I am walking 800 kilometers across Spain, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France over the Pyrenees through Navarre, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Cantabria, Asturias and Castile and León to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.
After a freshly brewed coffee from the machine in the corridor, Angela and I set off. It's going to be a long and tough day, almost thirty kilometres long with a daunting 1250 meters of elevation gain. At least there are two of us, so we can carry each other if necessary.
Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro Read more »
It is already past seven when I finally manage to get dressed. Interesting how many people are still in bed, obviously yesterday's hike took its toll on many. Or is it that many people's motivation to continue is waning because the finish line is so close? Perhaps I am not the only one who doesn't want to go back to normal life?
O Cebreiro – Triacastela Read more »
Angela is up early and leaves before me. I sit down in the kitchen and eat my yogurt with some rolled oats, nuts, and prunes. Coffee is out of the question, of course, but I am slowly getting used to it. It is raining. The first rain in ages, so I am pulling on my rain poncho. So early in the day, with the all the mist and rain in the forest, everything seems so peaceful. I love the sound of raindrops as they fall and hit the lush vegetation, the large and small leaves, plip, plop, and splish, splash, as they land in puddles. And the moss on the forest floor smells so fresh.
Triacastela – Barbadelo Read more »
It is a nightmare. Alex snores like crazy, even with earplugs, I can hear him. But that is not the worst of it. The mattress is completely worn out, but that is not the worst of it either. The worst of it is that I have at least forty mosquito bites - on my arms, hands, feet, legs, butt, back, basically everywhere. They even bit me through my sleeping trousers, my whole body is burning! I have to restrain myself from scratching because most insect bites tend to swell up immediately.
Barbadelo – Gonzar Read more »
It is still pitch dark at six this time of the year. Sometimes I have to use my phone's torch to see where I'm going. I have to admit I find it a little creepy, but then again, there aren't any stray dogs around here anymore, so what is there to be afraid of?
Tag 34, 11. Juli 2023 Irgendwann merke ich, daß Giuseppe herum kramt und denke mir, na gut, dann nehme ich meine Ohrstöpsel mal raus, denn dann wird auch gleich mein Wecker klingeln. Als ich das tue, ist selbiger bereits im vollen Gange, und es schallt Vicky Leandros‘ »Guten Morgen Sonnenschein« seit sage und schreibe sechs
Melide – O Pedrouzo Read more »
Tag 35, 12. Juli 2023 Ich laufe durch die Dunkelheit. Es sind nur noch neunzehn Kilometer bis Santiago de Compostela, ein großer Tag. Ausgerechnet jetzt muss ich direkt zu Beginn durch einen Wald. Der Schein meiner Kopflampe leuchtet nur einen kleinen Radius des Bodens vor mir ab, ansonsten sehe ich die Hand vor Augen nicht.
O Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela Read more »