Economics and water management

So many people talk about the great British disease post war of no stepping up and buying new machinery And yet that's only appropriate where it is appropriate that our times there are times when it's fundamental the most obvious being when your labor costs can only rise and you refuse to make noise but as you walk the Camino across northern Spain you see the manual versions of irrigation and you see the automated versions of irrigation and you realize sometimes you work with what you've got and sometimes it's essential you sort it

Lockdown bike camino

At first this see med like my normal kind of Camino I get up in the morning late I stumble around for 5 minutes in the dark and then eventually I do some exercise

I'm a slow starter so I do 2 minutes then get off the bike and go for breakfast much as I would on the camino I then get back on the bike and do another few minutes and then another few minutes and then I look at the pictures of the countryside that I am walking through.

I'm doing the Camino Francis and today we are passing through Los arcos. Doing the Camino in your living room means that you don't need to pack weather gear. Having your kitchen nearby also means you can reach into the fridge and help yourself to olives while running the tap you never run out of water on this Camino.

After a while you forget you're on an exercise bike and realise your head is hovering over Torres del Rio. Time for a siesta and then reach for a bottle of Estrella or just dive right into the wine.

I've finished all my Navarre wine and it's fitting as we cross into Rioja that I move along the wine rack too!

Burn Camino

Covid 19 update on our September 20th camino

There's a lot of symmetry on the 20th in 2020 as we all get out of beds at 2:20 am to catch the 7am flight, or so I thought, until we learned about 19, no not the day before but Covid-19, of course.

So I'm now casting an eye to easyjet flights to see if Bilbao looks more or less likely in September. The good news is the prices are going up in price so demand is there!

Albergue Santiago Apostol in Puente la Reina

We now think our big holiday of the year will be in 2021 but on the off chance we can get away we will meet everyone off the plane on the 20th as we'll go via Bordeaux, Barcelona or Bayonne. Who knows what will be open and whether the UK's approach will make us more or less welcome.

5 will arrive in Bilbao at 10:30 a.m. local time and after baggage and passports our 11.10 bus will take us into the centre of Bilbao for 11:30 a.m.

Just in time for a coffee at cafe Iruna before the clock ticks onto 12 and a wee beer.

Lunch at 1pm will involve a skewer or two before a stroll down to the river and the old town.

After the old town we head to the station and catch the 15:20 train to Logrono which arrives at 17:51. First Class is 14.75 while standard is 11.50. as the trip is over 2 hours we'll observe the discounted first class rate and travel with a free coffee and extra leg room.

Once in Logrono we will go to the first apartment by bus and train station. This apartment has three bedrooms and has been booked for 5. It could sleep 7 but with just one, albeit luxurious, bathroom we've elected to spread ourselves out.

The price for this one is €110 or €xx per head/bed. The second apartment involved carrying the luggage a bit further but is in the heart of Calle Laurel the ultimate eating and drinking experience in Logrono. As the wine festivities will end about 4am there's no rush to get out early. The second apartment being more central may have more noise but it is perfect for a mid evening collapse! I've only booked this one for 3 so a bedroom each unless a few extra appear over the coming months, not least Stuart.

Haystack on road from Azofra to Cireuna

Bar Seville Azofra

Bar Seville in Azofra with Americans and a Englishman

I've parked many a problem, many a thought on the camino. Bar Seville or even Azofra has seen more adventure than anywhere else on the camino. Simon and I enjoyed the best ever sleep in 2007. Harry and I had the best ever night in 2011 until he fell and bled over the whole of the back stairs, toilets and his bed. In 2013 with Diego and my many camino friends. Stuart and I have stayed 3 times and thats included the annexe and also famously on the floor when they locked our room in April 2019. I stayed in September 2019 and they were still apologising but I love the town.

Diego with lady in Azofra

My favourite woman from Rotterdam and 2 Danes

Najera from the west bank of the river

The fountain is a clue to this camino location!

Descending, before rising to Navarette - I cant remember!

One of the things that I discovered during the pilgrimage was laughter. I hadn't realised that I loved life so much. It's never been anything that I've tired from but the wonder of new situations is joyous.

I am digressing from the story of September 2020.

The stages from Logrono to Burgos are some of the best vistas on the camino. While Jimmy & John will bus or taxi on to Azofra to walk to Santa Domingo we may take an alternative route from those on offer.

Vineyards as you climb out of Logrono

Logrono to the park on the edge of town 5km.

Entrance of park to exit of park 3km

Logrono with lake on way to Navarette

Walk over to Navarette 5km up hill then downhill then up the hill again.






Naverette is a great wee hill top town in the Rioja surrounded by vineyards. It has both hotels, hostal and albergues as well as many bars and restaurants.

The walk there gives lovely views back across Logrono and then ahead to Navarette.

view looking back at Logrono lake

Navarette to Ventosa is a 9km walk through the vineyards, with a 1km stretch alongside the motorway. Ventosa has two place for lunch or mid morning coffee before we leave for the 11km walk to Najera.

Alternatives include taking a taxi/bus to Ventosa and then stroll through the vineyards to Najera.

Walking to Ventosa takes 1hr 30-2hr very gently uphill and the walk to Najera is 2hr 30-3hr, mostly downhill.

Najera has a fast bus to Santo Domingo (24km) or a slow bus to Azofra (8km), Ciruena (11km) both stops on the camino on route to Santo Domingo.

Potato sorting in Santo Domingo

Walking from Ciruena to Santo Domingo

Big Arrows in Santo Domingo de las Calzadas

Leaving San Juan for the twilight easy
walk to Ages (3km) and Atapuerca (6km)

When you leave Bar Seville in Azofra you can walk to Ciruena and stop at the golf club for breakfast or lunch before the rolling hills to Santo Domingo.

One of my favourite walks is the short 2 hours from Ciruena to Santo Domingo de las Calzadas. IF you dont have a lot of energy or capacity to walk, you can feel this section of the camino by doing this short stretch.

Sunflowers as you leave montes de oca and arrive at San Juan

Next up after Santo Domingo is a mixture of walking along the road or in the countryside. The walk to Granon is near the road but enjoyable nonetheless. The next stage to Redecilla del Camino is excellent. Thereafter I'd jump the 11km to Belorado and stay there before walking to Tosantos (5km) Villambistia (3km) Espinosa (1km) Montes de Oca (3km). If you want to carry on to St Juan de Ortega its 12km or a good 3-4 hours. I've done it in 2 hours 30 but its all to do with the temperature as only some of it is shaded.

Last picture of the famous 5 shirt!

Bar on the way down from Cruz de Ferro at El Acebo

Sylvie, Diego and Simone in San Juan de Ortega
The church in San Juan has the sun shine altar to front door during the equinox

Canadiennes Je Pense - Michel-Andre et Bernadette depuis Quebec

Great bar in villafranca montes de oca by
the bus stop but sadly closed in 2018

After San Juan then Ages we get to Atapuerca

Great Hostal Santa Fe in Cardenuela del Rio Pico
superb single rooms and Menu Del Dia

San Juan de Ortega cafe - good menu del dia

A cow on the hill between Atapuerca and Burgos

When deciding whether to go via Castanares or Burgos via the river

The next morning will see the walking begin and a gentle stroll it will be after the bus out to Azofra.

Azofra to Santo Domingo de Las calzadas is a well trodden section largely away from any roads. As it meanders through fields you get lost in the fresh air as you dander, daunder gently along. After two hours you pass a giant haystack. Its there every year and I don't know if they ever move it or just keep it as a glorious evolving sculpture. After the haystack you have a 15 minute gentle hill and then you arrive at the first water stop and 200m later, the golf club in Ciruena.

After coffee, tortilla or whatever you venture through the ghost town reminiscing about where the housing crisis first broke. In 2007 it was pretty quiet and not much has changed. 

After crossing the town there's a wee garden with a water fountain before the play park. Fill your water and prepare yourself for a magical 6km stretch of rolling hill and magnificent vistas of Santo Domingo de la Calzadas.

Once in town you'll follow the Amarillo fleschas, yellow arrows, to the hotel.

Camino memories

I saw my old firm in the paper the other day and my mind drifted back to when they only had£20bn under management, or mismanagement as the case was.

I was asked if I would go down to take charge of the office and the 200 staff in the administration and custody centre.

I jumped at the chance as it had always made me wonder why it didn't work better.

Within two months it was obvious why.

The staff were badly treated wages, career development and the equipment. The staff cost roughly £2 million while the PCs they used were worth about £50.

They never sat exams to further their caterer and no career path had been shown.

New PCs cost £80,000 and an incentive scheme for passing industry exams saw over 100 acquire the diploma.

Finding a fraud put the tin lid on it and suddenly everything was rosy!

Word came back about how the office had been transformed but I really felt sorry for the people who hadn't spotted the glaringly obvious.

Most work is about the basics and not the grandiose. It's like walking the camino, it really is one step after another. It's not about getting to here by 9am and there by 11:45 and our lodgings by 3:25pm. Those things will in all likelihood come to pass, but it is simply about moving forward.

I look back with fond memories of my time in Newcastle, probably the easiest of all the jobs I had.

Morton's nueroma

Many a wanderer has had a sore foot but this diagnosis has left me delighted.

I've had this burning sensation for a fair while now but primarily when I was golfing. After 7 or 8 holes it felt like one of my feet was walking on hot coals while the other Felt fine.

It transpires Morton's neuroma is very common, it's just I've had it for 3 years and never spoken to the right person!

More recently it's been impacting on my Camino walking so delighted it's now diagnosed and on its way to getting better.

The nerve that swells up and gets angry is between my numbish 3rd and 4th toe. A bit of massage and manipulation of it should work but failing that a steroid injection will happen in a few months time.

Those who sit together....

Yes, another take from the Camino.

I got on one of my my long rabbiting stories as we sat having our menu del dia. 

I was explaining how Jackie wanted a new bathroom as she felt one bathroom was not enough.

I replied those who sit together  shit together.

I immediately went out to change my habits.

I decided to stay in bed until Jackie was dressed.

I have my breakfast one hour after Jackie and I now have my tea 2 hours later.

This has saved us doing another bathroom and I also get to read the paper with my tea.

It was no surprise that our problems all stemmed from bowel synchronicity which was a by-product of eating together. We now save a fortune because we don't go out for meals ever. This has freed up so much cash that Jackie now has a week in Rome every year.

Bowel synchronicity who would have thought it could bring such rich treasures.

Oh and yes I waited until we were finished our food. I think it was An innocent remark about how quickly the menu del dia can move through the pilgrim's system!

Sunday September 20th 2020

There's a lot of symmetry on the 20th in 2020 as we all get out of beds at 2:20 am to catch the 7am flight.

We are Ivan Bobo at 10:30 a.m. local time and after baggage and passports our 11.10 bus will take us into the centre of mobile for 11:30 a.m.

Just in time for a coffee at cafe Iruna before the clock ticks onto 12 and a wee beer.

Lunch at 1pm will involve a skewer or two before a stroll down to the river and the old town.

After the old town we head to the station and catch the 15:20 train to Logrono which arrives at 17:51. First Class is 14.75 while standard is 11.50. as the trip is over 2 hours we'll observe the discounted first class rate and travel with a free coffee and extra leg room.

Once in Logrono we will go to the first apartment by bus and train station. This apartment has three bedrooms and has been booked for 5. It could sleep 7 but with just one, albeit luxurious, bathroom we've elected to spread ourselves out. The price for this one is €110 or €22 per head/bed. The second apartment involved carrying the luggage a bit further but is in the heart of Calle Laurel the ultimate eating and drinking experience in Logrono. As the wine festivities will end about 4am there's no rush to get out early. The second apartment being more central may have more noise but it is perfect for a mid evening collapse! I've only booked this one for 3 so a bedroom each unless a few extra appear over the coming months, not least Stuart.

The next morning will see the walking begin and a gentle stroll it will be after the bus out to Azofra.

Azofra to Santo Domingo de Las calzadas is a well trodden section largely away from any roads. As it meanders through fields you get lost in the fresh air as you daunder gently along. After two hours you pass a giant haystack. Its there every year and I don't know if they ever move it or just keep it as a glorious evolving sculpture. After the haystack you have a 15 minute gentle hill and then you arrive at the first water stop and 200m later, the golf club in Ciruena.

After coffee, tortilla or whatever you venture through the ghost town reminiscing about where the housing crisis first broke. In 2007 it was pretty quiet and not much has changed. 

After crossing the town there's a wee garden with a water fountain before the play park. Fill your water and prepare yourself for a magical 6km stretch of rolling hill and magnificent vistas of Santo Domingo de la Calzadas.

Once in town you'll follow the Amarillo fleschas, yellow arrows, to the hotel.