Friday 30 September 2011
Early heart starter outside Castrojeriz
As Barbara Streisand would sing memories
Sent from my iPodWe´ve made it to the halfway house – and what a joy as we strolled into town at noon. Shops were open, B & Bs were open and had baths, we were smelling and the deal was done. 39 euro gets you a good clean in a hot tub, twin beds in case the diet´s not working and you need space, but most importantly nobody else.
Last night i got to sleep at 6.30am, I know this as it was precisely one minte after I´d said to Si – "Fat coughing french woman – time of death 6.29am – by Al with a pillow in the dorm".
I dont know why I waited so long. She had a particular condition brought on by walking 250 miles when fat and unfit – sound familiar? – but hers was a breath, followed by a short breath, followed by a small cough, then a large cough then silence – well not quite.
I think she was doing a rosary in her sleep and one bead would fall off the string on to the floor – bounce twice then roll down the dorm and make a nice clang against the metal leg of our bunk beds.
The first cycle took only 1 minute 47 and I started having a spread bet with myself as to whether it would be over or under 107 – when the make up was 134 seconds I thought "shit, I could have got to sleep".
There was one other sleep inducing opportunity, when she went to the toilet. She didn´t walk, more slid across the floor as if the legs were too heavy or maybe she liked to clean the floor with the soles of her feet. This glide across the floor, well actually it sounded like she was sanding the floor, took 3 minutes 42 and I definitely missed my opportunity to nod off.
But back to the present – we hae nae meat so cannae eat so we´re aff tae buy some!
Marino on the Camino - Limerick
An old angry farmer from the east ah
here blocked the camino
With a bunch of wild merino
While the jocks laughed there's no cliffs on the meseta
Long shadows leaving Castrojeriz
It is long and winding and towns are few and far between
Water and wine are rarer commodities and even the pilgrims are strewn along the camino
We made a couple of classic blunders
Breakfast was a laugh - when it finally opened - coffee and battenburg it is, as Harry says, the future
On the road we knew there was no water for 11km but when we stopped at itero for the wee ermita and a passport stamp we were reminded that a bar was 1 km away. Bags back on and we met up with all the gang of deranged bag carriers. Jack and Cathy, 49ers I'm sure, Helene and Janice as well as Andre and Bernadette our French speaking Canadians as well as Harry's favourite from Germany Jessica - nuff said
After stocking up on water and our usual abs, we walked off through town to find a wee supermercado and loaded more fluids - just as well - it was now midday and very hot
With 14 km to go it was exposed and nothing but fields and no shelter for the next 8 km
I found hose b in a field, Jose had earlier been found driving his farmers blockade on the camino and later sleeping under a tree,
Once we made it to Boadilla Del Camino we split up and bought lunch in the only two places
The albergue in the centre by the church has a restaurant hidden in it's swimming pool garden whereas the 80 year old running the wee shop sells 80 day old bread and chewy chorizo
After an ice cream each, helado by the name of magnum - we walked the shady route to Fromista passed the canal- it was superb except Caitlin couldn't find Caitlin's hockey boots, and I was unable to respond to the text..Luckily she found her stick which is useful to hit dogs with - all my postie friends please take note - and those on the buses should also know it's useful to drag would be passengers back when the wrong fare is paid....So we've arrived in Fromista and now I search for Si's crema
The grand canal - no not Venice
If the Spanish could spell ed'mbrau
We've crossed another frontier
We leave behind the vineyards of the Rioja and before them the Navarre and now we struggle over the barren lands of the meseta. Beautiful it is in it's desolate florin
Thursday 29 September 2011
Leaving Castro for fromista
Having wandered the streets being attacked by stray dogs and Mosquitos I've returned to the safety of the hotel where they serve breakfast at 8am
Other peregrinos are trying to settle their bills which appear to fall into the same cavernous gap. Happily we aren't in a hurry so Harry can have an extra three tabs before breakfast and I can do my abs
Je vais prendre use club as they say in ottawa - according to Andre - harry's new language teacher
Harry's place after the party
Yesterday in Hornillos del camino
After getting Harry such opulent surroundings I did my abs then ventured down from my squalor to see how the other half live
Wednesday 28 September 2011
There a few things worse than a full albergue
Thanks to everyone again for the messages of support on the blogs, email facebook etc and the generous donations to Marie curie at www.justgiving.com/fatal-bananas it does mean a lot when we're walking or listening to the rustling of poly bags at 5.15, in the morning as luckily for us we can still hear them
Lost in the supermarket
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Me or Grant Dalton - you decide!
Walking past Burgos cathedral on way into town
25km today was a game of two halves - the first half beautiful - lots of stops at cafe - second half traipsing through town - but before that walking around some secure unit before villafria
That's what you need in Burgos
You need to change tyres three times walking through Burgos
That's the sun up
A first since day one
I'd munched my brekky early as my neighbour in bunk 30 had been doing a lighthouse impersonation at 5.58am. I know this because the laser beams provided by his irritating head torch had already passed by my head 23 times before I finally got up and had a dump. No sooner than five
Minutes later he dropped a plastic bottle out of the
Any plastic bags he was rustling and it rolled under my bed which was up against the wall. I know this because I heard it hit the wall and the laser beams were onto the case immediately. I said calm down obione we have the force
Where Ewan macgregor when you need him
But more of that later!
Monday 26 September 2011
Breakfast of champions on day 14
Many stop their pilgrimage here but not us - depending on cloud cover we may pass through Burgos and do a longer day. Hence the early start!
Sunflowers give the Scottish peregrinos a nod
Scaring ra Bairns!!
4 years on those hills were a dawdle!!
Aye - that's why Harry is off camera in a ditch!
Half hour later - up same
UsuLly coaxing jAckie onto the BTM ride so we could laugh at her bouncing around
Once you had been on the BTM once you knew which berth was the outside one and which had the luxury of squeezing the other person out of the carraige!!
Well this is nowt to do with that and just a panoramic from the top of the mountain
Perfect Day - Halfway up mountain from montes de Oca
Any excuse for a rest back in 2011. I still couldn't cope with hills, while Harry wandered up them fag in hand. This is a lovely stretch just before you get to Burgos.
Villafranca montes de Oca
Hotel on edge of belorado
Sunday 25 September 2011
Saturday 24 September 2011
Little vineyards on the hillside
You'll hear this song a lot but we need to work on the accent and also not singing after walking up a hill!
Breathless in Burgos !!
Outside the cathedral
Looks like the food will be better too
Santo Domingo de la calzada
It's a lovely cafe with a great view of the church. See the people halfway up the belltower? Surely not pilgrims they'd be too knackered to carry on extra- camino affairs!
Friday 23 September 2011
View from Azofra bedroom window
This is swiftly followed by the checking of pellegrino menus and the decisive part of the day - what's for tea!
Obviously there has to be some accompaniment to the vino tinto and alubias and limo usually win although last night we did deviate as I'm doing now
The point of the story is late risers like to take in the views and this one from our bedroom window is worth the 7 euro we paid, the fact we got private bunks is merely down to the notoriety Harry has acquired on the camino
I blame it on the arroz tomat y huevos starter and the veau jamon y queso main nothing to do with the Rioja
Viana hung out the bunting for Kevin's 40th
Very comfy pictures coming soon
Thursday 22 September 2011
When Harry met 2 lassies fae Ontario province
I'm sure they'll explain it better!
The lake outside logrono at 2pm
Ignore anything talking about money we are slimy skint torags but only begging for Marie curie anything else is phoney and I will delete when I reach a pc. Luckily Harry is with me and the rest of you are smart enough to spot the nonsense from the nonsensical
A blast back in time
Oops wrong photo
Version control is everything - I'm sacking my editor
Anyone for an easy day tomorrow?
Harry sends a message to Stevie Lyon
When you are 6 up with 7 to play against Paul McManus you win the 12 th
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Cutting a dash to Navarette
We leave about forty minutes so should make Viana by 11am
Yum yum elevenses
Then Logrono for 1-2pm - as it's a big city and we walk around it
Then navarette for four
The Navarre region deserves a special mention as back in the old days before Swanys was the Navarre in Minto St and that's one of the reasons we are walking for Marie curie
After roughing it last night for 5 euro
The water in the pool is only five minutes old it's freezing
Mad dog and Banana out in the midday sun
We nearly left at 8.15am but a car screamed up the street and we immediately recognised the wee woman thrown out of the window. She scrambled to her feet and clearly she looked a wee bit different from the one supplying us with that smooth four euro fifty vino tinto.
Soon she was scrambling our tortilla Francesca and with half a loaf we ate heartily
We walked the 13km to Los arcos between 9-12 then after coffee walked on to Torres del rio
This was taken just after Los arcos home of a very good restaurant and loads of arches
Sent from my iPod
Monday 19 September 2011
View from villamayor montjardin
Sunday 18 September 2011
Lunch in Lorca day 5 on the way to Santiago
Yum yum
Sent from my iPod
Saturday 17 September 2011
Facilities
As a result it is always wise to rise slowly from your bunk
Day 5 has commenced and we're being thrown out, luckily there is another door and Harry has sneaked back onto the cludgie
Sent from my iPod
Happy anniversary from the camino
Al skips past the pilgrim sculptures at Alto del Perdon
Today's adventures on the camino trail
Crashing a wedding and being thrown out by the father of the bride was definitely mine. I was using the facilities while our Har was asking the father of the bride for "dos cafe con leche"
Puente la Reina
We had three beers as Harry didn't want to go into the bar and buy fags and moet else, walking up that hill seemed a lot easier!
Friday 16 September 2011
Rough guide to munching in Pamplona
Tortilla was freshly made on cruacha and bill was 13 euro for food and drink
Amstel bar was 12 euro
Result!!!!!!
Pamplona skyline
And tomorrow we'll be off at 8/9am to puente la reina where they have a swimming pool at the albergue so after a seven hour walk we can soak at the poolside in the sun or shade
Missing you all loads x x x
Are these how artichokes grow?
We stopped in larasoane for an hour, the cafe was in casa irete, Harry explained like casa gerrard it means it's some body's house. It took us twenty minutes to find as it is hidden and there are no signs until you enter her shop but she was a very happy especially after har handed over the 50euro. He bought more stuff to carry!!!
Thursday 15 September 2011
Harry sums it up before the descent to zubiri
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Summit wrong we made it to the top!
It's 2pm and the sun comes out
The video clip ten minutes later was From the top just as the cloud started chasing us down the mountain
Monday 12 September 2011
Fwd: camino days 1-7
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