Monday, 6 October 2014

Fat Al does the skellie eyes as he mumbles about his 25euro room

Caitlin, this is 8km before Burgos. It is stunning. Three pubs. What more do I need. I met a great guy from Picardy and a lovely woman from Waterloo Ontario. I have a lazy day tomorrow then a big 40km. I hope to get to meet up with many in the afternoon, tomorrow, I expect to sleep early so I can get up early! Enjoy New York. Oops just realised this is going to blog...hey ho!

Buen camino and check out my room and don't follow my eyes....they meet on the way back

Saturday, 4 October 2014

This is the ball!

Stamped at every pueblo en camino and subject of many an international match en route

Sometimes you're proud to be Scottish

As a student of campanology I knew where these big babies were built. Young Rocket scientists amongst you need not be shocked. Yes once we had a steel industry as well as an iron foundry. Some foundries still exist. Over on the camino ferreteria takes on a new meaning. It is not a cafe where 7 different ways to poach, grill, fry or even spatch cock a ferret, but rather an ironmongers. The emphasis being on the ferrous compound. Right more tinto de virano for me

There's aye a daft Scotsmen

And today for 5 peels of the bell it was Fat Al

Big bells

It's all sunshine in santo Domingo

What a great journey so far. Sunny, too sunny, 28/29 degrees sunny makes for a sweaty camino but I have to say it's of my own making - I should try in November when it's cooler.

The Pyrenees to Burgos is reliably good weather for far too long. The Rioja grape benefits greatly from the climate and this year looks likely to be a goody.

Back in the glory days of my football career I was known for doing the 100m in under a minute, in fact I dipped below 59seconds once when a very pacy forward had beaten our full back and I was last man if I could head him off at the 18 yard box. Unfortunately by the time I got there he was in the 6 yard box but our keeper saved, well it bounced off the post hit him on the way out and I foiled the danger with a hoof into touch, while shouting the midfield to stay up, we had it covered.

So as I say I walk well with the ball so I have bought one and started dribbling along the camino. Yes with a ball. I already dribble successfully the rest of the time. It is a joy to behold and the talk of the steamie. Have you seen fatal? Yeah Fat Al? He is kicking a baw to Santiago. I get it stamped in all the wee pueblos and I am going to get a compostela for my baw. Even baws have souls I will tell them as I hand over my 3 euro for the certification.

My dribbling and close control definitely wavers in the afternoon heat. My first touch was always a killer although too often the second touch was a tackle

I have given myself more injuries chasing after a mis-control and i apologise now to the cyclists who had that wee pile up by the duck pond outside najera but I had to stop my ball going in the water. At least you guys could swim and I did throw the only lifesaver available

Aye, my mis-control
Cheers

Al

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