Here we go again. I make no promises about this blog, but will try. The secret is to never miss a day. Once I get behind, it is soooo hard to catch up!
The Plan
Meet Laurie from Chicago (my companion for most of the Lana last year) in La Linea de la Concepción and walk on the Camino/Vía Serrana to Seville (about 250 km). Then train to Ponferrada and walk the Camino de Invierno to Santiago (about 275 km). I’ll be away 4.5 weeks.
We have the first half planned in considerable detail – GPS tracks, accommodation, tickets to visit the Alcàzar in Seville, spreadsheet with notes on where there might be fences to be climbed.
What isn’t planned yet is what to do today.
Travel
I left Vancouver in a chilly rain. The 10h overnight flight to Munich was, of course, painful, but daytime sunshine in Europe helped a lot.
The last time I flew into Malaga was 53 years ago. I’ve been here a couple of times since but not flying in.
After a 2.5 h bus from Malaga airport, I arrived at the hotel Ohtel in La Linea de la Concepción at 11 pm last night,
Exhausted, but of course couldn’t sleep well. I expected this, which is why I left today free. It is also why I picked a hotel near the bus station, with 24h reception.
It is 6:30 a.m., still pitch dark, and I have already re-arranged all my belonging from their air travel positions to their Camino walking arrangements.
Seeing Clarely 
Bon Camino, my friend! Ultreia
do have maps of your trails that I could easily access?
Look at this site https://www.asociacionjacobeacadiz.org/wikiloc-viaserrana.htm. It has the separate stages
Looking forward to this Clare. Buen camino to you both.
So good to receive this this morning. Reading your blogs always makes me smile, remember some of my own walks, anticipate walking the rarer paths you take, and just escape to a vicarious Camino experience.
Buen Camino
So pleased to receive this blog this morning. Reading your blogs always makes me smile, recall some of my memories from walks, anticipate walking some of the less travelled paths you take, and just escape to a vicarious Camino with you. Looking forward to the next ones…
Buen Camino
once again, very happy to follow your travels. How many times have you walked the El Camino ?
This is #9.
very happy to follow your next adventure..
how many times have you walked the El Camino ?
What a spectacular adventure! Buen Camino
Buen Camino Clare!!!
… Lotus and I delayed Gibraltar for a couple of more days, as we were able to extend our stay in Marbella … leading a relaxed, but not a completely sedentary life, these past few days in Spain… walked 14 km along the beach to Puerto Banus yesterday … and 9 km at the Caminito del Rey the day before, Margaret was right, the hike through the gorge was beautiful … and the Presa del Gaitinerjo(?) at the start seemed to give it a bit of purpose … know you had Ronda scheduled amongst your side trips … well worth the detour … we were there earlier in the week… will look for you on our way back from Cadiz… Buen camino Clare
Good to hear. There are many ways to enjoy these opportunities!
So looking forward to following your progress. What a nice mix of Caminos! I’m off on the Sagunto in a month, having followed you last year six weeks later for a dry run on the Lana.
To get a smile out of Laurie, please relay to her that there is a great railway museum in Monforte de Lemos as well as a Parador with a great view!
Laurie smiled! (Is this Filly?)
¡Buen Camino!
¡Buen Camino! If it lets me log in to leave this.
Have fun! The last (and only) time I was in Malaga was in summer 48 years ago, and my main memory of that trip is that Spain was very big and very hot. (This impression was heavily influenced by the very slow speed and lack of air conditioning on the cheapest Spanish trains of that era.)
Malaga has improved a lot in terms of interesting things to do and see.