In Baena after 27km walk from Alcaudete.
This morning, after reading the guidebook which said that this section was badly waymarked because farmers plough all the pathways up, I decided to walk to Baena along the main road (N432) and not try to follow the Camino. This because it was a longish run and I didn´t fancy getting lost and wasting all my time wandering aimlessly around olive groves looking for non-existent yellow arrows (which I have already done twice so far) and also because the little toe on my right foot, which showed no problems when I was training (on roads mostly), has now become painful and bleeds a bit. I am overcoming this by airing my feet every 2 hours or so and changing to dry socks and putting a new dressing on. It seems to be doing the trick. TMI? Walk was boring apart from super views back to Alcaudete and of Luque Castle and the old Olive Oil Train at the Estacion de Luque. Walking was much faster than on the Camino even though I did head down the N432 the wrong way at the start!![More details and pictures on this section when I have more time].
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday 25 September
Left Granada on Thursday morning with the intention of walking the 18km to Pinos Puente and spending the night there. as I arrived at lunchtime and did not want to waste the rest of the day I decided to walk another 14km to Moclin. that's when things starte to go wrong. First I got lost and couldn't find the yellow arrows waymarking the route. then it started to rain. Fortunately I found the arrrows again and made my way to Olivares only 2km from Moclin. what the guide book did not say was that these last 2km aree almost vertical and it took nealy 2h to cover them in the rain. Fortunately I found a room in a casa rural in the village and after a shower slept for 12h. [more detail and pics to follow]
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
And They're Off ... !!
Just about to turn everything off, have a shower and walk into Talara to catch the bus to Granada.
Things haven't started too well though. I called the Convent in Granada to check they had a bed available for tonight but they said they don't put people up so I've booked into a hostal in Granada, close to the cathedral.
Having had that experience I thought I'd better call a few more places en route and have found nothing available in Alcala La Real as the town is en feria this weekend. There is a Roof and Floor in the Church so that looks like the only possibility.
Things haven't started too well though. I called the Convent in Granada to check they had a bed available for tonight but they said they don't put people up so I've booked into a hostal in Granada, close to the cathedral.
Having had that experience I thought I'd better call a few more places en route and have found nothing available in Alcala La Real as the town is en feria this weekend. There is a Roof and Floor in the Church so that looks like the only possibility.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Pilgrim Passport
This is the Credencial de Peregrino (Pilgrim Passport) that was issued to me by the Amigos del Camino in Granada. It confers on me the official status of pilgrim to Santiago. Every place I stop for the night along the way I have to get a sello (stamp) from a church, town hall, police station, tourist office or hotel which is signed and dated to prove I passed that way. When I get to Santiago I will present it for scrutiny to the cathedral officials who will then give me a compostela which is the certificate to prove I completed the pilgrimage.
The End of the Walk
Ruth and me practising for celebrating the end of The Walk in the Galician restaurant in Torremolinos last Saturday night. We started with Pimientos de Padron and then had Chipirrones en su Tinta con Arroz (squid in their own ink with rice) for the main course. Ruth had an almond cake and cream for dessert (Can't remember what it was called in Spanish) and I had Queso de Tetilla (little titty cheese) with Membrillo. Then a little brandy was drunk with the coffee. OK, 2 glasses.
From what we saw of the Chinese contingent and other diners the Chuleton de Buey looks very good! Maybe next time. Or maybe when we get to Galicia!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Your Donations to Cancer Research UK
On 13th July this year I opened a Just Giving Account to receive donations to Cancer Research UK in support of my walk from Granada to Santiago de Compostela.
To date I have received GBP1,610 in donations with pledges of another GBP350 or so, putting me well in reach of my revised target of GBP2,000.
I must say I have been overwhelmed and surprised by the response and generosity to this appeal which has come from all sorts of people: family, new and old friends, past colleagues, fellow students from school and university and from some whom I have only met in cyberspace. And from various nationalities too: Thai, Welsh, Indian, Peruvian, American, English, Israeli, Lebanese, Scots, Filipino, French, Latvian and Czech.
Although I have thanked you all personally for your individual donations I wanted to say here a big THANKYOU to you collectively. I know many of you make regular payments to other charities so I see your contributions to this appeal as personal support to me in undertaking the walk to Santiago.
Once again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Perry
To date I have received GBP1,610 in donations with pledges of another GBP350 or so, putting me well in reach of my revised target of GBP2,000.
I must say I have been overwhelmed and surprised by the response and generosity to this appeal which has come from all sorts of people: family, new and old friends, past colleagues, fellow students from school and university and from some whom I have only met in cyberspace. And from various nationalities too: Thai, Welsh, Indian, Peruvian, American, English, Israeli, Lebanese, Scots, Filipino, French, Latvian and Czech.
Although I have thanked you all personally for your individual donations I wanted to say here a big THANKYOU to you collectively. I know many of you make regular payments to other charities so I see your contributions to this appeal as personal support to me in undertaking the walk to Santiago.
Once again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Perry
Thursday, September 16, 2010
You can also follow my progress on Twitter. My Twitter address is at the top left of the blog front page under the header. It is @prees2401.
My tweets will not be available publicly but you can apply for me to give you access.
My tweets will not be available publicly but you can apply for me to give you access.
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