Time for a break

We weren't going to walk today but pushed ourselves as far as the wine fountain. 

Here we are as captured via the webcam:

And here's a photo taken by a fellow pilgrim. 

In case you are wondering, the wine is not good!

We then started walking to the next town but I was really struggling, Penny is also having some difficulties with her knee. So we decided to turn back to the bus station about 1km behind us. 

The timetable suggested a fifty minute delay so we waited in the freezing cold until the bus didn't arrive. It turns out that you need to phone to get them to pick up from there on that run. The next bus was 3&1/2 hours later. At that stage we caught a taxi to Los Arcos where we are still waiting for a bus but in a nice warm bar. 

A nice tochino & quesa bocadillo (bacon & cheese sandwich) and a hot chocolate, loosen the boot laces and I'm starting to feel human again. 

Penny looks happier too!

Anyway, for today after a 5 km walk we are finished. 

We will catch bus to Logroño where we stay for two nights and resume walking on Wednesday.  This will put us back on schedule as far as the guidebook is concerned. 

Estella

We passed the Queen's bridge on the way out of Puente la Reigna this morning. It was built in mediaeval times to help pilgrims. 

Today we walked to Estella, it was a day of constant climbs and descents including some very tricky paths. 

There was a cool vending area with free wifi that I'm sure Andrew and I stopped at as well. 

I remembered this from last time:

Poor old New Zealand. 

I'm going to have to take a rest day tomorrow, it is getting increasingly difficult to walk mostly due to a 50¢ coin size blister on the ball of my foot but also general aches and pains. I think we will take a bus to the next town and start again from there. 

Alto del Perdón

This is the first iconic place on the camino. Despite what Mr Hockey thinks I think wind turbines look OK.  They are noisy up close (<50m) but from a distance OK.

D02 - Stats

For those interested in the stats

Back to my old stomping grounds

 

Two years ago Andrew and I stayed at this private Albergue (Pensione Uso) in Zubiri.   It's really well done, all day long I was looking forward to getting here. 

Unfortunately last night we decided to do some laundry but couldn't dry it, wet laundry is heavier than a broken heart!!

The walk today was easier but downhill sections on poor ground is not easier I think both of us have lost a shoe size due to compressed toes!

Tonight we are sharing the albergue with a lovely couple from Germany & Italy. They cooked a wonderful dinner for us while we were having a post walk nap. 

Here are some photos:

It's a long way to Tipperary 

Still smiling!

Some of the walk ways were flooded over boot height:(

D01 - Stats

For those interested in the stats:

Very wet in Roncesvalles

The well dressed (and still dry pilgrim).

A very hard first day, I think it's meant to sort the men & women from the boys & girls!

Wet first day

Going valcarlos route. 

Offspring Project

This is from the Offspring page on Facebook

 https://www.facebook.com/offspringproject/photos/a.591654837574124.1073741829.581956515210623/958841390855465/?type=3

Something similar is on Twitter too:
https://twitter.com/offspringproj/status/668675372544839680 

Obviously we are doing this walk for personal reasons (I just love blisters) but as well this is a really worthwhile cause to raise money for. 

If you have some spare money please head to the donation page here:

http://www.waytohelp.net/page7/ 

Stress Levels Rising

Don't you just love those last few hours prior to departure?

Running around like a headless chook, trying to tie down those last minute loose ends. I reckon my blood pressure must be 180/120 currently. Sally's is even higher, watching me panic. I've repacked my pack 6 times in the last hour. 

Has anyone seen my passport?

Good news: we've already reached $1000 in our donations before we leave Australia. 

Exciting news: Penny is staying on and studying in Rome for a month after we finish. 

Here we are enjoying a healthy meal prior to leaving. 

Weather to go?

Here is the weather forecast for Roncesvalles (our first Spanish town). 

We start walking on the Wednesday so rain to start off with following three days of snow. 

Last time we walked through snow as well and here is the weather from 2013:

On that forecast we started walking on the Saturday in snow. I think I'd rather walk in snow for the novelty of it!

Cough, cough, choke, sneeze!

That's the sound of me currently.  Blasted virus :).  The last few weeks I've been on the treadmill at home for about 42 minutes twice daily, but not currently.
Why 42 minutes I hear you ask?

I Can't Believe It!

In two weeks time I'll be boarding a QANTAS jet to Europe to start the Camino again.

This time my daughter Penny will be joining me on the pilgrimage and we will be raising money

Penny (on the right) and her friend Janey Kennedy
at the Girl Rising event in Geelong last year.

once again as a Way to Help the victims of sex trafficking in India.

I hope you will be able to find it in your hearts and your wallets to support this very worthy cause.


So, I'm two years older but no smarter, very little prep done but maybe a fraction more than last time!

We will be starting from St Jean Pied-de-Port once again on the French side of the border and hope to finish the walk around Christmas day.  Penny's only stipulation is that we have to beat the time set last year!  Oh my aching feet!!

For more information about the walk go to our website http://www.waytohelp.net/