Astorga september 27th

We are now in Astorga and some time has gone by since updating this blog.  We have been unable to download pictures and have finally found out that we have 6 viruses in our camera!.....we have now covered approx. 540kms....have been blessed by nuns in Sahagun after listening to them do their version of a Gregorian chant....all 12 of them.....we have listened to an organ concert in the cathedral in Leon at 10pm....which was fantastic.....spent two nights in Leon with no sleep at all......we stayed in a pension on the plaza mayor and it was party night sat. and we thought it would improve sun.....but the party ended when we woke up both days.  Leon is a lovely city though and we had some great food.......Derek enjoyed some lamb shanks stew and beef cheeks...delicious.  We have met so many people.....from countries like US, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Austria, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand to name a few.....but mostly we have met so many Canadians.  My blisters have healed but have been bitten by something all over my feet that are causing a few problems.....wouldn´t you know it!  Still no rain....we have been very lucky....we leave for the mountains again after days of flat walking on the meseta.....hopefully the weather holds out so we can enjoy the scenery.  We are in an albergue tonight that takes about 60 people in bunk beds but we have two bottom bunks that are set right next to each other.   Hopefully our new camera card doesn´t get compromised again and we can update the blog with more pictures more regularly.  Hope all is well with everyone.....

The place of the Bishop designed by the famous Gaudi finished in 1913

Self portrait with the palace behind

A view of house with chickens and the usual 3 cats taken from ramparts of town

Ramparts surrounding the old city of Astorga

in front of the doors of the cathredal-construction started 1471, finished in 18th century

Ledigos - Sept 20.11

Arriving in Castrojeriz....after 20km we decide to walk up to that ruin of the castle on the hill on the left!

Gayle at the laundry facilities

At Castrojeriz ...at the Castillo built by pompey or caesar

We are now  400 kms into our walk.....really quite cold in the mornings before sunrise and we have used our gloves and warm shirts...but not the long johns yet.....however, it does warm up by about 11am and we start shedding layers......no rain so far......try to finish the day by about 1pm and then like today we shower, wash clothes, have a cerveza, have the menu del dia with vino tinto......and then put our feet up and have a snooze......not a bad life if you don´t count the hour before we arrive....we are always thanking Bonnie our trainer when we are struggling and are thankful for no serious injuries so far.....thanks for all your comments...we appreciate your interest......hope all is well with our family and our friends.    We have seen a  mongoose, fox, mouse, and for justene and christo...we have seen hoopoes     

This is the easy way to do the camino!

Walking the meseta

Derek´s view from his bed

Stork nest on bell tower at Boadilla del Camino

hot dry walk thru wild thyme, lavender to ledigos

Burgos - rest day - 15.09.11

We are taking the day off in Burgos.....to rest our feet and backs and to see Sue off on the bus to London this evening.  We have had some interesting experiences along the way including a very laid-back albergue that turned out to be a hoot....but we did have a private room with bath for 14 euros.....on the third floor with steep steps....hard work to climb after a long walk.

Burgos is bustling.....going to go inside the cathedral later today....still enjoying the bread, enjoying the chocolate croissants, vino tinto, cervezas, and now calamari.

last day with sue

bar in Villafranca

Cathedral in Burgos

surgery by derek on gayle's toe

not far to go

maryalice sue me

our friends for a walk to the supermarket

guess who

on the road

Belgrado

Booked into the first albergue on the way into town.....won´t even walk there today but have to walk thru it tomorrow anyway......it was cooler today with the wind blowing us backwards so the 23 kms seemed like 43!  And we are due to walk about 23.5 tomorrow and then 26 the following to get to Burgos.....maybe we should do it in 3 days.....our walking friend from indiana has a few big blisters and will send her pack on tomorrow so we have to decide exactly how far to get to tomorrow.....after a cerveza.  Thanks for all your comments.....glad to see that some are interested.

Santo Domingo de la calzada



early morning start

 its saturday afternoon and we are in a 200 bed hostel run by a parish and paid for by donation....it is modern and new......we started in the dark from najera this morning and watch the sun rise over the hills.....it got hot early and we were glad to arrive here after 20 kms and relax with a peregrino meal .....3 courses, wine and of course a cerveza....we all snoozed afterwards.....sat. night is party night in Spain so this should be an interesting night.....and this is the churchyard with the cock crowing ....there is one in the church too....so it will be even more interesting.....have done 214 kms so far....no blisters but get tired easily in the heat.

resting on the road



White asparagus...specialty of the region



friday, sept 9 - Najera

its frustrating using these computers and trying to understand spanish......gayle couldn´t use this thing with me!!!!!!  but things going ok so far 193 kms done and a few to go...not counting those just the ones we´have done.
weather fantastic though food excellent .....
downloading pictures so slow so only a few to show
some albergues good others a bit suspect ...bye for now ....enjoy the comments keep them coming

enjoying the evening sunshine outside an albergue

resting by the river



sleeping quarters in pamplona



123,000 acres of these

los arcos.....after a long day in the sun



free wine fountain outside estella

We are in los arcos now and have very nice accommodation in a new albergue.....after a very cramped full space to sleep last night.......going out for a beer and dinner.....bodies holding up okay but there are a lot of walking wounded on the road.....hundreds of fellow pilgrims on the road with us...we start early in the near dark but the days turn out hot sunny .....lovely.

we both enjoyed some wine at 8am

where we slept last night with many others

road to estella ' vineyards

puenta de la reina

We have spent 2 very interesting nights.....one at lassarsoana and the other at pampalona.......we had the last beds available in the first place and three beds in a 110 bed hostel in pampalona.......lots of kms in between and a lot of it up hill and down hill......but the weather has been kind and the bodies are adjusting to the kms walked each day.....and a cerveza at the end of the day helps........things are going along even though we haven´t reached km number 100 yet.....unfortuanately we don´t seem to be able to add photos to this blog because of the computer here at the hostel......still having fun.

we are over the pyrennes

last stop before St. Jean Pied de Port

These are photos we have taken so far.....starting in the train station in Bayonne waiting for the train to St jean pied de port. We stayed at a hostel at orisson which was 8 kms straight uphill from st jean and then made it to roncevalles in Spain the next day about 20 kms over the pyrennes....hard work.....the scenery was spectacular....the wind was howling.....but no rain and no mist......walked the 20 kms today in about 6 hrs.....saw raptures, horses, sheep, and cows......heard cow bells.....the old abbey has been renovated here in Roncevalles and is very nice and organized.....think the really hard part is over even though we have a long way to go. Today is September lst and if the rest of the walk is easier than today and it is supposed to be ....then we are in for a wonderful adventure and should be physically okay.....and it is really fun to connect with Sue again.

outside hotel leaving St. Jean....

on our way up to Orisson

Refuge Orisson

view from our room at Orisson refuge over the mountains

sitting enjoying a bottle of vino blanco

the road over the Pyrennes

at the Virgin of Orisson statue

780 kms to go

through the forest down to Roncevalles

the long road up

almost there

heather blooming