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Update - Day 37 - Trabadelo
Added up the Wikilocs trails this evening, and I got 999kms from Montserrat 😅.
Setting off for O Cebreiro and beyond tomorrow. Pushed on to to Trabadelo today after not being impressed with Villafranca - the town is on a massive incline plus roadworks at the bottom...
"Most don’t even pack a mat or a sleeping bag."
Absolutely! As someone who has done a huge amount of camping over the decades including 'roughing it', without a sleeping mat, you'll get a lousy night's sleep if any and will quickly get cold without something resembling a mat. And who wants to...
Great Plan for some. Lousy idea for many.
Depending on the weather, you'll be hot, sweaty and possibly smelly from the day's efforts and will remain so, or you'll be soaked through, cold and in need of getting warm. Then you'll be hungry and may not have emergency rations and are far from a...
Thanks for the help. I went to the excellent Armerio Castro shop in the centre. They are clearly knowledgeable and have anything you need, hiking-related. I'm now the proud owner of a blue XL Altro H30. The only problem now is the damned weather forecast - it's sun for the next 10 days so can't...
...the walking a doddle and I'm feeling great, no injuries.
The negatives are that there is a lot of walking by roads, some of the albergues are a fu***** disgrace (damp + smelling of / taking the cat pi33) and boy is it super, super busy. Pilgrims are everywhere you look, albergues can be...
I met a 21 year old yesterday, who did 52 kms in the stage just before Leon. Zero beds anywhere. None!! I'm glad it's not just me who found / finding it hard to book beds!
And another attempt looms, to buy a decent Poncho after trying and failing in the previous two likely towns.
Anyone know where an Altos or similar might be bought in Leon, please?
😁
My town isn't on a heavily marketed, world famous pilgrimage route, that feeds millions into the Spanish economy at both macro and micro levels, and supports thousands of jobs?
It wouldn't be good publicity for Spain if people started dropping dead as they were forced to push on in search of a bed. Fortunately, it wasn't too hot. Some help, esp amongst non-Spanish speakers, getting a taxi forwards or backwards would have been welcome by the many people scratching their...
Now it's done, and I'm showered, fed and generally numbed with alcohol, it was great. Fortunately, the weather was cool all day, the rain held off and the terrain was rolling countryside.
But sodding 'el. 47kms to Hontanas from the lovely place I stayed last night in Riopico!!! I've booked...
Tried and failed. Was outside mundicamino at 11.15, still no one there, notice said opens 10.30. Other shops also closed when should be open. Popped into a few open ones but just had the same as I had. Oh well. Rained again today. Mine half worked. Just think how supreme the Spanish economy...
So, my €8 poncho from Decathlon has proven itself to be utter sh*** in the rain, esp when windy. Having tight genes 😅, I thought it would be fine. Clearly not.
So, I'm currently in an albergue just outside Burgos and will pass through about 10.00am tomorrow. I'd like a 'better' poncho, maybe...
It's amazing isn't it, that the airport Santiago can't clearly publicise in writing everywhere what the latest security policy is regarding poles, as it causes such a lot of pain in the bum hang wringing in an industry worth a fortune to Spainish businesses. It's not hard, is it?
I can't believe the number of people who think it's fine to leave $2000 phones charging on the shelf in big busy albergues in the city while they sleep, where probably everyone in the city knows the access code for the door. Fair enough, just, in small village albergues where there are only a...
Snoring (another post ...)
After 4 days of seriously noisy snorers in albergues, I was getting increasingly drained during the day. At one point, I was thinking whether I can continue, whether I want to, or should have to, use hotels just to be able to sleep (and missing out on albergue life)...
Day 19 - Tiebas to meñeru
The albergue is fine in Tiebas with all mod cons. I had a top bunk for the first time this trip. It's a pain but okay now and again. There is a big bar / social club here just up from the albergue, which has great views, and does meals after 8ish.
I left just after...
A Spanish chap, who I met on Day 1 just messaged me, to say Puenta de Reina was very busy when he arrived yesterday. People are booking up beds days in advance. This doesn't bode well ...
Day 18 - Lumbia to Tiebas
The hotel was very comfy last night. But for some reason, the lovely lady working there couldn't take payment until someone else turned up 'later'. They also only did €24 set meals in the hotel, nothing smaller. In the end, I had a few drinks then it was back to my room...
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