A Day On A Path
Gear: It always comes down to feet. Yesterday, I took the boots I wore on the Camino to REI to compare the wear to a new pair of the same brand/make. They are still in good condition and up for another Camino. They certainly don’t need more “breaking in” since they’ve pounded out nearly 1,000 miles. So! I bought a pair of trail runners for local trails, and if the terrain is rough, I’ll wear my 2019 Camino boots. Putting the 2021 Camino boots on the shelf until the next time.
About 3 miles. Our hike was a bit short because a trail bridge was out. We left the trail and followed a deer path for a while. It was a beautiful day, so just wandered through the tall grasses for in the glorious weather. Thanks, Sheryl Proehl Vasquez for introducing me to this trail. Next time we’ll enter the mountain bike path from the south and see how that looks!
5 miles with Dana Ballentine. Finally moved my feet a bit! Weather is lovely. Then coffee at a coffee bistro within a nursery. The cabbages caught my eye. The ginkgo trees are still hanging on to their leaves.
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,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)
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.
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.
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).
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.
October 24: Bus – Finisterre to Santiago
October 25: Train – Santiago to Madrid
October 26: Plane – Madrid to Home