It hailed, it poured, the albergue was full...
Trip Start
Mar 22, 2010
1
24
39
Trip End
May 18, 2010
El Burgo Ranero, Castille and León, Spain
Friday, April 16, 2010
Christine had just finished a long email to family when the upstaire computer died. She is mighty disappointed. I´ve come downstairs to see if I could find it in cyberspace, but with no success.
There was the opportunity for me to try to download photos (again) upstairs, but down here it is just the keyboard and screen, sorry.
Forgot to tell you about the Hobbit houses in the hills today, all with different porch roof structures and chimneys in the hillside, one even with an antenna!
Michael, belated, but Happy Birthday wishes.
Theodora, toast is not a Spanish thing. The closest one gets is Melba toast. Next albergue with a kitchen we will buy bread and cook it somehow as Bocadillos have worn out their welcome. we have had jam (mermelada) twice in three weeks.
We´re over half way there; simply amazing. equally amazing is the fact I haven´t heard any music except for pop songs in the bars.
Still have my cold and the smoke downstairs is upsetting my nose.
Should be interesting tomorrow if we are confronted by the jet black sky of late afternoon today, and the thunder, and the lightening. It certainly increased our pace like our first encounter with an indecent exposure. We´re up to number 3 of them...now with a lack lustre reception. ho hum
We´re promoting Tasmania and should see some visitors in the future.
J & C
Comments
Was away for a few days and missed the daily dose of news from the path. Gorgeous day here. And June ... I have brought home a new (old but not as old as I wanted) cat today - he (yes not the preferred she) is in hiding in the other bedroom. All too much. Many domestic animals where you stay? Lots of Love
Hi you two
It is fantastic that you are almost half way through the walk, we are very proud of you both, what a feat, no pun intended. Sorry to hear the feet are really suffering, makes putting one foot in front of the other a little painful.
Les said to keep your chin up, put your best foot forward and sing your heart out. He obviously has never had blisters on his feet. Ladies can empathise with you having almost all of us worn hideously high heels when younger with the resultant blisters or sore toes. Enough drivel, keep looking forward and remember...... there will be New York, yippeeeee
Hi travellers
Sounds like everything is going well and you're meeting some great people from all corners of the globe, what a way to travel, definitely inspiring Row and I to either bike or walk next time we plan a trip. Over half way and New York in just a few weeks, I reckon a day in New York just reading and watching films and going out for coffee will be on the cards. Busy here, school's a bit crazy, just handed in my first folio of weaves to be assessed and starting the major project next week so the pressure is mounting. Row is hating work more and more each day and wasn't successfull with the 2 landscape jobs he applied for so we are looking for other avenues, suga is needing lolly makers and the business is part owned by Shane who owns koko so we may have a candy man in the family, he's applied so we'll see what happens, no experience needed but a qualified landscape architect wanting to move into rock candy might make them relluctant to employ him. So that''s news with us Mum, nothing exciting. Met some people from Tas the other day at work who had visited Campbell Town and gone to Dino's new providore, they were very impressed, do you know if he has a web address I can check out? Love you Mum and you're daily posts are great June x x
Not sure how much news filters onto the Camino but I thought I would bring you a little update about the current flight problems in Europe, just in case it has any effect on any of your fellow travellers. It seems as if most of europe will still be cut off for a few days yet, plus there will be a huge backlog when flights resume. In all of this it looks like Spain and southern Italy are not affected apart from the fact they can't actually fly into the rest of Europe.
This little snippet from the BBC is interesting.
"Britons stranded by flight restrictions as a result of the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland could be returned to the UK through a "Spanish hub".
Ministers met to discuss plans before UK flight restrictions were extended until at least 1900 BST on Monday.
Ideas included flying those outside the no-fly zone to Spain and then using the Royal Navy and requisitioning merchant ships to help return them to the UK. "
So far this has been going on for about 4 days and it seems as if there are about 20,000 flight cancellations each day. They estimate about 150,000 Britons stranded all around the globe, and obviously countless other nationalities.
So, like it or not, you and your companions just can't pack up and quit the Camino because there is nowhere else to go!!
that's the news of the day
XXXG
Hello Chris and June,
Fantastic job you are both doing.
Over here at Ulverstone, today has a sea mist that has enveloped the place for the whole day and shows no sign of lifting. It's now 3pm and visibility is still fairly compromised. The up side of this is that it's not cold or windy. I don't envy you the rugged weather you're obviously getting at the moment.
I'm off to Melbourne again tomorrow and then to Ballarat for a rural health conference later in the week. Will be having the long weekend with my daughter - always a delight!
I hope the albergue at the next stop is more accommodating, although enjoy the hot water and towels while you have the chance. It's amazing how your standards change when you travel like this.
Cheers, Anne
Following on from Gary's email you may not have seen pictures of the amazing volcanic eruption in one of Iceland's glaciers. The plumes of ash seem to be miles into the air as photographed from small planes that dont suck in ashes into their engines. Then the French news shows shaded Europe where the 'ash' cloud lingers. Biggest issue of course is whether it will go on long enough to cause significant glacier melting and encourage faster global warming. Meanwhile you walk and so no worries. Lots of love
Ole CHRIS and June
Finally time to catch up
Keep safe well and happy
For those of you who are frantic for news, don't worry the girls haven't disappeared into a cloud of volcanic dust. They are still skipping along the Camino, but haven't had access to the internet for the past few days.
After they complete their 30+km stroll to Astorga today I'm sure they will eagerly attend to your needs.
Isn't it amazing how we all rely so heavily on the internet these days. Pen and paer just doesn't cut it any more :)