mybuencamino

Today was a most significant day, started out with thunder and lightning all night long, woke up to rain . Everyone putting on rain gear for the long up hill trek to the windmills , then a very steep decent down to the verdant valley. After a long struggle up hill arrived to have a fantastic view of the trek ahead and Pamplona and the Pyrenee’s behind. As I started Down the steep rock and pebble covered path, I observed many placed rock piles , and stacked rocks called carins , don’t know the spelling. I wondered why people add to the piles or stack the rocks. My answer was, that it didn’t matter why others placed their rocks. What mattered was why I would stack or place them. I decided that I would place them for atonement. To place one for the girl in kindergarten that I pulled he pig tail. For other acts that I was not proud of. Any transgressions that I may have committed , known to me or unknown. Atonement for any wrong doing on my part. I also placed a stack holding blessings and positive thoughts and prayers for my family, I also set a stack for the entire family of man and a stack for the beautiful planet the we live on. As I decended the steep mountain .

I came across an old man going in the opposite direction, I pulled out my camera to get a photo of this very old man, only to realize that he was a man of the cloth. His first words to me were, your atonement has been heard and your blessings received. He then blessed me an said that all is forgiven in my life. This was without a word from me. I had not spoken to him at all except buen dia. He told me to enjoy the spiritual part of my Camino and blessed my journey and continued his walk in the opposite direction. A truly amazing Encounter. Became a very emotional day as I thought about the relationship and love that I have for my family, I also thought about my relationship with all my friends, and thankful for all the great times with my friends.

On the way down the thunderstorm started building so I ducked into a cafe and moments later came pouring rain and hail. Many pilgrims were caught in the downpour. 

The rest of the day was spent visiting one of three octagon shaped temples built in Spain by the Nights Templar. It was a few km off the normal path. We arrived late into Obanos for the night. The four of us ate dinner and had deep conversations, that came from deep within.

After our day of rest started the walk to Pamplona , walked an alternate route along the river, a wonderful stroll into the city of Pamplona , impressed by the old structures and the cobbled streets. Wondered what the old pilgrims felt as they entered the city. I was impressed with the city parks, not impressed with the hustle bustle of the city, busses, cars, horns, sirens, diesel smells, got to the other side of the city and stayed in a very nice albergue in Cizor Menora host by a nice lady that spoke great English and gave foot massages. Glad to be out of the big city.

Q

Was awake several times in the night thinking about a young couple that I had been walking with the last two days. Lisa and P J are about the same age as my kids, P J Is from Portugal and Lisa from Sydney . They are world Trekkers and have been married for 16 years. On the first day out of St. Jean PJ came to the aid of a family and carried a pack for them up and over the mountain, he injured his ankle, over the next two days favoring the injury, he stressed his knee and hobbled each day. When I awoke I decided to convince them to take a day of rest, and let the injury heal. We had a great day of relaxation, I found a public pool and spa. We spent several hours soaking, in the jacuzzi , the sauna, and steam room. It worked very well for his injury. I got to spend a few hours sitting in the shade by the stream , catching up in my  journal. Later went shopping for a communal meal, salmon, veggies, spinach and strawberry salad, lime sorbet, and of course , some vino. Shared some good conversation with the Host Emilio, and brother Domingo, who host the pilgrims in the 12 th century church. A special connection was felt by all. It was amazing how the Camino provides all that you need .

By the way my feet are doing well, it is a misnomer that you break in your shoes and boots, you break in your feet.  The Internet is very slow photos later

A

Had a wonderful walk in a light misting rain for the first hour on the Camino to Trinidad de Erre in the town of Villava. Walked along a river for several miles, stopped along the way at an Abbey that was being restored by a group of peregrinos. The abbey was built in the 12th century. Walked at a very slow pace to smell the flowers along the way, no rush to get anywhere. Just enjoy the walk and what the Camino has to offer. Here are some photos.

What a great day, Nice walk from Espinal  to Zubiri, not a long distance but a fair amount of up and down. Said goodbye to our wonderful host, he made us very comfortable and ran the small albergue all by himself. Started the walk with my new found peregrinos, soon found the desire to walk alone for some introspection . The path took me thru forest and farms, several treats , heard the sound of many birds, including a coocoo bird that I could hear for a mile or more. The narrow steep path finally descended down into Zubiri. Here are some photos. 

After yesterday’s death march, only walked 4 miles to the nearby town of Espinal, took the day off and just relaxed. Very mellow day to let the body heal. Spent the day with wonderful people that were recovering also. Tomorrow it’s off again to see what the Camino has in store for us. We shall see how far our steps take us.

Started the Official Camino walk today. Was very excited to begin the amazing journey. Ten minutes into the walk I said , wtf am I doing. The trail left the city and started up hill right away. We climbed almost 3-4 k vertical in the first few miles. Got blisters in the first 3 miles. Bwaaah. Placed compeed patches on them and pressed on. This is the most arduous hike I have ever done , tested the physical and the mental. In all the walk was over 9 hrs, up and over the Pyrenees mountaintop of France. The path kept going up and then up some more, then up some more. Seemed the the up hill would never end. Crossed the border into Spain and went up some more. Then we went down thru the forest and followed a VERY steep path that made the up hill seem like a piece of cake. We were totally spent when we arrived in Roncesvalles Spain covering almost 23 miles or so. 

Got up early in Biarritz/Bayonne, raining this morning. Got a taxi to the train station in Bayonne for the 7:45 am train to St.Jean Pied de Port.  Train ticket office closed, so boarded the train without a ticket. Must be able to pay on board, it was true. At least a dozen Peregrinos waiting for the train. Once on board met several pilgrims Stewart from Cape Town, and two ladies from Asia . Great conversation on the 1 hr train ride. Upon arrival in St Jean , decided not to walk in the rain, Stewart walked in the rain on his last Camino and said never again. Walked around the quaint town and picked up last minute supplies for my walk, compeed blister patches and hiking poles. Checked into an albergue, dropped off my backpack, and went to get breakfast( coffee and sweet roll), then Stewart , the Asian ladies and I toured parts of the town, about 11 AM the sun peaked out of the clouds and the Asian ladies decided to begin there walk, rather a late start. But off they went. We said buen Camino, gave a hug and said goodbye. Stewart and I toured the town and  Later Stewart and I had a Peregrino dinner of veggie soup and chicken and fries, a bttle of vino and Basque cake for desert. turned in early forba good nights sleep. here are some photos of the day.

Got thru customs without getting arrested, had a5 hr wait for my flight to Biarritz France . Checked into a nice hotel right on the river in Bayonne close to the train station and the Biarritz airport. Got settled into the room and went for a walk around the central city. It’s a quaint city with lots of bistros along the waterfront. Had a great fish dinner , couple of glasses of wine and strawberry shortcake. It’s bed time for me, early train in the morning. I will spend a couple of days in St Jean Pied de Port, getting over jet lag and sightseeing, before I start my walk. Here are some photos of  Biarritz/ Bayonne France and my dinner.

Had a wonderful flight from San Francisco to Paris.  A short 10 hr flight , due to the jet stream tailwinds, landed in Paris 1/2 hr earlier than the computer flight plan.

I got business class seat in a lay flat pod, what a treat and a great way to start the trek. The service was first class, drank a lot of champagne . I will post the menu at the end of this blog along with a few photos. I am now waiting in the Paris airport for my flight to Biarritz, France. Biarritz is in the Bayonne area of France and is a beautiful coastal town noted for its great surfing breaks.