Fink's Travels Camino de Santiago 2012

Our Camino Route April 20. St. Jean to Roncevaux. 27.1 April 21. Zubri. 21.9 April 22.  Cizur Minor. 25.5 April 23. Puente La Reina. 20.4 April 24. Estella. 22.4 April 25. Los Arcos. 21 April 26. Viana. 19.5 April 27. Viana. 0 April 28. Najera. 40.2 April 29. Santo Domingo de la Calzada. 20.6 April 30. Villafranca Montes de Oca. 35.5 May 1. Burgos. 27.7 + 12.6 = 40.3 May 2. Burgos. 0 May 3. Castrojerz. 31.6 + 9.4 = 41 May 4. Fromista. 25.3 May 5. Calzadilla de la Cueza. 37.6 May 6. Sahagun. 22.4 May 7. Reliegos (via Calzadilla). 31.6 May 8. Leon. 25.2 May 9. Leon. 0 May 10. Hospital de Orbigo. 21.7 + 14.5 = 36.2 May 11. Rabanal del Camino. 37.7 May 12. Molinsecca. 5.4+20.7= 26.1 May 13. Villafranca del Bierzo. 6.5+24.7= 31.2 May 14. O Cebreiro. 28.4 May 15. Sarria. 18.5+21.6= 40.1 May 16. Sarria. 0 May 17. Portomarin. 22.5 May 18. Palas de Rei. 24.5 May 20. Azura. 25.5 May 21. Arca. 18.8 ...

A few of the people reading this blog (at a minimum Sace's mom Cass who likes to google earth our trek and check out the camino webcams) might have noticed that we have meaningfully upped our daily distances since Leon. Why the rush? Why did we all of the sudden decide to put the pedal to the medal? We realized after our stop in Leon that if we averaged 35 kms per a day we would be able to reach Finnisterra. Finnesterra is 90 km past Santiago and would take us all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, or the end of the world in ye olden times. That was never a goal or in the schedule when we originally planned this trip, however once we saw that it was possible we decided to go for it. We were feeling strong, injuries had healed and we wanted to give it a shot.  This ended up being no bueno. The Camino taught us yet another lesson: While it's great to have goals you must still listen to your body. This is a mental and a physical challenge and one can not override the o...

"On account of its large height difference the Camino Duro alternative, which is very strenuous, is not advisable at the start (before the ascent to O Cebriro)....of a stage."  - Rother walking guide book Naturally Sara and I started the day with the Camino Duro alternative and ended the day ascending to O Cebriro. This was one of (if not THE most) challenging but special days we have had on the Camino. From Villafranca there are two routes to continue on The Way. The low road next to the highway and the Ccamino Duro alternative which ascends 480 meters and descends 380 meters. You basically climb a mountain, walk along it and then descend the mountain into Trabadelo. Based on the guide book and our stubbornness, we decided to take the Duro. It was AWESOME. If you ever do the Camino, definitely take the Duro. It's a physical and mental challenge but the reward is well worth it. We had stunning views and hardly any fellow pilgrims on the trail. We were able to see 360...

Sara and I have busted out solid days since Leon...36 km to Hospital de Origo, 38 km to Rabanal de Camino, 26 km to Molenseca and 32 km today to Villafranca.  We had another great (but late) night Saturday night. Continuing to be the hosts with the most, Felix, Belen and their daughter Paloma drove an hour from Leon to pick us up and take us out to dinner. We had another wonderful evening and delicious (non-pilgrim) meal and the opportunity to meet Paloma...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! She is smart, sweet and funny. We are looking forward to hosting her in San Diego in the fall.  The news from the Camino is more of the same..eat breakfast, walk, rest, walk, eat lunch, walk, bath, eat, laundry, sleep. I do have one tale I would like to share with you from the road. Sara and I walked 18 km from Hospital to Astorga and then took a break for lunch. Sara had started to get some blisters, first on her hand from the walking poles and then some small o...

Sara and I had a rough morning; we had a bit of a disagreement. It's inevitable. When you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 30+ days with someone you are going to bicker no matter who you are with. However we have only ruffled each others feathers a few times, they have been pretty tame and generally over stupid shit. We both feel that we have done amazingly well considering we are in each others business all the time and privacy is pretty much non-existent. By the time we were half-way through our 35km walk today to Hospital de Orbigo we had worked it out and were back on track. The heel toe express is what we do and it's amazing how quickly you forget just how therapeutic it is to walk. We asked Snr. Camino for a break in the weather...and we got it! The sky was yellow and the sun was blue. It was actually the first opportunity Sara had to wear a sundress and I had to wear shorts and a short sleeve shirt. There was nary a drop of rain in the sky. It must've bee...

A couple that we walked with today (Tom and Victoria - more on them later) didn't remember my name so they said they referred to us as Sara and the Beard. They now just call me The Beard or Beard. For example, "Beard - I need to stop in this town and get some water." My beard was nice and tight in Paris but is growing a bit out of control on the Camino. It is just one of the many things that matter a lot more off the Camino than they do while on the Way. In the beginning we were carrying a bunch of vanity products (perfume, hair products, make-up, extra clothes, etc.) that were quickly shipped ahead when we needed to get rid of the weight. In the beginning we were hesitant to walk into restaurants, stores, shops, cafes, etc looking rough in dirty clothes after a day of walking. Now we roll in wherever we want whenever we want. In the beginning we would eat like civilized humans. Now we inhale food because we are burning so much energy. In the beginning we would onl...

Thank you to everyone reading the blog! Sara and I really enjoy seeing all of your comments and likes. It's nice to get the feedback and every comment reminds us of home.  Muchos Gracias!  Today is May 6th. We have stopped for the evening in Sahagun at a decent hostel. Yesterday was a tough day; we reached a point mid-day with an option to stop after 20km or push forward to 37 km. As we want to make it to Santiago on time (we have to arrive by 5/21 - it is becoming a tight schedule) and are addicted to the physical and mental challenge of the longer distances, we of course decided to go for 37km. It turns out that this extra distance - the stretch from Carrion de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza (17 kms) - is (1) one of the most boring stretches of the Camino with nothing but flat terrain and fields of wheat as far as the eye can see; (2) the longest stretch anywhere on the Camino between towns and (3) a stage that people often skip over via bus/taxi/etc. At...