65kms to go, wow. :(((((((((
Last nights stay
Walkers crossing the river on the way out of town this morning
Today's walk started off very nice, walking up through some really nice oak forest, then the last 15km was nearly roadside all the way. Wasn't to bad though because the roads are very quite.
Shaz's favourite part of the walk, dairy farms, pretty smelly as the cows are locked up in sheds.
We walked with Juan Carlos again this morning and learnt some pretty cool stuff. You might remember him from our blog yesterday when I said he was an Equatorian. Well my anal grammar daughter Hannah who takes after her anal grammar mother, is very quick to message me when I have made a spelling or grammar mistake. Hannah messaged me this morning to say she had a laugh at Equatorian and said does he live on the equator? Ha Ha. Well talking to Juan Carlos this morning, he is from a town called Quito, in Ecuador, and although my spelling was wrong he does actually live right on the equator. In his town he said you can fill a bucket with water and then empty it through a hole and the water drains spinning one way . Then if you move 1 meter either south or North depending on where you were standing, the bucket will empty spinning the other way. That is how they tell where the equator is. Bloody amazing. So take that back Hannah. :)
Juan Carlos and I just about to start the days walk.
Had to do battle with giant ants on the way today, they didn't mention that in the guide book. I fought them off until Shaz got clear then managed to escape barely with my life.
Sadly we have seen a lot of this, closed factories and empty housing.
Didn't get many photos today as it turned out to be a very social day. Lots of talking and not much sight seeing. Started off the day with Juan Carlos, then we met a bloke from Conga, Alec, who studied engineering in France and now lives in Belgium. He speaks 4 African languages and also speaks French and English. Makes me feel very lazy that i don't know any other language, and even struggle with England. Then we met Sean and Evonne from Ireland and walked with them the rest of the day, chatting away and comparing countries and talking sport as usual. As you walk past other people or they walk past you, you say Buen Camino and sometimes a conversation just starts up and next thing you know you have walked 5kms together. Sean was on his second day, couldn't believe what we have achieved as he felt like he had been walking for a month already.
The track has gotten really busy now and the lady folk have to queue for the toilets. There's one for you Hannah, is it queue or que or cue.
To qualify for your Compostela, (certificate to state you have walked the Camino) you have to walk at least 100kms, hence that is why the track has got so busy as a lot of people do the final 100k. I think there is more to it than that, I will try to find out and put in next blog.
Blue gum plantation, seeing a few of these lately
Plant of the day, Hydrangea, they are popular over here look great, have to plant some when we get home
Tonight we are staying in another farm stay 10km off the track, they pick you up from the track and take you back in the morning.
Nice home cooked meal joined by another bunch of Poms,
Courtyard outside our room
Hello to the ladies working in 3 North at The Rat Base Hospital, hope your enjoying the blog, here's a bit of info you might be interested in.
About the Camino
For those interested in maybe doing the Camino, I will try to give a brief account of our experience. It's not all spectacular like a Milford Sound walk, there are long days with not much to see sometimes but there are days that are spectacular as well. What the walk does have is a great vibe about it, the history is mind blowing, the saints and knights and all, and the culture is incredible. There is always something to make each day special. Complete strangers from all over the world get together and talk to each other, wine and dine together, it is very social and has a special feeling to it. All the people are nice and offer help if needed, everyone greets you with a smile and Buen Camino.
There are different ways you can do it. You can do it in parts which a lot of Europeans do, as it's easy for them to travel to it, do a weeks walking then come back next year and do another week. Or like us you can do all in one hit if you have the time. We have allowed 41 days which has suited us perfectly, which includes three rest days and average about 20 - 25kms walking a day.
There are three main accommodation types, camping, Albergues, Hotels. Camping is cheapest but then you have to carry all your stuff. Albergues range in price from 5 to 15 euro a night and you sleep in dormitory like accommodation with up to 60 people in the one room and shared bathrooms, snoring and farting all night and the risk of catching colds, gasto or bed bugs which we have seen. We have heard other stories as well, I will leave it up to your imagination as to what else goes on. Also when it's busy it is a race to get to town first to get a bed or the best Albergue. Don't be put off, I think about 80% of people stay in the Albergues, it's just not our thing.
We have opted for Hotels and booked ahead the hole trip through Raw Travel, a company based in Melbourne. There's no rush and you have clean bed and your own bathroom each night. We have stayed in basic hotels, very nice hotels, farm stays and Paradores, very very nice, a great mix. It is the most expensive way costing around $100 a day each but also includes breakfast and luggage transfers so you only carry a day pack which makes the walk a lot easier and your bag is at your destination at days end. Lots of people have said to us they wish they did it our way as they are sick of sleepless nights at the Albergues.
So there you go, we have enjoyed every step of the way, I would recommend the walk to anyone, have a go, we have loved it.
Critter of the day, black headed, brown bodied, white tailed sheep. Go figger
Check out the writing on this guys butt
Buen Camino
