Started my 8th Camino route…Paulo plans 9th in 2026! A brief summary…Via Jacobi - Switzerland, Via Gebennensis - France, Via Podiensis - France, Camino Frances - Spain, Camino Finisterre - Spain, Camino Portuguese- Portugal/Spain, Camino Primitivo - Spain and now Camino San Salvador - Spain. When completed estimate 3,400+ kms over 122 walking days.
A very peaceful walk…did not meet a single pilgrim walker all day! I knew before starting this would be a quiet Camino however it was still somewhat surprising.
Perfect weather again…I was concerned heading into today as I was feeling rundown over the rest days in Santiago de Compostela however I walked very well.
After a walk like the Camino Primitivo getting low on energy should not have been surprising reflecting on this past walk.
- Camino Primitivo is normally walked somewhere between 12 - 14 days…we chose to do it in 12 days.
- Avg 26.25 kms per day or in FitBit terms (.7 meters per step) ~ 37,500 steps per day
- Avg 610 meters elevation gain per day or in FitBit terms (3 meters elevation gain = 1 story) ~ 203 stories climbed per day
- Avg 647 meters elevation loss per day or in FitBit terms (3 meters elevation loss = 1 story) ~ 216 stories descended per day
So I should accept that feeling run down 😥 is totally normal…especially for an old guy.
Today was a fairly long day at 27.6 kms over 5 hrs 40 minutes or an average pace of 4.9 kms per hour. It was pretty easy walking over forest/gravel roads (except for last 5 km) as the elevation gains and losses were low at 421 meters gained and 278 meters descent.
I started walking shortly before 7:30 so still dark and it was pretty chilly!
Now you will notice my headlamp has a red glow and not white! This was NOT intended however no way no how could I get a white light shining for the longest of time.
There is only ONE button to push on my fancy Petzl headlamp… NO instructions came with the headlamp. I went online at home to test out the various lights. I thought I would remember while walking however sigh 😔 another one of these “I should have paid more attention to instructions”
Now that I am in the Pension Mundo I press the button - one white light, press again second white light, press a third time both lights are now bright…press fourth time they turn off.
Ok perfect for tomorrow BUT how and why did I get the red light this morning? A Camino mystery!
I downloaded Enders Wikilocs Bergenzi river trail tracks for Day 1. Very glad I did…even though a lot of effort has been made to place arrows at key points I found the Wikiloc tracks to be invaluable a number of times…especially walking alone.
Ender is a legend on the Camino San Salvador as I understand he had almost single handedly resurrected the Camino San Salvador including writing an extensive PDF guide!
Just a few of Enders trail markings
While there were some nice views today they were far from being spectacular. I am totally ok walking days like this…find it very relaxing (except for last 5 kms mostly on asphalt…that was ugly!)
The sign below outlined a choice between a 6 km non road dirt paths or 5 kms mostly asphalt…chose the later but would choose differently if there is a next time.
Around 1:30 or so came upon first bar so stopped for a bite to eat…ordered an Aquarius Naranja drink and I thought an empanada…clearly my Spanish failed me very very badly on the empanada and I left quite hungry but not “hangry” as I thought this was all funny! Two tiny chicken thighs!
Somewhere along the trail I came across brightly coloured boxes in the bush (see picture below…zoom in) which I suspect were beehives. What else could they be?
I considered going closer however realized that I was not wearing my beekeeper protective Packa suit so decided against doing so…
You may have noticed a lot of pictures with bocadillos…Spanish sandwich…I keep ordering them as most often there is nothing else…yes I never eaten more bread than this…yes I am tired of it…yes I will likely gain weight after all this walking 😂
Tomorrow a shorter day 23 kms, with what looks like a pretty tough climb prior to Poladura de la Tercia as the spectacular areas of the San Salvador Camino will start appearing. Day 3 is supposed to as stunning a day as any on various Camino routes!
To finish a few other pictures from the day…
Very good guy. continue the journey! about the bocadilho, there's no way. before dinner is all there is to eat. next time try like this… hay empanada por favor? maybe it works! Buen camino
ReplyDeleteWill give it a try Paulo 😂🤣
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