Distance: 26.7 Kms
Elevation G/L meters: 570 (704)m
Today was somewhat easier than yesterday but pretty challenging in its own right. 26.6kms (adjusted for elevation gains/losses 32.2kms) in blazing sunshine. Clearly fortunate again to avoid any rain however the afternoon sun was unrelenting. My Tilley Hat while still wet from yesterday, is soaked!
The Strava link for today…it’s pretty cool and fun to watch!
Strata link Day :
We are making every effort to drink…often have 2-3 Aquarias drinks a day…however never seems enough!
On the injury front my shoulders are still sore however I gave them a good talking to last night “listen you guys agreed to come along on this long walk…you have been through this more than once…early on the backpack weight starts cutting into the shoulder blades…over time it will get better…SO quit your whining!”
Surprisingly I have a blister on the big toe…did not feel it all all…however blister surgery will be required later tonight.
Paulo also had a small blister yesterday…surgery performed…think ok. He is sore most everywhere however the knees which were the major concern are holding up.
Three days in…with two tough days completed…pretty good so far.
Similar pattern to yesterday…morning really special walking…afternoon well mixed. Overall very quiet day with few Pilgrim walker interactions and one very special moment.
Back to last night where we had our best meal so far…all for 13 Euros…food is not cheap on the Camino Norte. Also included was a bottle of wine and large bottle of water. Delicious…especially the salad which was amazing!
Please do not conclude that we both travel far…walk like crazy…only so we can eat! Not so…well maybe a tiny little bit! 😊
Morning
Paulo managed to get going a bit earlier so we had desayuno at 7:30 and out the door walking at 8:00.
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| Honestly a pretty lousy breakfast…not much to use for early morning efforts! |
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A little dark…but ok
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We had a very short but nice meeting with Quon from Belgium who of course started in Irun. We were on the Costa (Coastal) variant and he was walking towards us…clearly he has missed the turn. Not so as I introduced myself as he had sauntered over yonder and suggested we might also appreciate the views. Thanked him for that suggestion!
Other morning pictures before our 10km stop in Cadavedo.
In Cadavedo we stopped for a break…10kms in…no breakfast fuel needing something to keep moving ahead. First picture my own selfie 🤣.
Now I had a bocadillo with ham Paulo with cheese. Paulo nicely offered me a slice of cheese which I accepted. He then said “now Guy this would be a good time for you to offer ME a slice of ham”. Man that was funny and appropriate…so I offered him a smallish slice of ham 😊
Pilgrim walker meetings are essentially always a highlight of my Camino days. Always pleasant…well ok maybe sometimes not quite.
We had noticed this gentleman over the last day or so…let’s call him KIA (know it all) who after introductions hails from SITW (somwhere in this world).
Pleasant enough start…started in Irun of course…first time Camino. Why Camino Norte? “Wanted to do the toughest one” Ok where do I go from here…pull my little paltry Credential with few stamps joke. “Well I have a full one…in the bag really ratty as it got wet…who cares about that stuff…I don’t need a Compostela as I do this for the personal challenge”
By this time I am getting a picture of what drives this fellow and I don’t appreciate his tone so…”I understand Compostela’s aren’t for everyone but I like to get them…stamps in the credential are my favourite”
Awkward silence
I notice he has a nice looking GPX track out so ask him about it.
“That’s Gronze Maps…hasn’t let me down in 20 days”. Now that is something neat so we talk and I learn how Gronze maps work and thank him for letting me know. I had told him I use Wililocs “use whatever suits you but Gronze is the best”.
Remember this is this fellas first foray on a Camino!
Just before entering our final stop in Luarca I hear some heavy pounding of the pavement and KIA is coming up at Warp speed. He stops “how is Gronze Maps?”. Hmmm “it’s pretty good…thanks for letting me know…has it’s moments you know”. Quizzical look so I explain “Gronze doesn’t always follow the Official Camino”…reply something like “Camino sneemo who cares?”
So I kindly…but very directly let him know…”at one point Gronze turned left but the Camino path went straight ahead aways before turning left and that’s where a very special moment which made our day occurred”
I doubt this resonated with KIA…he plans on finishing in Santiago
de Compostela Oct 17 the same day we do… We will likely meet again…perhaps many times and may become good friends. Perhaps I was overly tired…maybe he was but my strong spidey sense tells me “this guy is simply a KIA…and that will always rub me the wrong way.
Before the special moment I met John from Ireland 🇮🇪 (not the John with whom I walked the Kerry Way 😊) and we had a delightful little chat.
Special Moment
Walking towards a small church we notice someone waiving toward us and beckoning to come. As we near the church we see an elderly woman standing up holding her walker and moving towards us.
Her name is Tele who is 90 years old. She reaches down and opens her small bag and gives us each 2 candies wishing us the kindest “Buen Camino” ever. Tele does this every single day for pilgrim walkers 🥰. Very touching moment for both Paulo and me.
Well tomorrow on to La Caridad 30.5kms away so need to get some good sleep!
A few other pictures from the day!
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