Orrison, September 29”

Some days the internet gives up. Some days there just isn’t any. And some days it surprises you at the summit of a mountain where a dozen people hover around the cell tower which advertises free WiFi but doesn’t deliver.

It is 10:15 p.m. French time. I have been sitting for 12 hours  today and walked maybe a total of 1k. I am exhausted. This does not bode well for a walking holiday.   I left Protection Island 7:30 am yesterday and arrived at St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, at 7:30 pm today: Wednesday.  As we linedContinue reading “Arrival”

  The gear. Packing for the Camino needs to start six months in advance.  But it didn’t.  Luckily there are a lot of packing lists available on the ‘net.  They say you should aim to carry no more than 10-12 % of your weight.  I aimed but failed although I confess that I rejoiced in beingContinue reading “Packing”

The before picture. Photo by Denise Gotta Run Bonin   Linda and I walked just about every trail on Newcastle Island Park and some trails twice today and yesterday.  Carrying our full (20 lb packs that are supposed to be 16lbs)  we managed to cover 14 kilometres on Saturday (we left late as it tookContinue reading “In Training”