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LIVE from the Camino Chrissy on the Camino Sanabrés

Camino Chrissy said:
Thank you, NYC.
Lucky you, seeing the thermal baths right by the albergue. We never saw them at all.
Your walk out of Ourense sounds awful. Did you take the left Y out of town instead of the right?
Are you saying a hospitalero snored?
Click to expand...

Yes to both turning left and snoring hospie.



Buen camino.
 
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I'm trying to remember which albergue I was in where the hospitalero was sleeping on the couch in the afternoon.
 
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Day 14...sent a day late.
The sun was shining today and the weather was warmer. It was a glorious blue sky, perfect day and I'd almost forgotten what they are like with no cloud cover.

Our day was embarrassingly short at about 10k, but it was basically an uphill climb overall, going from Cea to Oseira. Many people arrived much later than us as they had walked from much farther back. There were many colorful flowers, happy birds singing and trilling, and picturesque babbling streams with rocks to carefully watch our every step many times...think mountain washout gullies.
We crossed a lovely little bridge on the way.




The humongous Oseira monastery is really amazing and we opted for a tour for only €3.50/each and learned some interesting facts. It was really cold in the old stone building with super thick walls.
We returned at 7:15pm for Vespers. We were taken to a small chapel, and there were eight monks dressed in white hooded robes and they sounded like angels.


The dinner tonight near the monastery was excellent and a splurge; thankfully the quality was worth it.
The Oseira albergue here looks very new and has 40 beds, and about 25+ beds were filled.
Btw, all the upper bunks have safety railings.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
JillGat said:
All of the Xunta albergues in Galicia I stayed in had these modern features. They're great, aren't they?
Click to expand...
Yes, they are!

"One thing I have really enjoyed is walking on ancient Roman roads. I posted on the forum about an ancient Celtic petroglyph I saw. No one else mentioned seeing it so wanted to give you the map coordinates:
42.619891,-8.120861"

@ JillGat, today we passed the gps coordinates you provided for the Celtic petroglyph, and think I saw it...is it this? Pretty awesome!
 
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Day 15-
Today was 23k from Oseira to Botos, on another day of perfect weather. I actually started getting almost too warm by noon, mostly from all of the strenuous climbing, so I would wet my bandana to use. Around my neck Much of it was on semi-dried mountainy stream beds, picking our way uphill, which slowed us way down the first half of the day. I thought to myself "is this day ever going to end?" We literally walked from 8:15am until 6:00pm with a half hour lunch break...yeah, I know I walk slow. I take my time so I can look around at new things; what's the hurry?



A bit of kitchy whimsy.


It was fun to watch about twenty cows pass in front of us heading out to pasture with the "boss" with his stick nudging them forward
.

I am ready for bed after showering earlier and ending our day with a nice meal nearby.
I'll see what tomorrow brings our way.
 
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Yep! Glad you saw it!
 

That looks magical, Chrissy, especially that second photograph
So glad you had some good weather

PS
I’ve read through all your posts now … very entertaining and your photos are beautiful!
I love the colours of your Way, love all the steps you find to photograph and share your love of blue doors too

Buen Camino!
 
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Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Day 16-
Thankfully today was only 19k and had less dramatic up and downs, going from Botos to Silleda. We went through a few forests, a few villages, and saw the new high speed AVE train that has been a huge project for Span.





As much as I dislike the rock strewn streams, today had a long one with a bubbling very shallow brook and was so pretty. All the large stones were flat on top, and didn't budge, so I felt secure to step along on my way.


Calla Lilies in Spain always remind me of my deceased sister's wedding. She carried three beautiful ones wrapped with a ribbon laying in her arms for her bouquet, so they are rather sentimental for me and I often see them walking.


I have talked about the eucalyptus trees and forests before, and we are starting to see some. They are messy, but do have a very nice odor known for essential.oils, among other uses.


Not much else to say about today. See you all next time.
 
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The path with the large flat rocks is a Roman road! I kept exclaiming about this until a French guy said dismissively, "You and the Roman Roads!" I said, "Yeah, it is amazing to walk on something from so long ago!" He said, "Well, you Americans weren't COLONIZED by them." Like he was still pissed off about that.
 
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The eucalyptus dispersed through these parts brings a little taste of Australia to Portugal and Spain. Those messy one's Chrissy are a 'stringy bark', aptly named for the mess they leave.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
DenWhite said:
The eucalyptus dispersed through these parts brings a little taste of Australia to Portugal and Spain. Those messy one's Chrissy are a 'stringy bark', aptly named for the mess they leave.
Click to expand...
Whilst they smell beautiful they are of course also extremely inflammable. (Let alone extremely bad for the local environment - to which they were transplanted). I'm always aware of both the beauty and the danger when amongst them.

Walking through the plantations last year in July I was very glad that it wasn't too hot.

In April I was walking the Inglés and the plantation on the Hospitales (Primitivo) was on fire, in July I walked through that self-same area - I was very glad I hadn't been present at the time.
 
Peterexpatkiwi said:
Whilst they smell beautiful they are of course also extremely inflammable. (Let alone extremely bad for the local environment - to which they were transplanted).
Click to expand...
Walking the Ingles I came across Devil's Finger fungus in some eucalyptus plantation. Originally a southern hemisphere species but probably introduced along with the eucalyptus. A bizarre sight. The photo with the broom handle is mine - the other from Wikipedia.


 
Ditto on way in to Santiago:

Very weird looking things.
 
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Yep, they are an ill-advised import to Spain. I grew up as a child with them in California, where they were also an ill-advised import. I still love the smell and the memories it brings back to me.
 
Day 17-
This was another great weather day although a bit too warm in the afternoon; near 30°C/86°F when walking. There were quite a few shady forests on this 22k stage from Silleda to Eiravedra, which helped. The elevation change for the day was from 500 meters descent down to 50; with the steepest section of over a kilometer on a continuous 10% grade and I was thankful to be walking on a quiet lane.
It was near the end of the day when my left knee started aching and became a little weaker. I was glad to arrive at our pension and hope it recovers for our final 20k walk into Santiago tomorrow.

Random photos from today...


 
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Camino Chrissy said:
It was near the end of the day when my left knee started aching and became a little weaker. I was glad to arrive at our pension and hope it recovers for our final 20k walk into Santiago tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Only one day left? That flew by! I'm sure the adrenaline will kick in tomorrow to get you to the finish line. Failing that, meds

Enjoy your last day, it's a nice entry into Santiago with hardly any suburbs.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I think that there is probably a different origin story for its entry into Europe, which would appear to be woolen fabric imported from Tasmania, not the eucalypts that were send from Western Australia to Spain.

While they might provide an aromatic reminder of home for Australians, that is all that I find appealing about them. Arrayed in strict rows and with little understory, little if any birdlife and no signs of small mammals and other animal life, they look so alien to me when I see them in plantations. I coined the term 'a sadness of eucalypts' when describing these to my friends as I walked the CP a couple of years ago. As others have noted, the spread of eucalypts across the world, as with many other plantation mono-cultures, is not good for our environment.

Edit - shortly after I returned from walking the CP, my wife and I were driving up to the NSW Central Coast. Along the way my wife wondered why I had pulled to the side of the road well short of our destination. She didn't quite understand, but did accept that I just needed to take a few moments to take in the eucalypt forest we were driving through in all its natural spendour.
 
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Ditto @jungleboy's wishes for your final day Chrissy. Time has been against me to have added any comments but I have followed you diligently throughout your journey, enjoying as always your positive nature & eye for the world around you.

Hope the knee holds up for the final push & doesn't infringe on the culmination of your endeavours!

Happy trails
 
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Day 18-
After my left knee turned a bit "wonky" yesterday after what seemed a never ending downhill on a smooth lane with no traffic into Ponte Ulla at a 10% grade, then up the other side as far as EiravedraI, I was disappointed to possibly consider taking a bus or taxi into Santiago today. We had stayed at Pension Residential Victoria and the bus stop was across the street which was very tempting...but no.

The walk was considered relatively easy on Gronze and helped me make my decision to attempt it. My son wrapped my knee area with an Ace bandage he had brought and I managed to walk the final 20k into Santiago. It was a nice change of pace to walk into the city with this new direction; the only negative being all of the uphill on the way to the cathedral the last several kilometers. I was thankful there were no streambeds with precarious rocks to navigate today and I managed quite well.

Here are a few pictures from today. I enjoyed the many newer, colorful homes on the outskirts of Santiago and their attractive landscapes.




Since I've been posting a few photos of dogs; here is a favorite from today, and some pretty, colorful chickens.



As we entered the city streets from the country I got excited and for no special reason another song came to me from my youth. I turned on my phone and the volume way up and I sang along with this fun song! Sorry, I hope I don't offend as it's not spiritual.

We are staying at a great apartment, only about a block or two north of the cathedral, "Rua Numa Travesta". We do enjoy apartments when staying two or more nights in one location because we have more time to enjoy the space and do a little cooking; tomorrow eggs for breakfast.
Other less expensive places we have stayed at in the past and loved in Santiago were already fully booked, even as far back as last December.

I was early for my meet-up with forum member and virtual friend, @JennyH94 at the Pilgrim office where she volunteers, so I stepped in and within five minutes had my Compostela and distance certificate. I was not even sure I wanted to get one, but it is a nice momento and glad I did.

Jenny and I shared a nice meal at a favorite, inexpensive restaurant near the Pilgrim office and chatted for an hour or two. It is always nice to meet some of the forum regulars and she is a doll.

I have tomorrow to mull around the city and visit a few favorite areas and things to do. I have done the cathedral rooftop tour twice and am always interested in tower tours. The tower was finally opened last year, but I had no opportunity to do it, but not wanting to aggravate my knee I will pass again this time.

On Monday we leave for Segovia by train for a short vacay day, then on to Madrid to fly home.
Thank you to all who have followed along, and I hope my ramblings and pictures have helped others who may be contemplating walking the Sanabres.
 
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We share a love of music from our more youthful days. Great job and thank you for sharing your journey with us here. Grateful and thankful safe journey home.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).

So you’re the reason that song has been in my head for the last 24 hours!!
My beloved had to remind me of the band who’d released it as it had temporarily escaped me.
It came out of the blue …

That little dog really enjoyed the tummy scratching!

Take care of your knee, you’ll need it later (shame they don’t spontaneously regenerate).
Well done on walking into Santiago!!
Enjoy the rest of your days in Spain and have a safe and comfortable journey home
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Congratulations for making it to Santiago! I'm so glad your knee held out. Thanks for all your updates it's always a pleasure to read them.
 
Yay! You made it. Thanks for bringing us along with you.

I've waited until you would have some time to answer a question. I've loved your pictures but I've been stumped about why they seemed much longer than most anybody else's. That is to say the ratio of horizontal to vertical approaches 2:1 but don't appear to be consistent. Do you crop before submitting or do you set your camera/phone to take pictures in these formats?
 
Rick, I always first take a screenshot of the pictures I decide to use and I most always take horizontal photos; a habit developed over ten years ago when we often watched them on our television as they took the same width.
Anyway, I then crop the screenshot,but try to fit the edges all the same to remove the "black space" around them, so they are not all perfect. i am a techy duffus, and by "dumbing down" first with the screenshots, that seems to at least work, but not perfectly. I share too many to use full size pics on the forum.
 
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Luka said:
Thanks for your nice report and dito photos, @Camino Chrissy! I'll follow in your footsteps real soon!
Click to expand...
@Luka, I wish for you to have good weather and a fantastic Camino! I hope a few of my experiences may help you with your some of your walking decisions, but I think you will be just fine anyway.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Chris, I'm so glad I asked about your pictures. I know how to speed up your processing with an app. I've used it myself to send copies of photos to the forum where the longest side will be 800 pixels (I noticed that your photo of the chickens was a 720x320 PNG file with a file size of 515 kb).

Here's what to do: Download the SNAPSEED app. In settings say you want image size to be 800 pixels (other, larger, sizes are available) then say what format and quality the copy should have. I chose JPG as it uses way less space than a PNG. See the first screenshot below.

I have my phone’s camera set to take shots in a 16:9 format to fit my TV. Normally I take pictures in a medium resolution but in high resolution I get pictures of 9.1 mp, 4032x2268 which is bigger than a 4k TV can show without resizing. So, getting to the point now, I took a high resolution picture that had a file size of 4,200 kb. I opened it in Snapseed, clicked the Export action, picked Export in the pop-up menu (see the second screenshot). Snapseed then created a copy of my photo but in its own directory. The copy had a file size of 246 kb (versus 4,200 kb) and it had 0.4 mp (versus 9.1 mp) because the copy was 800x450 instead of 4032x2268. If you want you can use the app to do various edits before you export. I use crop and rotate non-horizontal lakes by several degrees a lot.

Give it a shot.

 

@Rick of Rick and Peg

I love the way you try to explain all things tech for us mere mortals!!
This is helpful information, but unless I really engage my brain, it is as clear as mud
Actually doing it would help, I think.

Chrissy - could you play with this on the flight home?

PS
Is the second shot the result of using the App?
It looks better and more like the shape of Chrissy’s photographs. It’s clearer somehow.
 
chinacat said:
I love the way you try to explain all things tech for us mere mortals!!
This is helpful information, but unless I really engage my brain, it is as clear as mud
Click to expand...
Thank you. I actually spent some time trying to make it simple but that's really the work of tech writers. I know I have trouble with buts, howevers, in case of, etc. I do fight this.

chinacat said:
Actually doing it would help, I think.
Click to expand...
Yes, ignore my examples of file size and photo size savings and you see that it's do an intial app setting to tell the app how to shrink all the photos. Then to process each photo you open it, select the action to export photos, chose export again and then use the shrunken copy of the photo that the app generates.

chinacat said:
PS
Is the second shot the result of using the App?
It looks better and more like the shape of Chrissy’s photographs. It’s clearer somehow.
Click to expand...
Actually the first screenshot was edited. When I did the screenshot it offered for me to crop which I did. My phone only saves screenshots as PNG and that produces better quality pictures but at the expense of file space. Not really needed for a shot of text so I used the tool in the way described to turn the PNG into a JPEG and shrink both the number of pixels and file size. For the second screenshot I cropped before saving but I left it as a PNG as I didn't think the space savings would be significant. It is just a coincidence that what I wished to show somewhat matched Chris' horizontal to vertical ratio.

There I go again. Sorry.
 
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Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
P.S. We fly home tomorrow, and I decided to share some of the photos I took of every artistic hand hewn Mojone I saw. I think my first sighting was in Pueblo de Sanabria.
I am inserting @Elle Bieling's research on these fascinating chunks of stone. It is because of her Sanabres Camino thread I had read prior to going that prompted me to look for them. I have counted 61 different ones of my photos. I hope you enjoy seeing a "few"!

 
Those pictures are so cool!!!! I love 'em.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
@jungleboy, Nick, I thought of you and the beautiful, colorful goat art you enjoyed finding in Sicily on your recent Camino. I know the stones are not at all like the goats, but I had the same enthusiasm as you when I saw one.
 
@Camino Chrissy, congratulations on another safe (although perhaps with a limp...) arrival in to Santiago & the Cathedral; it must feel like a Homecoming to you now...like seeing an old friend.
I'm a bit slow here with my wishes for you, especially as you're probably either winging your way home or there already!
Another wonderful journey, shared with us all...thank you.
So...when you catch your breath, what next Oh Intrepid One?
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Hi all,
I am home now and it feels good except for the several days of jet lag I usually have.
Anyway, I had a couple of requests for a recap of my stages, so here they are in a nutshell from my spreadsheet. Some are different than the basic Gronze stages, but they worked better for me because "less is always more".
 
Chrissy .. some of those stages look just right!
(the shorter ones )

Still don’t know when I’ll be able to walk again but thanks to your thread, the Sanabrés is definitely high on my list. It might have knocked the Inglés off the top.

Thank you!!

Buen Camino!
 
You are very welcome! My goal is to possibly inspire others by following along, and it apparently inspired you!
Btw, I see taking a taxi was an option going to Cea out of Ourense, but we walked it and I'm glad we did.
Yes, I too, prefer stages of 20k or less whenever possible.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Thank
Thank you Chrissy, this is most helpful as I am also hoping to walk shorter stages.
Rereading your posts has made me very excited for finishing the VdlP camino we started last year.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
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