- Lost a whopping 4.5 pounds.
- Lost 2.5 inches around my middle.
According to my Fitbit:
Walked 630 miles. (Rest days, airport days, and walking days)- Averaged 14.5 miles per day on the Camino walking days,
September Camino Stats
In September 37,465 pilgrims collected the Compostela: 18,736 women, 18,728 men, 1 unknown.
Of this number 35,152 travelled the Camino on foot; 2,240 by bicycle, 41 on horseback, 29 by sailing and 3 in a wheelchair.
The most travelled was the French Way (Camino Frances) (20,793)
The main starting points for the Camino Frances were: Sarria, St Jean P Port, O Cebreiro, Leon and Roncevalles. (I started in St Jean P Port)
Dana’s Scallop Shell
Before I left, Dana gifted me a small scallop shell she’d retrieved from the Costa da Morte at Finisterre. I was to give it back to the waters at Finisterre.
I did.
Pilgrim Dana
I met Dana through her brother in October 2018. I was looking for company on local hikes. By this time, I was able to walk six miles with a few breaks.
Here we sit with our coffee and she starts talking about a 500 mile walk. In Spain! Furthermore, she tells me if I can walk six miles, I can walk across Spain. First, I want to run out that door! But then, something happens, and I want to do this thing that I’d never heard of before that cup of coffee.
When I get home, I say to John: I’m going to walk across Spain. He says, Really? When? And 11 months later my first step landed on the path leading over the Pyrenees in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France.
Dana is my Camino mentor, my cheerleader and my friend. I can hear her now… What if…. And some seemingly impossible something flows out of that creative mind and suddenly seems possible. We did it, my friend.
Madrid
Had a nice four-hour train ride from Santiago to Madrid this morning. Taxi to the hotel, store my bags, find a 2pm breakfast. I was hungry!
Nap. Then a half mile walk to the Plaza Mayor. Dinner on the plaza & flight check in back at the hotel.
From the time I leave the hotel in the morning to the time my plane lands in KC is 21 hours 30 minutes (if all the travel gods align).
Covid test
Entry back to the US requires a negative PCR test no matter how many vaccinations you’ve had (I’ve had three).
I used an eMed Home kit that I’d ordered from Amazon before I left. You connect with a person who watches what you do via your phone. My test is negative as you can see in the photo.
Working my way back to you…
October 24: Bus – Finisterre to Santiago
October 25: Train – Santiago to Madrid
October 26: Plane – Madrid to Home
Finisterre
Humpty Dumpty
Just when I was having an internal dialogue with you about having no blisters, no shin splints, no sprains, no tendinitis, and NO FALLS – I fell. About 3km from my hotel.
Luckily, I fell on my rear. 😉
Here’s what I said to John:
Had my first fall. A very steep descent with tiny, loose gravel, so walked on the granite siding bricks. Worked fine until I hit a slightly muddy slick spot. Fell on my rear. My pack has a folded pullover fleece, folded rain jacket and poncho, so it protected my back and kept the back of my head from hitting full force. I’m fine. I was about 10 feet from the bottom of the hill.
Ahhhhhhh
A perfect day for a perfect walk (as long as I don’t count the fall or walking 2 km past my hotel). Photos and such soon. My boots are off and won’t be on again until I’m on a trail at home. Bus and taxi are my friends!
