Tag: El Camino
Way of St. James in France
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Had to use the restroom at the train station. It was clean.
In 2008 I walked the pilgrim path from St. Jean Pied Pont, France, through Santiago, Spain to Fisterre, on the coast. As I traveled I kept a sketchbook diary and collected them into a calendar.
It makes a wonderful gift for all. Only $9.99. Size is 8 x 8 inches and has 13 months.
Click here to purchase the Way of St. James 2017 calendar.
Walking over the Pyrenees, crossing from France into Spain. |
My last day of a 550 mile walk across northern Spain on the Way of St. James Pilgrimage.
Going to the Coast of Death, as it is known for the many shipwrecks off this coast. 1987 was the last shipwreck.
Dip in the sea at the first chance I get. Take off boots and socks and jump in in all my clothes. It is warm and feels good. Everything dries after walking another half an hour.
The villages are charming. There are fishermen repairing their nets in their yards.
Check into the last hostel, 3 Euros and receive my certificate for reaching the coast. It is colorful. Wash my clothes, have a beer and a siesta. Pick up cheese and bread and jam at the market.
Stop by the local castle San Carlos, which is now a fishing museum.
Then walk 3 more miles to the cape where the lighthouse is.
Watch the sunset.
Now the walk feels really over.
A Dane passes out wine in little cups.
There is a fire and we burn something. The Dane walked from Denmark and burns his socks. I write something on a piece of paper and it goes in the fire.
My legs turn to lead. It is really over.
The we walk 3 miles back to town, Fisterre, in the dark. I have a very nice dinner of seafood chowder and bread.
21 miles, hilly, breezy, beautiful walking through villages and countryside
Walk out of cloud covered valley at 8:15 am.
Dairy farms with huge stone barns and houses. Old women herding big blonde dairy cows.
Lemon trees with ripe lemons
Traditional dresses, shoes on women. with a cotton dress that sraps around to the front, like an over-all apron. Very few women in the country wear pants and NONE of the older woman wear pants.
Old stone grainery supports are used for tables at a roadside cafe. Pilgrims stop for beer and coffee.
There is a youth group from Portugal walking the pilgrim route with their priest and several other adults, probably parents.
Hostel is 3 euros. Again, this town does not have enough beds for the many pilgrims and some are in tents.
I got my hair cut and colored for 24 Euros with a gift of bright pink lipstick. I put it on and feel a little more feminine. My wardrobe has been the same outfit, one hiking outfit for day, the other black t-shirt and capris for evening, since August 22, when I left for England. Plus I have a rain jacket and pants and black silk pants and tops for layering and sleeping in. It is nice and light to carry.
22 miles, 656 ft. ascent, on rolling terrain, with 1,000 ft. descent
17 miles. 1,350 ft. ascent, 1,300 ft. descent. 8:30 am to 2 pm
14 miles, 1,350 ascent, 400 ft. descent.
12 miles, 1,700 ascent and 2,000 descent. 8 am to 12:30 pm
15 miles, not much ascent, mostly easy descent on ancient paths lined with chestnut trees.