Castle Camino

The wi-fi is terrible. I've attempted to post this blog four times now and after a twenty minute upload, it deletes everything.  Apologies, it's so frustrating.  I'll crack on with it tomorrow morning at the first big town, (Estella) where I'll be stopping for a long brew!  

     30 minutes of typing and posting pictures just lost, because the Internet router in my Albergue was accidentally switched off.       Welcome to Spain. Feel my pain.       I left Pamplona at 07.30, that's a fairly late start by pilgrimage standards. Of course I was woken early, (05.30) by the Korean jibber jabber. Why they are so disrespectful is beyond me. (I overtook them going up the Hill of Forgiveness. See later...)      Walking though the soaking wet, cobbled streets of Pamplona as folk made their way to work was a joy. Most nodded, or said 'Buen Camino' but some looked the other way as if I was a homeless tramp. I don't blame them, I really wish them well in thier lives, it's the way of any City, and look at the state of me as I stopped for a fag and a coffee...       My plan today was to walk around 10km. Take it easy. Chill.       I couldn't get lost wal...

    Another day on the Camino. It's going to very warm today so most of set off before 06.00 in order to miss the worst of the heat.       I can't pre book accommodation, it's all taken, so it's a wing and a prayer job. My hope is to get to a Municipal Albergue (which you are not allowed to pre book) before they fill up. I'm not the fastest of walkers in these conditions, so it is a worry.       More hills, up and down to aggravate my knee, but there was some nice countryside to stroll though as well.  A lot of road work, which is horrible... And I'd hate to do this in the wet...      I got lost about 4km from Pamplona, I missed a sign and ended up God knows where. My Camino Map App told me I was parallel to the main route and I was too far to retrace my steps. I came across a river and headed West (always head west) along a pretty river bank.      And I e...

     Today was easier than yesterday, but there were still plenty of long steep rocky uphill paths to get your calf muscles screaming.       But the sun was shining and some of the journey was through leafy forests with babbling streams. Which was nice.      It's just a case of following the signs, the yellow arrows and the Camino Shell motif, passing random little mounds of stones and messages along the way.  The welcome sign for the village of Zubiri was a welcome sight, then a last push over the steep bridge and I'm close to my accommodation for the night.  It's an Albergue (Pilgrim accommodation) run by the local authority (municipal) and costs €12 a night, no food.  Here's my bed for the night.  Tomorrow, Pamplona. 

     By the teeth of Odin, that was a brutal day.       I knew it was going to be steep, I researched this trip, and I know that day one is over a mountain. But FFS, My thighs and my knees will never forgive me.  Ever.       How can a Lincoln lad, from a County that looks like a pancake, train for that experience?  Well you can't. I could maybe go to Austria, and train there, that would be an expensive six months though.       Anyway, I'm now in Spain. Hola!       The only respite was at the 8km point where a coffee (eight sugars por favor) and a water refill at Refuge Orrison saved the day.       Being on top of a mountain, the views (obviously) were spectacular, my phone camera will never do them justice, but here's a few.       My accommodation for the night is at a monastery, built...

       So it starts.     From Lincoln it was two trains and a bus (working on the track, so it was a replacement train) and a Ryanair flight from Stansted got me to Biarritz in France.       Another bus and a train across the hilly bit of France and I'm in the historic town of St Jean Pied de Port at the foot of the Pyranees.  The arch where the Camino officially starts.      Fourteen hours door to door.       My booked accommodation was expecting me and I'm the only bloke in a five bunk bed room. The rest are woman of various ages, one is definitely of indeterminate age because she was was wrapped up in a sleeping bag and snoring. I hope that's not going to continue! My accommodation for the night. €17.            Most of the restaurants and all of the shops are closed, the few places selling food that are open are chock-a-bloc. The...

     There are a million pages on the internet dedicated to what kit you should pack for the Camino. There are another million dedicated to what not to take. There is no straight, definitive answer of course, but it should be borne in mind that whatever you pack...and you can take anything you want...you will be carrying it...for 500 miles, so really...it's all about the weight.      So for better or for worse, this is what I will be taking.   Waterproof inner rucksack cover by Osprey.  First Aid Kit. Paracord clothes line. Nurofen and sun cream. Spare glasses. Power pack and leads. Wall socket adaptor. Kinesiology and Zinc tape. Nail clippers. Ear plugs. Sewing kit. Nappy pins for hanging clothes.  Loo Roll. Folding mug. Spare laces. 2nd Pic Hiking socks. Pants. Shower shoes. Shorts. Body wash. Soap. Towel. Hiking brolly. Quick dry shirt. Wicking T shirt. Base layer Fleece.  ...