Camino Stage 6: Day 19 – Bordeaux to Southwell – and reflections

7:15am: ready to get the train to Paris There is a limit to how far you can go by land without it taking days to get to where you want to go - I think, with this stage of the Camino, I have now reached it. Perhaps, if I were younger, I might be able …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 19 – Bordeaux to Southwell – and reflections

Camino Stage 6: Day 18 – Bilbao to Bordeaux

It was my last night in a dormitory of twelve, and I did not sleep well, because I was worrying about being up in time to walk the 35 minutes to Bilbao Intermodal to get my bus to Bordeaux. Anyway, my Fitbit tells me that my sleep style is Hedgehog - that is, I am …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 18 – Bilbao to Bordeaux

Camino Stage 6: Day 17- Bilbao

It had rained quite a bit in the night, but I didn't hear it. Though I was in a 12 bed dorm I slept well, and woke about 7.40. I am a bit ambivalent about Spanish cuisine in general, perhaps first of all because I don't really understand what people are eating, and why and …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 17- Bilbao

Camino Stage 6: Day 15 – Sansol to Viana

Sunrise from the terrace at el Palacio de Sansol After yesterday's extended effort, I now have two 'cool down' walks, as I come to the end of this stage. Today I did just 11 kms to Viana, which leaves nine to get to Logroño. After that I will get a bus to Bilbao, and, after …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 15 – Sansol to Viana

Camino Stage 6: Day 14 – Estella to Sansol

With temperatures scheduled to peak today, another early start was called for. I had slept well in my own room and was up, packed and ready for the off by 06:55. The road out of Estella started to climb immediately, the street lights guiding us through some not very interesting  parts of the city. Once …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 14 – Estella to Sansol

Camino Stage 6: Day 13 – Puente la Reina to Estella

Puente la Reina at 7.10am, reflected in the waters of the Arga river Today has been a classic Camino day; no spectacular heights to scale, a lot of walking on paths (always better than being where cars are), but many small surprises and delights, and practical challenges as well. These mid-September days are very hot …

Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 13 – Puente la Reina to Estella