Tag: Linda S.

Coffee Club ~ May 30, 2018

• Wednesday, May 30, 2018, Day #20

• Valdediós

• Distance 12 miles; total 279 miles

• 1,719’ ascent and 1,376’ descent

• 25% hard surface

• Time: 5 hours 45 minutes

• Weather: 50-60 overcast

It’s a sure thing.  Mornings will find last nights pilgrims at the first opened café. It’s an unspoken coffee club. No agreements. We just appear.

Good coffee keeps us going.

1st towards Valdediós

2nd towards Valdediós

3rd towards Valdediós

Viva Le Vegas ~ May 28, 2018

• Monday, May 28. 2018, Day #18

• La Vega

• Distance 11.5 miles; total 253 miles

• 941’ ascent and 991’ descent

• 20% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours

• Weather: 50-60 overcast

Le Vega is situated on the coast with a perfect bar for the day’s libation. One bar. One restaurant. One LONG WIDE beach. That’s Le Vega.  Would one want for more?

1st La Vega

2nd La Vega

3rd La Vega

Bleak Recovery ~ May 27, 2018

• Sunday, May 27, 2018, Day #17

• Piñeres de Pría

• Distance 12 miles; total 241.5 miles

• 949’ ascent and 832’ descent

• 20% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours

• Weather: 50-60 misty rain to overcast

When walking becomes bleak, I find a most welcoming albergue owner who spends an hour sorting out my next five days to manageable distances, reservations, and a stay at the monastery.

1st towards Piñeres de Pría

2nd towards Piñeres de Pría

3rd towards Piñeres de Pría

Magic Moments ~ May 26, 2018

• Friday, May 25, 2018, Day #15

• La Franca

• Distance 14 miles; total 215.5 miles

• 1,414’ ascent and 1,374’ descent

• 95% hard surface

• Time: 6 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-65 overcast, misty rain

Magic moments. New and old faces appear every day as if drawn from a magician’s hat.

Elsewhere, Christine and his friend have completed their Camino arriving in Santiago.

1st towards La Franca

2nd towards La Franca

3rd towards La Franca

Church Bells ~ May 23, 2018

• Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Day #13

• Cóbreces

• Distance 14.5 miles; total 171.7 miles (including 2-minute train ride crossing river)

• 1,628’ ascent and 1,459’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 3/4 hours

• Weather: 55-65 overcast

Gunter, a volunteer guide, shared the 16th century Iglesia de San Pedro’s history, sanctuary, and bell tower with me.

1st towards Cóbreces

2nd towards Cóbreces

3rd towards Cóbreces

The People ~ May 19, 2018

• Saturday, May 19, 2018, Day #9

• Santoña

• Distance 18 miles; total 129 miles

• 1,044’ ascent and 1,046’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 5 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Perfect timing. Celebration in the plazas.

There is a pervasive gentleness about the people. I haven’t see adults in discourse, parents raising voice to children, or children having a melt-down.

I have not seen poverty nor have I seen what appears as mass unemployed persons.

1st Santoña

2nd Santoña

3rd Santoña / Saburo and me by hostel.

Bout Time ~ May 19, 2018

• Saturday, May 19, 2018, Day #9

• Santoña

• Distance 18 miles; total 129 miles

• 1,044’ ascent and 1,046’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 5 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Bout time I touched the eastern shore of the Atlanta Ocean. I’ve been admiring it for nine-days.

1st Laredo

2nd Laredo

3rd Laredo-Santoña Ferry

Eiffel, Yeah ~ May 17, 2018

• Thursday, May 17, 2018, Day #7

• Pobeña

• Distance 16.3 miles; total 98.1 miles

• 907’ ascent and 986’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours 30 minutes

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

UNESCO Vizcaya Bridge. First of its kind. People and cars ride in a gondola beneath the suspension bridge built 1893 by Gustavo Eiffel. Service interrupted only once during the Spanish Civil war for four years.

1st Portugalete

2nd Portugalete

3rd Portugalete