I have been on the Internet for a longer time and was uploading our pictures on flickr, please click on to see the photos and video we have taken so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/opa/

I’m not quite sure if I can catch up with my blog entries because the time is running out. But Dionisia could upload her updates today. Her posts started where my ended. Since we walk together, please click on her blog and you see her view of our week long walking on el camino :

http://macaraeg.wordpress.com/

Greeting to you all and I’m ok

I spent most of my day walking through this historic and ,now, hectic city. Exhausted I sat down on a bench in front of the big,famous Cathedral. I started wondering about people who created buildings, creation of arts. What gave those people, the masters of arts, the drive to spend all their life to create. Did they follow a call ? In cases of this Cathedral, connection of family lines giving this dream / calling, further over to generations. They designed, build for 400 years this Cathedral, I now wonder about, what gave them those power, I would like to understand.



I started thinking about people I know, friends, member of my family who are not well, my grandchildren, who are on a sad path in their life. A friend, back home on Bowen Island came to my mind. “John, please accept my positive feelings toward your healing process”. I’m here on the Camino not to ask about things, I’m walking on el Camino to share my love.



Tomorrow I’m going to pick up my dear Camino Partner and friend Dionisia from the airport and she will join me the last 500 km on the Camino to Santiago de Compostella.

For more update photos, click here.

From the beginning of today, we know it will a steep hike. The map showed us that from Belorado 700 meters to Alto Garnero 1150m for us not that easy is.

Overnight it was heavy raining and the path was muddy and the earth stuck to our boots. We had only a little woodland which was easier to go through and we called it quitting time in Villafranka. Dirty and exhausted, all of us three made the decision to catch the bus to Burgos our next day goal. Yes I know, it might be wrong and my friends back home will give me hard time that I took the bus. But I was not looking forward to walk through the endless industrial area to Burgos. I had it done four years ago and it was horrible.

Overnight it was raining and the weather forecast was cloudy with light showers for today. I met, at my first cold water break and changing my outfit to lighter clothing, Susie and Guenter, die Schmargendorfer. It is nice to have friends to walk with. From the beginning the road was gentle going up from 700 meter to 820 meter a nice smooth hike. On our first coffee break in Granon, Antonio jointed us on the Camino to Belorado.

A Personal Note :

I would like to thank you all who have written comments to my blog,I apriciate it very much.

Unfortunately to get connectet to the Internet (via “wifi”) doesn’t happen for me that often and I use this time to paste my daily notes to the blog. Yes, I read your comments too, but there is no time to reply to you on the same time. I will answer you later for sure.

Please disregard my spelling and typos too, here also, I type with not a lot of time (after all, I have an accent, you know).

Today the Camino gave us to choices, wide country tracks through gentle farmland with a last stretch into Santo Domingo alongside the main road. A second choice was, to join a busy road, also to delightful country side with little shade and few drinking fonds. We decided the last road to save a few km of hiking. For me it was a tough 16 km hike to Santo Domingo, in blasting sunshine. Hendry and Susanne (the young Folks) decided to walk further. I had to say good bye for now and looked for a place to stay. I met Knut, Manfred and the “Schmargendorfer” who all stayed in town. You have to know where to stop and in my case, it was sad to see Susan and Hendry walking into the distance.

For more update photos, click here.

After last night’s party it took time to face the new sunny day on the Camino.

Susan, Hendry were both leading for me the climb up to Alto Poya de Roldan. Downhill to Najera and then up to Azofra was for me and Susan to tough and Hendry got ahead of us. We both took a lot of breaks until we saw Hendry again. Good pilgrim friend he is, he was standing beside the road sign of Azofra waiting for us and had already arranged a place to sleep for us.

Also in town were Knut who arrived by taxi earlier and his brother Manfred who walked to Azofra. Manuel and many more friends came together for a super (but with less wine this time).

A hot day again along the Cornava and Valdearas river valleys. Hendry, Susan and me sticked together and suffered the heat. From Logrono it became brutal we had to climb 600 m toward Navarette. We couldn’t go further. All Albergues were booked and so we stayed in a little privat pension with super clean rooms and private showers. What a treat after the long walk of today.

This time in Town we met Pilgrim friends we walked days before and got the news that the brothers Manfred and Knut, are here too and Knut had a fall and broke one rip. We all feel very connected as Pilgrims on the Camino and are caring about each other. I met those brothers after Pamplona and approached them by saying “hi guys” and this “hi guys” was the brothers story about me.

So, this night in Navarette, we all visit Knut to make him happy. He decided not to call his family and stay, with the help of his brother, on the Camino.

The little Bar in Navarette was filled with Pilgrims and our medicine was Vino tinto. Well, not to mentions, we all went pissed drunk back to our sleeping quarters.

Blue sky greeted my on my early walk this morning. I left on my own through farmland and short, but very steep section on my walk. I’m leaving the Navarra area to the La Rioja region and walking through those large vineyards.

I’m hiking slowly through the heat of the day and have my Lunch, bread, cheese and Salami, under a big old pine tree.

On the way I met Pilgrim friends and we walk into the town of Viana to look for a place too stay this night. Hendry,Susanne and me booked into the same Albergue.It was a tough night for most of us because we had to listen to a snoring contest. Susanne and me decided to remember those snorers and never, never again sleep with this guys in the same room.

As yesterday, the majority of the scenic route was on natural paths. The good hike for me went through native oak and pine woods. Cimbing up toward Villamayor de Monjardin we past a famous vineyard Bodegas Irache where a fountain is with water and Vino tinto for free, you can chose by yourself. Guess what I did ?

Down hill to Los Arcos was in the hot Spain sun and I was happy to have a good shower in the Albergue in Los Arcos. Later in town I walked into Susie and Guenter from Schmargendorf and my Italian friends,who booked into a little Hotel near by. My Canadian Country fellows invited me to a big dinner in our Albergue.