Day 81...my flights are booked, no pressure!

Felt wrecked this morning, couldn't sleep a wink, a Spanish guy snored all night.... now I realise how annoying it is for other folk if you snore.  I know more than anyone you can't help it but it is awful.  Anyway, walked with Seonja from South Korea from El urge Ranero to Leon.  I walked 25 miles altogether and it was perfect walking conditions, my feet are sore but like the saying goes - no pain, no gain.  I feel I must gained a lot from this walk.  I found a burger king, to be honest it was tastier than the pilgrim menu and I felt really ready for a burger.
Keith has got my flights home - and no, I am not walking back - booked for the 19th November, so I will have finished this walk well ahead of schedule, just better make sure I get to the airport on time!  Anyway, thanks Keith - looking forward especially to seeing wee Ethan.
I'm in the albergue for the night, staying in a dorm with 20 other guys, oh oh could be a few snorers tonight....yawn.

Day 80.....these crocs are made for walking

The day started off very misty, but cleared up later and it was a lovely day for walking.  I didn't put my boots on, my feet are really sore and now they feel too tight.  So I put on my crocs, when I was here on the Camino in March I did most of the walk in these crocs, once your feet are really sore, they are the best and most comfortable footwear - as long as it stays dry, of course.  The other good thing about them is they are so light and have been no problem to carry - I've had to ditch loads of stuff along the way but I'm glad I kept the crocs.
The breakfast at Calzadilla was poor - just croissant and coffee and I had to walk 12 miles to get to a shop in Morantinos where I bought some food.  Then I walked another 13 miles to El Burgo Ranero and I am in a great auberge tonight - I made myself pasta and stuffed my face with loads of fruit and chocolate. The wood burning stove is lit here and it is really cosy after a good walking day.  For anybody who wants me to add up, I walked 25 miles today in perfect walking conditions.  

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!