Pilgrimage
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Two Weeks Off – A long walk and a lot of music…
Week One – A long walk I’ve just had a couple of weeks leave from work. I stayed home – well kind of. One of the things the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters group does is host a five day walk… Continue reading
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Poland
10 years ago, I was in New Zealand to take my Mum to a medical appointment in Wellington. This involved hiring a car and driving from our hometown of Hastings an overnight stay and drive back. This is a 600km… Continue reading
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A few days in Santiago and Beyond
Santiago Sightseeing Waking up the next day after arriving in Santiago and completing my Camino felt like Boxing Day, Christmas Day is filled with great fun, food, friends, family and excitement, Boxing Day to me is always so peaceful with… Continue reading
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Day 48 and 49 O Pino to Lavacolla and then Santiago!
Day 48 I walked the slowest I have walked ever today. The vertigo makes me feel like I am walking on balloons, thankfully the Way is mostly flat and wide paths, we are walking in more forests of gums and… Continue reading
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Day 46 and 47 Melide to Ribadiso and then O Pino a bump in the Way.
Day 46 The walk today was so much like walking at home in the Blue Mountains, the smell of eucalyptus, the forests trails, even a creek crossing with a great stone bridge and what looked like a fire trail. I… Continue reading
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Day 45 Palas de Rei to Melide
Day 45 I have really been looking forward to getting to Melide, it is a town famous for Pulpo – Octopus. It’s odd because it’s not on the coast but it is an important dish here and served elsewhere is… Continue reading
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Day 44 Ventas de Naron to Palas de Rei
Day 44 Today was a lovely peaceful walk. Along comfortable paths and through woodlands and small villages. The crowds definitely having spread out. I walked a little while with a couple from the UK, they have family in Sydney and… Continue reading
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Day 43 Sarria to Ventas de Naron
Day 43 It’s a misty start to the day as I cross back over the river to join the Camino. The crowds are still here but far more subdued than yesterday, perhaps the mist is calming everyone down after yesterday’s… Continue reading
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Day 42 Sarria to Portomarin, 100km to go!
Day 42 The morning is beautiful as we head out of Sarria, the views over the city and the narrow winding cobblestone streets. As I leave Sarria, today I felt like I was walking the City2Surf at home. It’s a… Continue reading
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Day 41 Triacastela to Sarria.
Day 41 I am never going to be able to pick a favourite day of the Camino, but today was special. It had its challenges with a climb to Alto Riocabo 905m (what would a day be without an Alto!).… Continue reading
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Day 39 Trabadalo to Luguna de Castilla, a bloody hard day! Day 40 Luguna de Castilla to Triacastela.
Day 39 I left Casa Susi feeling really recharged, great friends, wonderful food and a really good nights sleep. I have a big climb to do today! There are more chestnut forests to walk through and pretty mountain villages. When… Continue reading
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Day 37 and 38 Cacabelos to Villafranca and then to Trabadalo and my night at Casa Susi.
Day 37 Today I am not going far, the Way is beautiful with vineyards and rolling hills. I plan to stay in an Alburgue the Blue Mountains Camino group supported by way of a donation. The Ave Fénix pilgrim hostel… Continue reading
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Day 36 Ponferrada to Cacabelos and more friend’s on the Camino
Day 36 This morning I have breakfast with Tony and Johann, friends from The Blue Mountains Camino group. They have just walked a Camino from Le Puy in France to St Jean 740km then bused to Ponferrada to start walking… Continue reading
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Day 35 El Acebo to Ponferrada
Day 35 We left at 7am this morning there was no sun it was light with some cloud cover, the air was crisp. The first little bit is on road and then we started our descent. It was as hard… Continue reading
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Day 33 El Ganso to Rabanal and Day 34 over the Mountain! To El Acebo.
Day 33 A lovely peaceful walk this morning, the Way is flat with a gentle incline. Only a short walk, I get a bed at the Alburgue I really wanted to stay at. It is run by the Confraternity of… Continue reading
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Day 32 San Justo De La Vega to El Ganso.
Day 32 Firstly today I walked to Astorga, an interesting, pretty and small city. It was started as a Roman settlement in the 1st Century BC. Most things were still closed, but I did see the Roman Bath ruins, the… Continue reading
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Day 31 San Martin del Camino to San Justo De La Vega.
Day 31 Today I walked through the town of Hospital de Orbigo. Here in 1434 a famous battle took place on this beautiful bridge the main dude involved was a Knight called Don Suero, apparently he is mentioned in the… Continue reading
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Day 30 La Virgen del Camino to San Martin del Camino.
Day 30 There are two options today. I take the original which is alongside a busy secondary road. The other is slightly longer but away from the road and a bit more remote. I don’t mind this way, there is… Continue reading
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Day 29 Leon to La Virgen del Camino and a Pilgrims rest.
Day 29 Lots of pilgrims take a rest day in Leon. I am kind’a having a rest day, I don’t have to be out of the apartment until 11am, I sleep late, and have a relaxing time with the coffee… Continue reading
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Day 28 Reliegos to Leon. (When is a pilgrim not a pilgrim?)
Day 28 Wow, what a day! I head out about 7:30am, I am soon joined by a lady I met the first night in St Jean, she has been crook and so has had to take days off and go… Continue reading
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Day 27 Bercianos to Reliegos.
Day 27 Tonight I am staying in an Alburgue owned by young Spanish lady she has a small daughter and her Mum is here helping in the kitchen. We will have a Vegan meal this evening of Gazpacho, followed by… Continue reading
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Day 26 San Nicolas del Real Camino to Bercianos. A halfway marker.
Day 26 I am really enjoying the Spanish food but as soon as I start walking this morning I am thinking of breakfast which is 7km away. I really feel like poached eggs and a bit of bacon, the thought… Continue reading
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Day 25 Calzadilla de la Cueza to San Nicolas del Real Camino.
Day 25 I have booked a bunk in San Nicolas about 13km away, the forecast according to my room mate is for 26 and after only just getting a bed yesterday I decided to play it safe. There is lots… Continue reading
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Day 24 Carrion De Los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza.
Day 24 My night at Santa Clara Monastery was fantastic, I take advantage of a 9am checkout, as I am leaving a Nun who is cleaning one of the rooms wishes me a Buen Camino. I take my still damp… Continue reading
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Day 23 Boadilla del Camino to Carrion De Los Condes.
Day 23 I call into the bar before I leave town, there is not a lot of choice so cafe solo, and yoghurt cake it is. Great coffee and the cake is light and tasty. As I have my breakfast… Continue reading
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Day 22 Hornillos del Camino to Boadilla del Camino.
Day 22 This morning there is a hill to climb, Alto Mostelares, I head out about 7am with my bunk mate from last night who is from Florida. There is nowhere for breakfast so it’s off we go. The next… Continue reading
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Day 20 and 21, Tradajos to Hornillos del Camino and then to Castrojeriz.
Day 20 From Tradajos I am walking to Hornillos del Camino, I don’t have a booking for tonight so hope to get there early enough to stay at the Municipal Alburgue. As I leave the town I spot this birds… Continue reading
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Day Nineteen Burgos to Tradajos. A humble pilgrim.
Day Nineteen When I wake I am nervous to feel my knee. It bends ok without pain. I put pressure on it and it feels ok. I have decided to make today’s walk short it’s about 11km to the next… Continue reading
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Day Seventeen Villafranca Montes de Oca to San Juan de Ortega and Day Eighteen to Burgos.
Day Seventeen This morning I returned to the Camino via the same road it seems to be quicker going back, I am soon back with other pilgrims and have yellow arrows showing me the way. Still with the glow of… Continue reading
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Day Fifteen Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Belorado and Day Sixteen Belorado to Villafranca Montes de Oca. The Wayward Pilgrim.
Day Fifteen As luck would have it the shared room I booked last night, I shared with just me, a very peaceful evening and the luxury of my own bathroom. The Alburgue had this amazing lift. Which was more like… Continue reading
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Day Thirteen Navarrete to Najera (Nearly) and Day Fourteen Hormilla to Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
Day Thirteen Today I feel well enough to walk. I am heading for Najera but there are no beds there. I have booked a motel room about 5km off the Camino at a Highway side 24hour petrol hotel and restaurant… Continue reading
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Day Ten and Eleven, Torres Del Rio to Logrono and then Navarrete……and day twelve – recovering in Navarrete.
Day Ten The walk out of Torres Del Rio is known as the knee wrecker. It’s short steep inclines then declines have you really pushing hard. I am feeling a little discombobulated after the events of last night and not… Continue reading
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Day Seven and Eight, Estelle to Villamayor De Monjardin and then to Torres Del Rio.
Day Seven Today I am doing a short day. I want to have a rest and do some washing so have broken a bigger day into two. I head out to a chilly morning with much anticipation as I am… Continue reading
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My First Few Days on the Camino! I’ve started, I’m ok, It’s been hard!
Day One After catching the fast train from Paris to Bayonne and a bus to St. Jean I checked into a small hotel to make the transition from tourist to pilgrim. My suitcase booked on a transfer service to Santiago… Continue reading
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Camino Departures
Leura to Wolli Creek. On this day 37 years ago I left home. I was 19 and off to see the world. It was a wretch. Home was Hastings in NZ. I was heading to Sydney to stay with my… Continue reading
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Camino Training
Mount Victoria Saturday 24 February Days to departing 40 A training walk today with the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters. We arrange monthly training walks and meetups to help people prepare for their Camino or connect back with their Camino on… Continue reading
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Camino Training
Hazelbrook ~ Lawson Getting ready for a Camino is not just about the walking. I have suddenly become obsessed with containers their size weight and necessity. Today I took my full pack for an outing with my new ‘official’ hydration… Continue reading
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Camino Training
Blackheath ~ Katoomba Today I walked with friend Jen from Blackheath to Katoomba. An early start to beat the heat, it did eventually catch up with us around lunch time just in time for the end of the walk. I… Continue reading
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Camino Training
The date is set, after many years of thinking and dreaming of walking a Camino, I have actually booked a flight and are making plans to walk The Camino Frances also known as The Way of St. James, I plan… Continue reading
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My Blue Mountains Camino.
September 2020 I’ve just completed the Blue Mountains Camino, organised by the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters; I am a regular participant and part of the organising team. Some walkers took the Direct Route, others the Technical, I walked the Direct… Continue reading








































