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.

Day 72.....very hard walk today

Eric and I left Puenta le Reina early at 7.30 at walked to Lorca and stopped for a coffee.Then we continued on to Los Arcos.  It was a very hard walk and I was really glad of Eric's company, cheers mate. We walked 27 miles.  It was much cooler today about 14c with rain showers on and off.  Met another interesting guy, Malcolm from New Zealand and I enjoyed chatting to him, I went out to NZ a few years back and my mother has relatives living there, so it a part of the world I am interested in.  We had a 3 course peregrino (pilgrim) meal for 10 e but I still felt hungry after it.

today's song.....Roger Waters - 5:06 AM - Every Stranger's Eyes (live)

Day 71 ...The pilgrim statues

Had another great day walking with Eric.  We left Pamplona at 8 this morning.  What a beautiful walk over the hills to the viewpoint were the pilgrim statues are, this is a famous landmark on the Camino.  Had lunch and then walked unto Puenta la Reina and stopped for the night in refuge - hotel Jakuna.  had an amazing 3 course dinner and wine for 10 euro, so I'm off to bed a happy man!  Walked 17 miles today, sunny and 20c - another smashing day.
Today's song -Rockin' Chair - The Band (The Band 8 of 12)

This was taken last March with Sven and the others I walked with last time.

Day 70...My inspiration

The day starts at 6.30 in the refuges, nobody sleeps in and nobody can stay for two days so everybody gets going sharpish.  I walked 25 miles today to Pamplona and enjoyed some stunning scenery in beautiful weather.  I met Eric from Switzerland who is a great guy to walk with - there are many pilgrims walking now but they are too slow for McGarry.  

Today would be my Dad's birthday but he passed away many years ago after suffering with Alzheimer's.  I've been thinking a lot about him while I've been walking and I would like to thank him for everything he did for me.  I remember him taking me on long walks when I was a boy. We also ran the Glasgow marathon together twice,  but Dad ran it many more times than that.  He was a great inspiration to me and helped make me the man I am today so thank you Dad and I love you forever.  

Today's song is

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky

for my wee Da.

Day 69...I'm buzzing, what a fantastic day! New contact details.

Really enjoyed last night, met lots of interesting folk, got up sharpish and set off on the mountain along the Napolean route, along a very steep and narrow path. I knew I was very near the Spanish border.  I made over the border at half ten, what a great feeling, I felt on top of the world , I was up well over 4000 feet and the views were amazing, although I had walked here in March, it is very different at this time of year - it is cooler but really perfect conditions for walking. Walked over Col Lepolder and then a steep walk down to Roncevailes.   I arrived at Roncevaux my first stop in Spain just before 4 and I had walked 16 miles, it felt like a walk in the park and I think I could have walked it over again, no problem.  The refuge is great and has just opened recently and everything is new.  The Camino is very busy with loads of pilgrims, what a contrast to the empty paths and empty hostels I have been staying in over the last 6 weeks.  This has been my most enjoyable walking day so far. Fantastic....

I now have a Spanish sim card, as I was paying out too much for my Scottish phone, and getting charged for every call and text that I received, hopefully this will work out better for me and I don't think anyone contacting me will pay any extra.  My number is 0034666816389 and if you dial 08437167777  before the number, you should be charged 1.5p a minute if ringing from a landline.  You can check it all out on  http://www.planet-numbers.co.uk/phone_spain.jsp and you can get all the details and I think there is also a different number if you're ringing from a mobile number.

Today's song is    Johnny Cash - Boy Named Sue - Live - With Lyrics
 

Day 68...I'm at the start of the Camino, at last!

Started off early this morning about 8 o'clock, it wasn't quite daylight yet but already feeling hot at 20c.  That's a great refuge that Jean Pierre and Marie Rose have, it was absolutely spotless and they made me feel very welcome - thanks to you both. 

Enjoyed a great walk through the hills towards Saint Jean pied de Port.  It got even hotter as the day went on and hit about 27c.  I got attacked by another mutt, but I was ready with my staff and I made short work of it, I showed him who's boss! You don't mess with McGarry.  Arrived at the refuge in St Jean Pied de Port. It felt great.  This is where most people start the Camino across the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela - about 580 miles from here and this is where I started my walk I did earlier in the year but I only walked for about 10 days and walked a small part of it, this time I will finish it.

 What a difference to the other refuges I have staying in, it's really busy and lots of good folk here.  I've been chatting to Catherine and her children Tom and Libby who are here all the way from Australia and they are having a great experience on their journey.  I think it must be a great thing to do with your kids - beats computer games any day.  Had a shower and treated myself to a burger and a beer and went to Lidl to get some food for tomorrow as I know there won't be any shops on the way.  

I've walked 25 miles today.

PS There are loads of  pharmacies/chemist shops here and they display the temperature, in case anyone is wondering how I know exactly how hot it is.

There's a hole in my boot!

Only fit for the bin - au revior  mes amis!
Got my new boots on.