Day 79...that's me over halfway on the Camino.

A lovely bright sunny morning, but I wasn't taking any chances and put on my walking trousers, after getting soaked yesterday. I left Fromista at 8am and arrived at Calzadilla at 4pm - I walked 24miles today. By mid day I had hit the halfway mark, I have walked 250 miles in 11 days and only 250 to go,  wuha! 

 Found a good albergue - great atmosphere here. Went out  for a drink to local bar and a couple of Spanish pilgrims were playing guitar and they were really good. I met  Jack from NZ, who's  walking the Camino carrying his guitar, he played a little blues stuff tonight.  Had a pilgrim dinner, to be honest I'm getting tired of eating fish,  I really fancy toast and beans, or even better, a big breakfast in the Tilly Tearoom!

Day 78....another hard day

Today was a hard day for walking, wet and very windy.  Got soaked through from the knees down,  I walked 22 miles from Hontanas to Fromista where I have stopped for the night.  Most of the walk was along a high flat plain with a few steep climbs along the way.  Really glad to get to auberge and have a hot shower and change into dry clothes.  

Meeting different people everyday and seeing new faces, seems to get busier as I go along.

Day 77.....Hasta la Vista, Eric.

Decided I needed to have an easier walk today, and walked slower, so unfortunately had to say goodbye to Eric, as he wanted to press on as usual.  Go speed, Eric hasta la vista my friend. Walked 19 miles today from Burgos to Hontanas and I'm in the Meseta now - 800 metres up , but its is flat.  Great views today and lovely weather.  I'm in an auberge now - only 5euro and had the pilgrim menu - 9 euro.  I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening.

Met lots of pilgrims walking along the way, but I just walked on my own - preferred it that way today...yeehaw.

Day 76.....my target to finish - 14 more days

It was very cold last night and I couldn't get a decent night's rest, there was no heating in the room.  I am still up in the mountains and the weather is very different to what I was walking in only a few days ago.  Left Villafranca first thing and walked in the rain to Atapuerca and enjoyed my lunch of egg and chips.  Still walking with Eric, he's a great guy but we do walk at times on our own and then catch up in the evening.  I met an American who busted his head open when he fell out of the top bunk, I know sore feet are standard on the Camino but he's the first I've met who has a sore head!  There are lots of Aussies and English too. 

Got a comfy bed for the night in a cheap hotel, I'm feeling very tired, having such sore feet isn't helping.  Eric and I met a bloke who is walking the opposite way from Santiago and he left Santiago 14 days ago, so that is my new target - 14 days to finish.  That would mean I would have completed the Camino proper in 3 weeks - I've definitely set myself a challenge, so here goes, just hope my feet hold out.  I've now walked 1290 miles since the 19th August.

By the way, I am not using that Spanish number anymore, it wasn't any cheaper so I am back on my UK number again.

Day 75.....That's 2000 kms walked - 500 to go!

Didn't get a great night's sleep again, it's hard to sleep in the auberge with so many people around. felt more tired today than any other day on the walk. I managed 22 miles but it was hard. For the first day for ages, my feet are really sore tonight.  I walked from Santa Domingo to Villafranca and it was mostly up hill.  Villafranca is 1000 feet up and I really feel the change in the temperature, so my rucksack is much lighter because I am practically wearing all my clothes to keep warm - the kilt is perfect walking gear no matter which season!  I am enjoying Eric's company, we don't always walk together but we usually meet up in the evenings and walk parts together.
Today is Ethan's birthday, my grandson who is 1 today and almost had the same birthday as his mother, Jen.  I phoned him and spoke to him, he went to the zoo with his mum and dad and had a fantastic day.  I send lots of love from Granda Mc Garry. I am missing you all and look forward to seeing you soon. 

 I am on the home leg now with about 300 miles to go. Yeehaw!

Day 74...Happy Birthday Jen!

Got up early and left Navarrete and walked to Najera had lunch.  Perfect day for walking, beautiful weather, walked 24 miles altogether to Santa Domingo and found refuge.
Today is my beautiful daughter-in -law, Jennifer's birthday and I wish her a happy birthday and today's song is for Jen!
 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton with lyrics
 

Day 73...hope there is no one snorkelling tonight....

Not the best sleep I've ever had, I kept being woken up by loud snoring, or loud snokeling as Sven calls it!  Apparently, I use to 'snorkel' a lot during our last walk on the Camino, one night Henry who started off in the next bunk to me, moved during the night to get away from me. Apparently since losing the weight , I don't snore anymore.  Not that my snoring bothered me but it did bother other folk! So another early start  - left Los Arcos at 7.30 walked through beautiful  countryside and stopped at Logrono for a lunch of a couple of yogurts and croissants.  Walked across the city and though a lovely park with a lake and really good views everywhere, very scenic.  Walked on towards Navarrete and arrived at 5 pm and found a good refuge called El Cantaro.  There are only 2 canadian women and Beno from Switzerland here.  I walked 25 miles today and I happy with my progress and really with the shorter days, it isn't possible to walk anymore.  Like at home in Scotland, the days will keep getting shorter as the weeks go on.