Day 4: Don’t forget your didgeridoo!

… and mandolin, bed roll, tent, camp stove, library, and skateboard. Those are just some of the things hanging outside a huge and heavy backpack. Reuben is a few months into an around-the-world adventure and has been  hitchhiking in Europe from his home in the Netherlands. The musical instruments are meant to be his source…

Day 3: Roncesvalles to Zubiri (22 km)

More perfect weather. Enjoyed walking mostly by myself, but meeting others periodically. One meets all sorts of people on the Camino.  Below you see a 22-year-old Dutch fellow on the left (remember this image for my next day’s post), a young Sardinian with the flag, and an Italian celebrating a birthday. In Zubiri my friends…

Day 2: Orisson to Roncesvalles (18 km)

My camino friends are calling me “Scoutmaster” because I am so well prepared for this journey and I keep whipping solutions out of my backpack – safety pins, stuff bags, blister treatment, spare gloves, etc. Mom would be proud! My companions had shipped (in my pack liners) 100 kg or so of face creams and…

Day 0 – Arrived in St. Jean Pied de Port

(I’m having some frustration with WiFi and have removed some photos. ) The travel by sitting is over – tedious flight from Toronto to Paris, bus from CDG to Orly airport, flight to Biarritz/Bayonne, where I had a cheap room (€35 without private bath at the Hotel Monte Carlo) near the train station. This morning…

My backpack – ready to go

Read this only if you like packing posts! The photo shows my stuff ready to go to the airport – backpack alongside a flat shoulder pouch with my valuables and guidebook, and a separate bag that I will check in for the flights and then discard when I arrive. The checked bag has my walking…