Day 9 ,

Today I feel great. My feet are beginning to feel ok the blisters are dying I think!!!! Today we walked from Navarette to Azofra. The walk was
Ainly through vineyards and rolling hills. I probably am getting stronger, It does not take too much out of me now and my feet don't se to complain too much either. Well at least that is today's story.
We arrived in Azofra in time for "Fiestas de Gracias" which was amazing. The streets were lined with tables and chairs. There were 3 huge paella cooking away, there were at least 3 foot wide. There were also pans with pork and peppers in a sauce. Lots of wine too. So we eat and drank of the best of Rioja. A band played in the plaza where we danced. This was all to celebrate the grape harvest. I still have to figure out where we got the energy to dance an drink a beautiful mixture of red, white, and rose wine.
We all survived the festivities although my rib age is still a little sore from laughing.

Better than ice cream

Today was day 7 and a long hot walk to Logrono. We had decided to only go as far as Viana but we got there at 9.30!!! So after a vote and good breaki/lunch we decided to move on and go to Logrono. Although we got there by 1.30 the albergue was full, and the private one near by. We got a pension in the old city for 15 euro each so all happy campers tonight :-)
Just as we entered Logrono today we passed a long water feature. I can't be sure it was a foot bath:-) but it was inviting. I don't think I ever enjoyed anything so much. Certainly beat the icecream. I think we may have started a trend.
The views today were great, lots of mountains, vineyards and olive groves. The good thing about this time of year is all the fruits are ripe. The figs are especially good. Just as we came through Viana today a lady came out with a bucket of them to give pilgrims as they passed.
We have also met a Canadian film maker a lot over the last few days who is making a documentary. Last night he shared a room with us in Los Arcos and filmed us so we may even make the big screen.
It is hard to believe a week has passed and a lot of miles covered, life is good on the camino. Tough for sure but good.

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

Well today is my eight day and I feel pretty good apart from my feet that is!! I have blisters just between my big toe and second toe on both feet. Other than that I feel great. That is the GOOD.
Because the camino is so busy the race for beds is on and it is taking some of the fun out of the day. Starting so early in the morning is not a guarantee that one will get a bed. We did not get a bed in an albergue last night but that was ok we got a room in a pension. We thought that meant a good nights sleep but alas we got none. There was a festival in in the city and it continued until 5 am this morn then the pilgrim rising racket started again. Our little band of misfits or "team awesome" as we like to call ourselves made a decision to take a short day today and hope that everyone else keeps walking!!! Our theory is that if we do not stick to the main stages we may find it easier to find a bed. That is the BAD.
We arrived in Navarette at 9.30 this morning having walked 13 km. Jess has some leg problems. Jane has some too, Snake is just tired and has no bounce !! I have my blisters. Pip is only walking to Burgos and was undecided if he would go on or stay with us. After a little timeout he decided to stay. We are very happy with that decision:-). We are all walking alone but together. I walk by myself a lot of the day as do my friends but we always eat and stay together at night. We laugh a lot in fact we laugh an awful lot. We are now sitting outside an albergue and are first in line for a bed, along with an amazing lady we just met called Edith. Edith has walked over 1500 km from Holland. She intended to walk to Santiago, but for Edith the camino is looking like it will end here. The race for beds, the crowds on the camino, are not giving her the peace and stillness she needs. We have been speaking with her for a while and it is sad to see her cry and feel lost on a beautiful sunny day. I hope in some way we will give her a heart to continue what is only a few miles. This Lady has walked alone from Holland we have only come down the road!!! This is the UGLY.
The photo of Team Awesome : Snake, Doll, Jane, Pip and Jess.

Evening has come, we are showered and fed, Edith has joined us for the evening. We sit laugh, talk. All is well and tomorrow is another day. Buen Camino.

Courage

"Courage is not the absence of fear or despair, it is having the strength to conquer them"
I am now on day 6 and have arrived in the beautiful rural town of Los Arcos. I have not blogged for a few days for 2 reasons... 1 being very tired in the evenings and 2 I have been struggling a bit with settling down to my camino.
I think really until yesterday I thought I may not be able to do it. I have struggled since teenage years with fear and anxiety. Most people who know me would not realise that, So doing this by myself this year was real important to me. The boys are grown up and I am very proud of who they have become. Ray and I did well and I can say that without a flicker of thought. Yet I always doubt my self,I have been walking with a beautiful girl called Jess who showed me that quote on her camera phone on Sunday. I have been thinking about it a lot the last few days. Today I realised I always had courage !!! I have just been denying it for over 30 years :-(
Funny isn't it that I have to walk in 32 degrees of heat over mountains with blistered feet to figure that out.
I have also learned some things I needed to learn from a snake.
I have enjoyed walking today more than any walk I have ever done, it is nice to walk in freedom and really enjoy the beauty around you. The views are amazing here. Along with Jess Pip and Snake ( other people come and go) we start around 5am, to catch sunrise, beat the heat of the day an also get accommodation. It is still very busy here and can be hard to get a bed. I get lots of rest in the evening and listen to music that James sent me :-) That man has his mothers great taste in music. A chat with the boys at home then time for dinner and early bed. Such is the life of a pilgrim and tomorrow I will do it all over again.

Every step is a victory

Today started at 5am. We were ready for it and wanted no bother getting a place to stay tonight. It is tough to walk and then find there are no beds. The reward today was seeing the sun rise just as we approached Alto de Perdon. We also got to finish walking before it got too warm. I enjoyed walking today before the crowds started moving, and we also got a really nice place to stay. While we walked around town this evening we went to look at a really old church. It was all gold and ornate. Jess one of my walking companions sang when other people left. I can honestly say it was the most beautiful sound I ever heard. The acoustics were amazing.
Well the blisters have came to visit today. I have 2 one on each foot just on the outside of each heal. I have not decided if I will thread them yet. I am probably hoping for a miracle !!

Day 3

We started this morn just after 7. Although it was relatively easy in terms of terrain, I have found it a tough day. My feet are really sore, no blisters or injuries just sore and tired. My body aches too. So I feel a bit down. I walked alone today until I reached the city of Pamplona, where my friends Jess, Pip and I had decided to meet. We had a quick look at the cathedral and went to get some things we needed. We had hoped to get a place to stay just outside the city in Cruz Menor but because the camino is so busy we decided to ring ahead to check but there was no where with a room free !!! Yesterday was the same. I am hoping this will not be the case every night. We walked to near the edge of the city and got a hotel. Tomorrow we will leave here well before sun up and hope to get to our next stop in time to get a bed. My budget does not include nice hotels but lying here now I am not complaining. Lunch today was paella which was good ..

Happy Days

I am on my second day now and my first chance to get wifi. Yesterday I started in St Jean and crossed the border into Spain. That was the most amazing experience. The weather was great and the views spectacular I have met some great people. Today we walked to zubri and all the albergue's were full so some of us went to a private pension . It is fab. All the luxuries of home, and we have it all to ourselves. The washing is on the line, the wine is breathing and we have dinner cooking. tomorrow I will walk to the other side of Pamplona. My feet are tired but have no sign of blisters..
Although I was a bit anxious leaving home and taking on such a big challenge, I have a smile from ear to ear today, I am taking it one step at a time and sure I'll see how it goes