A Day On A Path
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France ( SJPP). Rest day. I am staying in an albergue in a private room. We must leave around 0900 so the owner can clean. He does it alone, and there are many areas to clean. We can return at 3:00.
The restaurants aren’t open for dinner until 7pm, so I had a dark walk home. The streets aren’t as isolated as this photo looks – I had to wait a bit to get a picture without people in it
Settled in my room and found dinner. As it is on the Camino, a person can walk solo, but we are not without companions. Met my first Pilgrims over dinner. I shared a table with Matthew, an architectural student from Paris, and a couple from Portland, OR. Matthew walked here from Paris, carrying his little tent, cooking gear, and water filter for gathering drinking water from small creeks. The Oregon couple started this Camino in Le Puy, France, and will walk on to Santiago- about a 1,000 mile walk. He’s 66 and she’s 70.
Up at 0300 and at the Kansas City airport by 0430 for an 0600 Delta flight to Newark. A four-hour layover and a nice chat with a United Air crew member over my semi-warm $33 piece of chicken. Then the stormy remnants of Hurricane Ida decided to sit on the airport for a few hours.
The airport lost power, the ground floor had twelve inches of flood water rushing under the escalators, and after six hours of delays, the flight to Madrid was cancelled. Then, uncancelled. Happily, we are Madrid- bound. It’s 0340, we’ve had dinner (chicken or pasta microwaved to a scrumptious chewiness). I have a free WiFi connection and a 3-seat row all to myself.
Since I will have missed my $49 Iberia Airline flight to Pamplona by the time we arrive in Madrid at 3pm, I called to change my flight to the next day. The charge to do that: $312. I’ll spend the night in Madrid and decide on alternate transportation to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPP). Either an 8+ hour bus ride or the train to Pamplona with a bus to SJPP.
On board my Delta flight in Kansas City. Beginning a 27-hour trip that ends in Pamplona, Spain. Kansas City – Atlanta – Newark – Madrid – Pamplona. Tropical storm Ida has Newark in heavy rain and thunderstorms all day, so we shall see how it impacts my 7 pm departure to Madrid (or my arrival from Atlanta to Newark).
We leave the house at 0400 for my 0600 flight. I’m already homesick!
The Tesla was a COVID baby, so this was its first road trip. I spent more time at charging stations than was necessary due to my charging anxiety. Is this REALLY enough charge? Bert & Sarah Scott were my tech support buddies and helped with that anxiety.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Spanish Moss Trail: Started with the intention of 6-8 miles, but I barely made 3 miles! Not sure why I had so much trouble; maybe a combo of fatigue, heat, and that Low Country humidity. Still, it was a pretty walk through the marshlands.
Asheville, North Carolina
The North Carolina Arboretum: A leisurely five-mile walk through woods and along waterfalls followed by a stroll through the bonsai exhibit.
Knoxville, Tennessee
