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…

Clareing the decks for the Camino

Last week I wrapped up my contribution to the fall garden cleanup at home, backed up my computer, packed two completely separate bags and wardrobes, and flew to Toronto. Mississauga, actually. Even more actually, a hotel situated on a virtual island in the middle of the freeways and light industrial zones of the Mississauga-Toronto boundary.…