Leon to Santiago...

Sunday 20th May 2012

We caught the bus from Burgos to Leon to keep moving. About 20 pilgrims limped onto the bus with a wide range of injuries, spot the funny walks at the autobus station. Also spotted a big group hopping into ordered taxis.... so everyone does the camino in their own way.

Leon, another historic  Town, the cathedral has the best stain glass windows in europe, amazing. I found the cloisters much more interesting than the cathedral proper. It was a bit chaotic in the cathedral, none of the peacefulness of Burgos sg.....tour guides with big groups, too much noise

From  Leon we caught the train to Santiago. Arrived Sunday night so cant wait to explore tomorrow. Not quite the way we intended to arrive in Santiago but but we can come back when my feet are healed . Pics below are from Leon.

Burgos today

Today we have had to come off the trail as my foot is getting worse, not better. So to stop any infection I need to stay off it. So rather than stay in one village for a week we will keep moving along the same direction as the trail but by local transport. So very disappointing but have to be sensible. We will make the best of the situation and join back into the trail when we can.  On a positive note Burgos cathedral is incredible, such craftsmanship......too beautiful to describe. Will attach some pics which probably wont capture the essence of this special little town.

Los Arcos to Viana

Thursday 17th May 2012

Distance walked today = 19.5k

Our first overcast day, cool but good for walking.
My blister threw a wobly and cracked back open, not good for walking, ouch!
Tomorrow the track goes alongside the motorway and industrial zones so may take the bus to stop me wobbling into the path of a lorry. Aim to find some new shoes and get blister sorted.  Viana is another lovely walled town, pics attached.
Also saw our favourite donkey again today.

Ayegui to Los Arcos

Wednesday 16th May

• 20_ish k's walked today
• Distance to Santiago = 640k

Left Ayeguri in the dark and the sun rise was lovely.

Sore feet and shoulders today, would love a little donkey to carry our packs.

Only passed one village this morning and nothing was moving.

We kept going and found a spot on a hill beside some ancient barn ruins to have our breakfast.... chocolate croissants, oranges and marshmallow all bought the day before from the alimentare... lovely!

Tuesday 15th May

21.5k's walked

Another  great day for walking. We have been so lucky with the weather.
We set off early again to avoid walking in the afternoon and we are also getting the hang of the afternoon siesta. Estella was full so we walked another 2k to Ayegui and ended up sleeping in a refugio that was in the basement of a sports centre, great showers! Also a pilgrim was staying there with his donkey, sooooo perfect.  Some pics from our walk today

Puente le Reina pics

Pamplona to Puente le Reina

Monday 14th May 2012

22k's walked
Blisters healing......no new ones


Back on the trail today after two days resting and blister healing in Pamplona.  Had a lovely time there exploring the wee cobbled streets of the old town, enjoyed the local tapas and visited the musuem......great little town but the camino was calling.

We set off early morning while cool and made it to Puente le Reina by noon just as it was really begining to heat up. Gorgeous walking today, slow uphill gradient to a ridge line dotted with windmills and a lovely pilgrim sculpture. Steep coming down into the valley but well worth it, lovely fields of wheat, poppies all gently moving in the breeze. Lovely bird song.
Passed through three small villages on the way, postcard pictures every one of them.

Here are some  pics of the area to follow...