No, not that sort of down, actually I feel fantastic. Kate and I have had another of our rest days today, after walking from Palas de Rei to Melide yesterday. Only 15klms ( or thereabouts, given the Spanish indications of distance are questionable at best. We think it was closer to 18klms) it was a … Continue reading Down day in Melide..

I had done a lot of research before leaving Australia, about the Camino, the history, what we might expect, weather implications and the like. Something that kept resurfacing was what the Camino gives to those who walk it. Seemed slightly odd, but I was open to whatever came my way. I thought so, anyway. Everything … Continue reading Reflections

Since Julie Andrews has featured in my blog recently, I thought I'd keep the theme going... 1) A long, hot soak in a bath, after a long, hot day of walking 2) Leafy, green and cool country lanes. Heaven, after the scorching sun 3) Cuckoo birds. We hear them everyday 4) My walking poles. I … Continue reading These are a few of my favourite things…..

...but more of that later. It's been a few days since we last spoke, so I think it's high time I put pen to paper, so to speak.. Our walk from Villafranca del Bierzo to our next accommodation at Las Herrerias del Valcàrcel (22klms) was delightful. The landscape changed considerably, and was so much greener … Continue reading Today I slept on a park bench…

Succumbed to bus transport today as I am still suffering from this #%! chest infection and if I want to have any chance at all of walking the remainder, another day of rest was sorely needed. Disappointing, there is no doubt, but I also don't want to be sick for the rest of the trip … Continue reading Villafranca del Bierzo…what a gem

We never knew, all those months ago, whilst in our planning stage, how much of a godsend our decision to only have a short day of walking, followed by 2 nights in the gorgeous little town on Ponferrada, would be. It was absolutely necessary to give ourselves and our feet, a break. Our hotel here … Continue reading Ponferrada…a little piece of paradise.

We left Rabanal at approximately 7.30am, rugged up to the nines, as it was quite 'brisk' being as we were in the Catalonian Mountains. The ascent to the top was tough in parts, over a distance of around 7 or 8 kilometres, but the view was simply magnificent. There were snow topped mountains in the … Continue reading Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca…or, as it is now more commonly known, ‘The Highway to Hell’.

Today I took a taxi, from Astorga to Rabanal del Camino. Was catching a cab in my initial plans? No, but with a blister the size of South Australia (I may be exaggerating just a little bit) it was really my only option, if I am to be able to continue on. Kate left at … Continue reading Some days are diamonds, and often for unexpected reasons….