Pamplona to Zariquiegui

SHORT day today, 12km.  Started the accent to Alto de Perdon and my back started aching, the more I climbed, the more it ached.  Entered into this little hamlet and filled my water at the spigot.  Decided to enter the little church and spent a while admiring the place.
When I left, my friend Camino Ray was just arriving and was checking out his blisters.

I walked ahead a bit and immediately found this little bar/albergue.  Went in and he had beds for €10. My back was aching so much, that barring bedbugs or some similar horrible situation, I was staying.  Turns out it's a new albergue and clean.  Spent some extra time chatting with family and just enjoyed a less hectic day.  The pilgrim menu was good and satisfying.  The company of people is really great here.

Today's photo dump :
https://goo.gl/photos/oTz9gyCGP3HfLYr36

The thrill of victory and the agony of da' feet!

To sag wraps up my fourth straight day of walking.  Up and over the Pyranese and down into Pamplona.  They had some festival tonight, sender to be kid focused, they were EVERYWHERE - like the running of the bulls, only without the bulls.

Food is not something lacking for Peregrinos and I have found the pilgrim communal meals to be delicious and full of great company.  I could write and write about the many people on Camino, but there just is not time.  Suffice it to say I am never alone, my picture links will show that.

So, here is a typical day's schedule:
6:00 am, wake-up, not optional as someone is walking then and making noise, pretty much everyone wakes.
Get dressed, brush teeth, pack-up everything
start walking right away and have breakfast in as hour or so, or your albergue has breakfast.  You better like cafe conñn leche and toast w/jam either way cause that is breakfast
Walk a few hours, this is your walking, it is still cool (and dark) during this time and you make good time.
Take a break (today was pizza at El Horno - Outdoor wood fired pizza ovens).  During break you check your feet, socks off, let everything breathe.  Don't get to settled.
Walk some more, stop again in 2 hours or so.  Refill water, check feet, eat lunch or snack.
Walk to your destination, walking at the end of the day just drags on and on, cause you are really done, but can't stop.
Get to your albergue, sign in, shed your boots at the boot track and poles in the pile bin.  Get bed in room with MANY other people.  Forget any insecurities, everyone has to change.
Destroy toilet.
Shower, really long if you don't have a timed shower.
Hand wash your clothes in a sink (yes, with the same bar you washed your body and hair with) and put them out to dry - Some albergues have washers and dryers, you can share capacity with other Peregrinos.
Now, now you finally some time to talk to family, update blogs, and consider meals.  Albergue meals are fun, and so far very nice (all you can drink wine, it's cheap, but it's there) or you get your own.  Some bars offer a pilgrim menu and some albergues have kitchens for use.
Brush teeth
Pass out till tomorrow's 6am alarm.

PHOTO DUMP TIME:

SATURDAY : https://goo.gl/photos/iCmo8iS6kuJvZy71A

SUNDAY : https://goo.gl/photos/K2aWKk1WkjCKMBmJA

MONDAY : https://goo.gl/photos/XahH1ULRLo46LNJM8

TODAY : https://goo.gl/photos/yBkvDFxVwiU2QYxK7

The Pyranese!

I DID IT!  I FRIGGEN DID IT!
Boy only did I really uphill from Orisson to only 3.5km to Roncesvalles (for the record, pronounced Ron-çes-bay-yez - yeah, I asked a hospitalerio).  The last leg, Downhill!  Downhill over loose rocks!
None of that matters, cause -I- made it.
See, today's journey was mentally fulfilling - I came to the conclusion that I am on Camino and I am not competing with anyone else for bragging rights.  Plain and simple today I had a challenge and I met it head on and surprised myself and apparently many others at my dedication and stamina on this task.
So, -I- made it over the Pyranese and I won't judge my accomplishment on any other persons accomplishments, that is their victory for them to hold proudly just like I am going to hold this accomplishment proudly.
Speaking of which, they is nothing like walking into a building and having friends you made stand-up and cheer because the are happy you made it.
My Camino family grows.

Buen Camino!

SJPdP to Orisson.

Plain and simple, it's a ball-buster!  Simply the hardest piece of three Camino, right out of the gate.

OK, not RIGHT out of the gate, 5km in, and you are thinking "this ain't so bad'...
  HA-HA!  That's what the Camino WANTS you to think, then WHAM! - THE CLIMB!
Ooh it looks innocent enough, nice switchbacks and all.  400+++ meter CLIMB and they cram it into 2km...  The owner of Orisson is a genius, cause you are spent by the time you get there and you round the corner and you see this little piece of paradise!
The pilgrim dinner is an awesome event and the food is really good and plenty.  Our menu was vegetable pure soup (yum!  Had it for a late lunch also when I arrived) for an starter and many pilgrims would have been happy with that and bread.  Then came out a mixture of peas, carrots, and potatoes with a light gravy.  The meat was roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks with a crispy skin and delicious herb coating.  Dessert was either flan or a pastry pie with a custard and almond filling (yeah, I got that one).  But more important is all the pilgrims dining together, many. Like myself, sitting next to total strangers and making friends.
My dorm had six beds (3 bunks) split 3 gentlemen and 3 ladies.  Hardly any snoring at all, just dead tired sleeping. 

Saint Jean Pied de Port to Orisson

Yesterday was a whirlwind day with travel and arrival in SJPdP.  Meet so many friendly people and just had a great time.
Just before bed I heard that my good friend and coworker Ray was in a car accident, luckily he is relatively ok (he had just picked up food, just got into his van, hadn't even buckled in or anything, and WHAM hit from behind by sunshine texting).

Today is a short walking day - 7.2km (4.3 miles), but with 600 meter elevation gain.

Shootouts to ALL the many people who worked with me to help me get ready.
Tina, Lee, and Jasmin: first and foremost the most important people enabling my journey.  Even though they don't completely understand the calling, they know for me the calling was a shouting.  They accepted and embraced my need to do this and accepted the challenges associated with being without me during this pilgrimage. They really are the most important people in my life and the amount of trust and faith they have in me humbles me and encourages me to be a better person.

My coworkers and employer who are also key to whacking this journey.  They are all stepping up and doing extra to handle my absence.  So many people came forward to make this happen.  My supervisor Matt for not only accepting this, buy for encouraging me.  Ray for picking up all the work in my absence and being a great friend.
Extra shoot-out to Arne, who helped me break conventional hiking rules and therefore enabled me to do this.

My friends at the Y, for working with me tirelessly for a year and a half helping me get myself ready for the demands this journey will demand.  Thank you Kelly, Chuck, Brock, Mike, and everyone else.

My family, for all their encouragement and support, especially my mom who had been a big fan of my journey since she first heard about it.

My many friends from American Pilgrims on Camino, both experienced and planning.  Their friendship and advice has helped a lot.

And everyone else who supported me, if I left anyone out it certainly was not intended!  (I am typing this on a phone, so I can't type as fast as I think.)

3 1/2 years in the making, and I'm here.  My mom correctly says, it is never too late to chase your dreams - Dream being chased :).

Buen Camino!
Kevin

A Camino moment

So, I was out solo, scouting the rating establishments (OK, most don't start EARLY service until 7pm, more are at 9pm).  I was standing by a little cafe that served all day, reading the menu, and an older lady asked if I wanted to join her.  Who wants to eat alone, not most pilgrims, so I accepted...  Holy Shit, we both had so much to talk about in the Autism arena, she said I was the first person she has ever talked to that "got it".  We both enjoyed our meals and promised to finish out stories should out paths cross on the Camino again... 
Seriously, how do two strangers, on similar journies, just bunk into each other.  This town is full of pilgrims.
After we talked, she reaffirmed what I already knew, I have fantastic kids and a wife.  She could think of no other relationship, other then one so solidly grounded, that would support my journey.

OK, I threatened not to get into an emotional blog, but damn, I always read about Camino Magic, but so much and in my first few hours!?!?!?

I always said it started as a quiet calling and became a deafening roar, I am beginning to see why.

Buen Camino
Kevin

P.S. apparently my French and Spanish is good enough to get me by and earn some smiles at the same time.

P.P.S. Yeah, I know I'm tired and that elevates emotional states, but damn!

Here, tired & wide awake, excited & scared

Already chatted with three Australians, two Canadians, and two other Americans all entering town at the same time.  It is AWESOME to be in a place that is full of pilgrims ready to embark.  This town has a magic in the air, I have a great hotel room, and I didn't think it was so possible to have so many friendly people help me in one day!

Today's phrase, and those to the end of my Camino is "Buen Camino" (Good  way/road/trail) - A universal greeting and parting for pilgrims.  Hearing it said warms the soul as the words have somehow elevated beyond words, perhaps it is the earth smile and genuine feeling behind it that makes it so special.

My day started on Sept 3 @6:30am and will probably run till today around 3:00pm est (9:00pm local time)

Link to some photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/i3EuNdfDmmuQ2sX3A