that we can consistently fail to conclude our adventures on this blog.
The only consistent thing is inconsistency.
Erin B, everyone is proud of your A+, particularly in a class with
such a progressive bent.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Erin, this one is for you!
As I enjoy the sounds of family in the next room, I wonder how it is
that we can consistently fail to conclude our adventures on this blog.
The only consistent thing is inconsistency.
that we can consistently fail to conclude our adventures on this blog.
The only consistent thing is inconsistency.
Monday, October 05, 2009
The Rain in Spain falls mainly in Galicia
When last we posted, we were about to add my dad to our hiking fellowship. He made it 3 and a half days on the pace we were setting before blisters and a snail´s pace forced him to sacrifice his chances of finishing so we could finish. He got to rest and relax and be a tourist while the rest of us pushed on.
A few days ago, with Dad still with us, we passed through some beautiful hills before arriving in Galicia, the "Pacific Northwest" of Spain, though of course it´s the Atlantic Northwest. Just like Oregon and Washington, Galicia likes to dump rain and we´ve been hiking in on and off rain for two days with two days left to hike. It´s raining right now, and that´s why I´m procrastinating with a post.
A few highlights:
- We sat in the oldest church associated with the Camino in O Cebreiro. It was built in the 800´s! It´s probably the oldest church I´ve been to, and I´ve been to Jerusalem!
- Every day we take several breaks for cafe con leche and other tasty delights.
- We tried pulpo a gallego, that is, octopus. Maybe not so much a highlight...
- We´ve had a few good conversations with other pilgrims, but it is hard to make friends when there are language barriers and when there are soooo many other pilgrims. Last night, a 65 year-old woman from Germany who is walking alone, regaled us with tales and philosphy at dinner. We laughed a lot :)
We´ll see you all real soon!
A few days ago, with Dad still with us, we passed through some beautiful hills before arriving in Galicia, the "Pacific Northwest" of Spain, though of course it´s the Atlantic Northwest. Just like Oregon and Washington, Galicia likes to dump rain and we´ve been hiking in on and off rain for two days with two days left to hike. It´s raining right now, and that´s why I´m procrastinating with a post.
A few highlights:
- We sat in the oldest church associated with the Camino in O Cebreiro. It was built in the 800´s! It´s probably the oldest church I´ve been to, and I´ve been to Jerusalem!
- Every day we take several breaks for cafe con leche and other tasty delights.
- We tried pulpo a gallego, that is, octopus. Maybe not so much a highlight...
- We´ve had a few good conversations with other pilgrims, but it is hard to make friends when there are language barriers and when there are soooo many other pilgrims. Last night, a 65 year-old woman from Germany who is walking alone, regaled us with tales and philosphy at dinner. We laughed a lot :)
We´ll see you all real soon!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Astorga to Foncebadon
Mom joined us today and she kicked our butts. We spent 30 minutes today trying to make up 100 yards on her at one point. I couldn´t make myself go any faster.
Today we lived the life of a PCT thru-hiker´s dream...hike into town, eat, hike into another town, eat. It has been determined there will be no weight left behind in Spain :(
Dad has made it to Madrid (an achievement, believe me) and will meet us in Ponferrada tomorrow.
Tonight we´re staying in a nice hostel in Foncebadon, a formerly abandoned village slightly revived for the pilgrims. Mom splurged for a private room so none of us would have to suffer the indignity of bunking with hiker trash (you know, those people we were last year, and will be again tomorrow when mom bunks down with dad instead of us). Foncebadon is the last town before the highest point on the entire camino which, unfortunately, is only about 5,000 feet. Once upon a time it was a thriving Maragato village (please investigate on Wikipedia, but basically, it´s a distinct cultural group). When we climb over the top of the hill in the morning, we enter el Bierzo, which is/was home to an entirely different culture. Silly!
Finally, tomorrow I´m looking forward to a knee-breaking downhill session and seeing a 12th century castle built by the Knights Templar. I anticipate a clue to solving the Da Vinci code will be found in the artwork of this castle.
Today we lived the life of a PCT thru-hiker´s dream...hike into town, eat, hike into another town, eat. It has been determined there will be no weight left behind in Spain :(
Dad has made it to Madrid (an achievement, believe me) and will meet us in Ponferrada tomorrow.
Tonight we´re staying in a nice hostel in Foncebadon, a formerly abandoned village slightly revived for the pilgrims. Mom splurged for a private room so none of us would have to suffer the indignity of bunking with hiker trash (you know, those people we were last year, and will be again tomorrow when mom bunks down with dad instead of us). Foncebadon is the last town before the highest point on the entire camino which, unfortunately, is only about 5,000 feet. Once upon a time it was a thriving Maragato village (please investigate on Wikipedia, but basically, it´s a distinct cultural group). When we climb over the top of the hill in the morning, we enter el Bierzo, which is/was home to an entirely different culture. Silly!
Finally, tomorrow I´m looking forward to a knee-breaking downhill session and seeing a 12th century castle built by the Knights Templar. I anticipate a clue to solving the Da Vinci code will be found in the artwork of this castle.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Leon to Astorga
We made it! We left Leon yesterday after a long day of travel, and on our second day of hiking, we hiked our first 30 (kilometers that is!!). Stayed the night at a charming hostel in Villar de Mazarife and rolled into Astorga today at 3 p.m. after putting in 19 miles, where we met Steve´s mom. She was delayed in New York, so didn´t hike the first leg with us. Steve´s dad will meet us two days from now. The three of us head out tomorrow for our first real hills.
The Camino is waaay different from the PCT. 1) There´s no wilderness (which is not surprising when you´re hiking town to town). 2) Everyone is older than us (or most everyone). 3) Lots of road walking. Also, people speak Spanish.
But we are having fun and enjoying the countryside and small towns along the way. Very charming!
The Camino is waaay different from the PCT. 1) There´s no wilderness (which is not surprising when you´re hiking town to town). 2) Everyone is older than us (or most everyone). 3) Lots of road walking. Also, people speak Spanish.
But we are having fun and enjoying the countryside and small towns along the way. Very charming!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Watch out Spain...
anniversary of finishing the PCT by hiking 200 miles of the Camino de
Santiago in northern Spain. And the best part, we're dragging mama and
papa LandShark with us!
We will have limited to no Internet, so this could be our only post.
It feels good to have the packs on again!
Adios amigos!
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