DAY 21: Cacabelos-Las Herrerias

Day 19 on Camino de Santiago. Day 21 from Biarritz.

At 6:20AM I left Cacabelos.

Gradually the roads go up.

Just after passing Pieros, I met up with a family who was pushing a buggy.

A man from Czech, a lady from Mexico with their 5 year-old son. They now live in the US (Photo above).

I saw a group of teenager-hikers on the road. They were also Camino walkers heading to Santiago de Compostella taking 8 days.

It was cool all day with no sunshine.

After running 29.2km, I finished at Albergue in Las Herrerias at 1PM.

Tomorrow is the day I cross Cebreiro Pass(1300 meters).

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY20: El Acebo-Cacabelos

Day 18 on Camino de Santiago.

After eating free breakfast, I left the hostel in El Acebo at 7:20.

Wind was cool. Enjoyed downhill so very long. Elevation went down to about 700 meters.

Downhill is very hard for me because I have to control the speed.

I could run faster. But once I speed up, it's not easy to control my buggy.

And downhill makes me tired especially on my lower body. To keep braking, my hands get numb.

Narrow trails again. There were lots of rocks and bumps, which slows me down. But it was very thrilling and exciting.

Enjoyed shopping in Ponferrada.

At 1:30, I checked in at a hostel in Cacabelos.

Today I ran 29.1 km. Easy day. The rest of Camino de Santiago is less than 200km!

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY19: Astorga-El Acebo

Left Asterga at 6:30 AM.

Started climbing gradually. The view of sea of trees were so gorgeous.

Authentic climbing started in Rabanal del Camino.

It was a long climbing. Hills were not so steep but just too long.

I reached Foncebadon, elevation 1504m. 

After that there were small ups and downs. 

Last 7km was a perfect downhill.

39.1km from Astorga.

I checked in at a hostel of El Acebo

There will be more hills but 250km to go!!

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

 

DAY18: Valverde de la Virgen-Astorga

It's been 16 days on Camino de Santiago.

Left albergue at 6:25 AM.

Climbed hills for the first time in a while.

Fortunately, after passing the 2nd hill, I hito on free cafe.

There were so many kinds of food and drinks. It's kind of OASIS in the desert!

They say the cafe is run by donations from pilgrims.

It's not to give but share what we have with someone else. That idea will lead WORLD PEACE.

After running 38.5km, I checked in at albergue in Astorga.

*Today's Photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY17: Reliegos-Valverde de la Virgen

 

 15th day on Camino de Santiago.

  Left Reliegos at 6:45.

  After 9AM temperature rose up to 30 degrees.

  Warmth changed into heat!

  As the city of Leon got closer, there are more cars and more people.

  Also there are more shops and stores here and there.

  It is true as the bigger the city gets, the more stress we get.

  For me, if I get into a big city, I always get surprised.

  33 degrees at 2PM but I'm glad the shade was cool as usual.

  At 3PM, I checked in at hostel in Valverde de la Virgen.

  37.4km today

 Total distance from Biarrits: 572.8km

  *Today's Photos

  *YouTube Movies

DAY 16: San Nicolas del Real Camino-Reliegos

 

 I've been on the Camino for 2 weeks today.

 Late start leaiving San Nicolas del Real Camino at 7;15.

 Soon I arrived at Sahagun which is just halfway to Santiago de Compostela.

 Already half, still half...

 In the afternoon, sun shines so hard which bakes me. I got exhausted and my pace got so slow.

 As I take a rest at a park under the shade, it makes me feel so sleepy.

 When we civilized people are immersed in comfort of civilization, we may easily forget comfort   of  the nature. We are human beings the products of the nature.

 Arrived at hostel in Reliegos at 3:30.

 No tough and hard climbing today.

 *Today's photos

 *YouTube Movies

DAY15: Carrion de los Condes to San Nicolas del Real Camino

Left Carrion de los Condes at 7:15am.

No hard hills today. Mostly flat with gravel road.

As summer is drawing near, I'd like to go as far as possible in the morning when it's cool.

Short day 32.9km. Finished at Albergue in San Nicolas del Real Camino.

Italian lady Daniela is the owner, very kind and friendly.

We talked about Ohenro, Japanese pilgrimage of Shikoku Island.

Three pilgrims I met along the way came and stayed with me.

We had great Italian dinner.

*Today's photos

*YouTube Movies

DAY14 Castroheliz to Carrion de los Condes

　The 12th day on Camino de Satiago.I left Castroheliz at 6:45.
　As soon as I started, there was a 1050m peak. 12 percent grade hill. Not bad. 　Easier than the hills of the Pyrenees.
　Took me about 20 minutes to the peak. But the downhill was 18 percent, much 　steeper.
　Once I slipped down, I may have pulled by buggy. 
　The latter half was mostly flat but boring enough to get sleepy.
　I had a bit rain but not so much.
　Followed the regular route 46.6km.
　It seems like I covered the half of Camino de Santiago.

　*Today's photos
　*YouTube Movies

DAY13 Burgos to Castroheliz

 Enjoyed free breakfast at hostel. Late start at 7:40.

I had 3 steep downhills. Once I slip down, I may have fallen down to the end of the road.

Except them, the road was almost flat. Easy 41km to Castroheliz, most of which are gravel road.

When I was a kid, most of the roads were unpaved. So when it rained there were puddles here and there. When the sun kept shining, the road was dry and dusty.

But as people started to drive cars, there were more paved roads.

I guess now the cause of abnormal weather is paved roads and air conditioners.

At 3:30 I finished at Castroheliz. Not so tough and hard today.

I enjoyed dinner of bibim-bap(Korean mixed rice).

I'm glad the land is almost flat with no bumps and rocks.

*Today's photo album

*YouTube Movies 

DAY12 Villafranca to Burgos

 

Left hostel at 6:45. Jelly from Ireland talked to me. He gave me a boiled egg and when we shook hands he gave me 10 euro bill.

Now he is walking Camino for the 4th time. He's 67 years old. 

After leaving Vilafranca, I had to climb up hills. There was a peak about 1100m elevation.

Misty morning but it started to rain while I was walking on a trail.

Tough and hard trail again. Trail turned into the sea of rocks!

Bumpy, rocky and it looked like a rockclimbing with buggy!!

How many times do I have to go through such a hard trail???

An Italian guy Imanuel appeared and helped me push my buggy. 

At the peak I saw the city of Burgos. Looked like a big city.

Went down the hill but it's still 10km away to the city center.

City is always crowded with cars and people. So many shops and stores.

I checked in at a hostel at 3pm. 38.5km today.

*Today's photo

*YouTube Movies

 

DAY10 & DAY11

 *DAY10 Navarrete to Santo Domingo

Late start at 8:20. It was cool but sunshine is a bit hot. 

There was another bumpy & rocky trail again. But it was a short distance.

Unfortunately I hit on a freeway keeping going but patrol car stopped in front of me.

I got out of it at the next ramp. I'll never do it again!

At 4pm I checked in at a hostel in Santo Doming.

It was on the 3rd floor of the building. Elevator was too small for my buggy. So I had to fold it and carry my luggage one by one.

*DAY11 Santo Domingo to Villafranca

In the morning 12 degrees. 24 during the day. Not bad.

I followed the regular route of the Camino.

All gravel road with lots of ups & downs as usual.

Passed some small towns. Local people are all friendly. When I say "Hola!" they reply and say "Buen Camino!" which gives me a power and energy to go on.

Photo Albums

Day10

Day11

YouTube Movies

DAY8 & DAY9

*Day8 :Cirauqui-Sansol

It was a hot day. Temperature rose up to 27 degrees. It's nice to stay under the shades of trees. But it's sometimes dangerous to stay under the sun even for 20 minutes.

The scenery looked almost the same for a couple of days. Wheat field and vineyard.

Some hills made me stronger. I'm slow at climbing but fast at downhills.

Followed mostly a bike route. Sometimes I enter ordinary Camino.

After 4PM I finally arrived at Albergue in Sansol. Today's distance 46.6km which was a bit more than I had expected. It was because of course loss.

I ordered dinner. The owner cooked us paella. We 11 pilgrims ate together.

What a gorgeous dinner! I ate too much.

I've seen mosquitos flying for the first time in Spain!

*Day9: Sansol to Navarrete

It was 12 degrees in the morning. But the temperature rose up to 30 degrees this afternoon.

The sun was hot but the shades of the trees were cool enough. Summer has come. I need to coexist with the heat.

Followed mainly highway and sometimes follow ordinary Camino.

In Logrono, I enjoyed shopping at big supermarket for the first time in a week. 

Last time I was in Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Logrono is a big city. I was surprised to see a big like that all of a sudden after run or walking in the mountainous area.

At 3:30 I arreived at Alberugue in Navarrete. The owner was from Romania. He's very friendly and treated me a special lunch.

Washed clothes for the first time since I left Pamplona.

The sun was hot enough to dry all wet clothed within 30 minutes.

 

Photo Albums

Day8

Day9

*YouTube Movies

DAY7

 *DAY7: Pamplona to Cirauqui

Early start at 6;25. Pamplona was so quiet no one walked in the streets.

It's a big city, It takes time to get out of the city,

I found that the Pyrenees was over. There's no bumpy and rocky trails.

Gravel roads are OK but I prefer paved and smooth roads.

Today there were two passes elev. about 500m. As I followed N-1130 highway, I missed Perdon Pass which became famous for the movie "THE WAY."

It was a little surprise that I met a lady whom I had met at albergue in Pamplona. Kristy was her name. She's from Canada. She said this was the 2nd Camino. She did Portuguese Route in spring this year.

We had a dinner together. Isn't it nice to have a company? I like to share a peaceful moment with someone I meet along the way. It's the policy of PEACE RUN.

*Today's photos

See YouTube movies here

DAY2-DAY6

 *Saint Jean Pied de Port-Pamplona(June 9-14)

First day, I followed Napoleon Route until 15km point (elev. about 1200m). But the route was so bumpy with rocks. So I took detour to Arneguy, then finish in Valcarlos. I ran 33km but it was just 11km from Saint Jean Pied de Port. It was raining from time to time. Detour route was very narrow long and winding road. When I found a public hostel(Auberge), I made up my mind to stop there.

The 2nd day I followed Route N135 till Zubiri, 42.5km from Valcarlos. Partly I walked Camino de Santiago. It's a rough trail with rocks. It's not a route for bicycles, not for my buggy either. But I made it.

The 3rd day, I followed N135 and partly Camino de Santiago. I'd like to run on paved road as much as possible. Just 18km to Pamplona. It was nice to follow a quiet path along the Arga River.

Checked in at a hostel in the city center.  Spending some days in farming area, it was kind of surprise to see a big city like this. 

Still a long way to go till I get to Santiago de Compostella. I'll take my time.

See photo albums...

Day4 Saint Jean Pied de Port to Valcarlos

Day5 Valcarlos-Zubiri

Day6 Zubiri-Pamplona

*See also YouTube Movies

 

DAYOFF in Saint Jean Pied de Port

Off Days in Saint Jean Pied de Port

Spent 2 days at hostel in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Enjoyed walking around the village.

I knew this is designated as the most beautiful village in France.

Visited Pilgrim Information Office and got Credential (passport for pilgrims)and scallop(the symbol of Camino de Santiago).

I will follow Napoleon's Route. The first day will be tough and hard route with crossing the Pyrenee. Hill climb is waiting for me.

So many people come around this village to walk Camino.

I'm looking forward to reaching Santiago de Compostella!!

  

DAY1

 Day1：Biarritz Airport to San Jean Pied De Port　June 9

Arrived at Biarritz Airport but no good news. Lost baggage! My buggy may still be at airport in Paris!?

This is God's trial for me. I need to keep calm and stay positive.

I had no idea where to stay that night. Anyway I got to get food and water.

Carrying heavy bags(about 20kg) and walked to city center.

Bought some food and water and I came across a nice park nearby.

I pitched my tent at 9pm. The sun sets around 10pm. 

Next day I got back to the airport. My buggy must be in Paris but nobody knows when it will get to Biarritz.

I waited and waited at lobby to check 2 flights from Paris. One is at 10:25, the next one at 14:05. But my buggy didn't arrive.

I decided to stay at a hostel in Biarritz. And if it doesn't come today, I'll move to San Jean Pied de Port tomorrow.

Walked 2km to get to Garden Utopy Hostel. 2km made me feel much longer with heavy baggage on my shoulders.

On June 9th, when I woke up to see an email from AIR FRANCE.

It said my buggy arrived at Biarritz Airport by the last flight on June 8th!!

That's what I've been looking forward to hearing!!!

On Sunday morning, I walked to the airport again which I hoped the last time.

John who works at Information Counter had taken care of me as for lost baggage.

He gave me some advice as for what to do until I got my buggy.

ANyway, I started running my PEACE RUN again.

53km to San Jean Pied de Port in the rain.

It was Sunday no shops open. I kept running earnestly.

I drank 2 liter water. At 43km point my water bottle got empty.

It was not so hot. I was OK but I got extremely tired.

At 7:30, I arrived at Gite Compostella Hostel. 

I will spend 3 days here to get ready for Camino which starts on Wednesday.

Photo Album

#1 From KIX to Haneda

#2 Paris to Biarritz

#3 Biarritz to San Jean Pied de Port

 

On The Road Again

 *On The Road Again*

It's time to go back on the road again.

Finally my time has come!

On June 6, I'll restart my trek PEACE RUN 2024 Western Europe.

See the details here.

This time I'll follow Camino de Santiago.

See the map below as for my route. 

I run outside Japan for the first time in 8 years.

I wonder if I know how to travel...lol

*PEACE RUN Official Site

*KAY'S WORLD