LIVE from the Camino Al The Optimist starts from Almeria

Al the optimist · May 25, 2016

Well that is it then - the Camino Mozarabes is behind me. In Merida after the toughest 400 miles of my life. Twisted ankle, cuts, scratches, grazes, bruises, blisters. Rain, flooded rivers and tough, unforgiving mountains and gorges followed by some unshaded 30 degrees days. NEVER AGAIN! It won easily. I feel beaten but not broken, though I do need some days rest with appropriate entertainment to recover.
Some beautiful scenery in the mind and the camera but each picture was hard won. But hey it is there forever (well until Mr Alzheimer calls). So time to be a tourist - sitting, munching and slurping.

NualaOC · May 25, 2016

Well done Al, sounds like it was quite a challenge. Enjoy the well earned rest and lots of good munching and slurping

Anemone del Camino · May 25, 2016

Bravo Al! Glad you survived with your humour intact. As time passes I am fining it more and more challenging to walk, letting little things like hills, rain and heat tell me to "quit for the day", "jump ahead". This morning those voices are saying "No more 3 week caminos, stick to 2 weeks". Urgh. Good for you for adding that Camino to your already extensive experience.

mspath · May 25, 2016

Great news Al! Now just sit back and watch the world trudge past for the next few days. Glad to learn of your success!

Al the optimist · May 25, 2016

Only met 2 pilgrims along the way. One was a cyclist so lost him the next day. The other was only around two evenings as he was only walking a week.

VNwalking · May 25, 2016

Been wondering how you're doing, Al--thanks for the update.
What an adventure, what a challenge! Well done.
"Beaten but not broken..." And this from a guy who packs very light, and is generally pretty cheerful. Imagine what it'd be like for someone with a heavy pack and sour temperament.
Enjoy the recovery days, Al, and may the rest of the walk be a little less 'interesting'!
Buen Camino.

C clearly · May 25, 2016

Al the optimist said:
NEVER AGAIN

Famous last words!
I'm looking forward to hearing more about it.
Congrauations!

Bradypus · May 25, 2016

Good to hear that you made it despite the tough bits. I was wondering how you were getting on Ultreia!

LTfit · May 25, 2016

Felicidades Al! I also felt that way when I arrived in Mérida after 15 days by myself (no other pilgrims from Granada-Mérida).
I felt so happy that I took a selfie of myself smiling and posted it on Facebook - something that I NEVER do!

From now on the going will get easier - at least you will have some company.

miguel_gp · May 25, 2016

Congratulations Al.

AlanSykes · May 25, 2016

Congratulations, according to this article, Almería to Mérida is slightly longer than St Jean Pierre de Port to Santiago, and you're almost half way there...

http://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/meses-caminata-kilometros-Almeria-Santiago_0_310419297.html

movinmaggie · May 25, 2016

Al, sounds like you overcame the challenge, and with your usual positive attitude. Enjoy your respite - well deserved.

Castilian · May 25, 2016

Congratulations, Al! Enjoy now your time as a tourist!

gerardcarey · May 25, 2016

Good on you cobber.
Very well done.
I note the article listed above by Alan Sykes says that the Mozarabe is the second busiest Camino after the Frances.
Either they are wrong or you got well lost mate.
Regards
Gerard

Al the optimist · May 25, 2016

Well let's just say that I was the 7th visitor at the Rioja albergue this year Gerard.

staciesthings · May 25, 2016

Al the optimist said:
Well that is it then - the Camino Mozarabes is behind me. In Merida after the toughest 400 miles of my life. Twisted ankle, cuts, scratches, grazes, bruises, blisters. Rain, flooded rivers and tough, unforgiving mountains and gorges followed by some unshaded 30 degrees days. NEVER AGAIN! It won easily. I feel beaten but not broken, though I do need some days rest with appropriate entertainment to recover.
Some beautiful scenery in the mind and the camera but each picture was hard won. But hey it is there forever (well until Mr Alzheimer calls). So time to be a tourist - sitting, munching and slurping.

That's awesome!!!

SYates · May 25, 2016

Hi Al, shortly after Merida is http://www.alberguerioaljucen.com A perfect spot for a rest day or two. Say hello to Fernando and Fernanda from me - they are really special people and very hospitable. Buen Camino, SY

OzAnnie · May 26, 2016

Awesome. I really am in awe of you and others who can trek alone for so long. I'd love to do it but I doubt I'd be as optimistic as you Al .
Congratulations. The next part will seem like a picnic of company after that.
Buen Camino

JennyH94 · May 26, 2016

Hi Al - wow! You sure have 'done it hard'! Have a terrific time in Merida relaxing and recharging the batteries.
Buen Camino -
Cheers, Jenny

Irish Bernie · May 26, 2016

Slacker !!!!!!

Al the optimist · May 26, 2016

I am trying to be sensible (for a change?)
Not walking from Merida to Astorga but being a train and bus tourist to Caceres, Plesencia, Zamora and Leon instead. Hopefully ankle and blisters recovered by then and able to resume with El Salvador.
Fingers crossed.

Irish Bernie · May 26, 2016

Al the optimist said:
I am trying to be sensible (for a change?)
Not walking from Merida to Astorga but being a train and bus tourist to Caceres, Plesencia, Zamora and Leon instead. Hopefully ankle and blisters recovered by then and able to resume with El Salvador.
Fingers crossed.

Time to chill brother n have some fun,keep on keeping on.

Davey Boyd · May 26, 2016

Al the optimist said:
I am trying to be sensible (for a change?)
Not walking from Merida to Astorga but being a train and bus tourist to Caceres, Plesencia, Zamora and Leon instead. Hopefully ankle and blisters recovered by then and able to resume with El Salvador.
Fingers crossed.

Good plan Al. You will love the Salvador!

'He who travels to Santiago and not to El Salvador honors the servant and not the Master'

Buen Camino
Davey

Kiwi-family · May 26, 2016

Al, I was thinking of you through the rainy week! I knew what was falling on us was drowning you too. You've done the hard stuff! Now get thee to the Salvador and enjoy!!!

SYates · May 26, 2016

Al the optimist said:
I am trying to be sensible (for a change?)
Not walking from Merida to Astorga but being a train and bus tourist to Caceres, Plesencia, Zamora and Leon instead. Hopefully ankle and blisters recovered by then and able to resume with El Salvador.
Fingers crossed.

Sorry to rain on your parade but you will be missing a beautiful stretch of the way. What about taking a couple of rest days before making a final decision and see how it goes? Buen Camino whatever you decide, SY

Carel5 · May 26, 2016

Hi Alan, good to hear that you arrived in Merida, just a month behind me. You have overcome all the difficulties and are mentally still going strong.

It seems I was more lucky in April. Less rain and moderate temperatures, never above 25 degrees Celsius. Maybe this worked out good for my feet as I got no blisters or twisted ankles. And I saw more crowd in 27 days: two bikers, one man on horseback and nine hikers (eight of them in Medellin, two days before the end).

Good luck on the rest of your travel.

PS I will post a short report on this forum.

Al the optimist · May 27, 2016

Thanks all. Love your support.
Thanks for thinking of me Rachel. I hope all has gone well for you and yours.
SYates - it will take more than a couple of days (hopefully only a week) and well there is always the future to look forward to?

SYates · May 27, 2016

Also true and I hope your recovery will go much faster! Buen Camino, SY

Kiwi-family · May 27, 2016

Al, SYates is right - this is a beautiful stretch. We bussed from Caceres to Banos and today did a gentle 12km to La Cazada de Bejar. It's as pretty as the Primitivo. Maybe worth considering!!!

Mike Savage · May 28, 2016

Well done Al. Buen Camino!

Al the optimist · May 28, 2016

In Plascencia. Hopefully improving but will be sensible and bus to Zamora Monday. But if it continues to improve I may well start again from there.

SueTomkinson · May 28, 2016

Al the optimist said:
Well that is it then - the Camino Mozarabes is behind me. In Merida after the toughest 400 miles of my life. Twisted ankle, cuts, scratches, grazes, bruises, blisters. Rain, flooded rivers and tough, unforgiving mountains and gorges followed by some unshaded 30 degrees days. NEVER AGAIN! It won easily. I feel beaten but not broken, though I do need some days rest with appropriate entertainment to recover.
Some beautiful scenery in the mind and the camera but each picture was hard won. But hey it is there forever (well until Mr Alzheimer calls). So time to be a tourist - sitting, munching and slurping.

Well done Al, but I am about 2 days out of Merida having left Almeria on 5 May and reading your message I wondered whether we had travelled the same route. Certainly a couple of rough mountain tracks that almost beat me, and the usual challenging weather conditions. Met 4 British, one French, a couple of Spanish and some cyclists. Quiet but good.

OzAnnie · May 29, 2016

Al the optimist said:
Only met 2 pilgrims along the way. One was a cyclist so lost him the next day. The other was only around two evenings as he was only walking a week.

Al
You're such a friendly chap, I think the time away from people was probably the hardest bit for you.

SueTomkinson said:
Certainly a couple of rough mountain tracks that almost beat me, and the usual challenging weather conditions. Met 4 British, one French, a couple of Spanish and some cyclists. Quiet but good.

It was much more encouraging reading how fortunate Sue was with camaraderie on this route.

I think having someone around to share it with (at least at day's end) makes a big difference.
You gave it a great go !

Did you see many red poppies on this route, over this time. My mind's eye imagines these beautiful scenes?

Buen Camino Al
Don't give up - enjoy wherever are from here on .

Annie

Al the optimist · May 29, 2016

I am glad you had company Sue. I think my experience was affected by my having to limp most the way. Still after a few days as a towns tourist my ankle is feeling better. I will bus to Zamora tomorrow, give it another couple of days and then all being well resume walking.

Al the optimist · May 31, 2016

Today I have only ambled slowly around Zamora (a beautiful place). However it has been a pain free day for the first time in weeks and I have even regained my appetite. Admittedly I have endulged my foot's addiction to Camino smarties and Voltaron, but it's worth it for the joy of not having pain every second step!
So after that week as a touringo I will walk tomorrow. Fingers crossed time.

Bradypus · May 31, 2016

Best of luck with the next stage! You just missed the chance to bump into our mutual friend @andy.d who was in Zamora with his wife a couple of days ago. They are buzzing around Spain by train and bus this time

VNwalking · May 31, 2016

Al the optimist said:
it has been a pain free day for the first time in weeks and I have even regained my appetite.

Woo hoo, Al! Great news.
May you reap the benefits of both those improvements, and enjoy the walking again.
Muy buen camino, amigo.

OzAnnie · May 31, 2016

Al the optimist said:
the joy of not having pain every second step!
So after that week as a touringo I will walk tomorrow. Fingers crossed time.

Fingers crossed for you Al. You got beaten up a bit on the Mozarabe-(I hadn't realised how much before! ) ., but you're still trying. I hope there are some very short etapas available to test that ankle. Take it easy.
Buen Camino
Annie

andy.d · Jun 3, 2016

Hey Al,
hope you're recovering. I was in Zamora a few days ago on holiday (not walking). Sorry to have missed you.
Go well
Andy

Al the optimist · Jun 5, 2016

Into Astorga tomorrow! I look forward to some cpany. Foot is just an ache now. Did I crack a bone? But after weeks of my right nursing my left it is now protesting and my heel spur is tweeking the tendon. Managable though.

Bradypus · Jun 5, 2016

Glad to hear you are still up and about. Sorry to hear things are still rough though. Remembering the old line: "I have a body like a military academy - bits of it keep passing out." Ultreiea!

peregrina2000 · Jun 5, 2016

Hi Al, I'm just catching up on your camino news. So glad that I no longer need to post with an "oh I'm so sorry" message but can now say "so glad to hear you are ambulatory once again!!!"

Any chance we'll meet on Santiago, now that you've re-arranged your walk? I have July 5 as my hoped-for date. That may be too late for you. Buen camino, Laurie

Al the optimist · Jun 6, 2016

May well be Laurie. Who knows? It would be lovely to meet you so I will try my best subject to the pesky tendon and anything else thrown my way.

Tia Valeria · Jun 6, 2016

Just catching up with the forum after nearly 5 weeks in Asturias/Galicia/Cantabria. Sorry to hear of your problems Al and trust all goes well for you now.
Buen Camino

Al the optimist · Jun 15, 2016

Hope all went well for you guys auntie T.
I have decided on trying to be sensible. After a few days chilling with friends in Gijon I decided to go the Norte not the Primitivo. A slow ambled pain free day after Aviles finds me optimistic. (How unusual?) As long as listen to that tendon maybe it will be kind to me?

mspath · Jun 15, 2016

Al,

Ambling slowly and pain free sounds like a good combo! Do continue to take care of yourself. Watch out for those steep descents others have described along the Norte. Will you start at Irun or elsewhere? Looking forwards to reading your further posts.

Good luck and Carpe diem!

Margaret Meredith

Tia Valeria · Jun 15, 2016

Al the optimist said:
Hope all went well for you guys auntie T.
I have decided on trying to be sensible. After a few days chilling with friends in Gijon I decided to go the Norte not the Primitivo. A slow ambled pain free day after Aviles finds me optimistic. (How unusual?) As long as listen to that tendon maybe it will be kind to me?

All went well for us. Just beginning to sort our photos for the blog. This will be a slow process. Considering where best to post the link(s) on the forum as we covered sections of all the various northern Caminos except the Inglés. Then went to the mountains etc.
Take care and hope all goes well for you now - Buen Camino

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