2 Blogs in 1

 Karen & Guy have gone ahead to Sarria to crawl the last 100k to Santiago!!  Saw a doc in Astorga and now we both have diagnosed  tendinitis.  So armed with new hiking sandals we hope to do around 4 to 5 miles a day with a minimum amount of pain. Happily the down time has allowed us lots of time to enjoy the villages , the churches and museums. 
Let us not forget the food and yummy wine and of course the gin and tonics .  St James has thrown all he has at us but we refuse to have our spirit broken.!!  Even though my black eye has elicited several blessings from passing padres , we are beginning to wonder exactly how long the special prayers last.  So far 5 days seems to be the max.   Buen camino!  K & G

Hi everyone, Phil and Mikki here, we are on our way out of Leon. A great ciudad, but glad to get back to the smaller pueblos. Have been lucky for the last 2 nights, not knowing where we would be staying, but found nice accomodations at the only Bar/Restaurant/Hostal in towns.
A few nights ago we checked into an Albuerge and we asked the front desk what time does your heat come on.   He said it is on.  We said no it is not, our room has to be in the 40's. He said turn your radiator to 5. We said we did. He said OH!  So you want an extra blanket?   We went to bed with all our clothes on. It saved time in the morning. Since the floor was stone, it was like an iceberg, but served as a refrigerator for our next day's yogurts, jamon and queso.

Not a lot of nice scenery yet, coming off the Meseta, but will be going over another snowy pass soon.

Picture is of our friend Steven, from Germany, who bought a new pair of shoes in Leon because of his blister problems. He said he expects big things from his new "Living Rooms".

And yes, that is a cup of melted milk chocolate that you dip your churros in, a very popular breakfast in Spain.
Phil & Mikki
   

Laying low in Leon

Hi All
While Phil and Mikki have been trudging along through rain, sleet and snow, 16 miles days, etc. We " K & G  have been riding the "red cross express" for the walking wounded.
Plagued with a face plant, subsequent back issues, tendinitis, blister, shin splints, out total mileage to date is a meager 175.5.
Phil and Mikki have passed 300!!
We have  other body parts flirting with failure, specifically knees and ankles.  We have made many new best friends among the walking wounded.   As we meet at the next bus stop, it's like old home week, and we brag about how few rest days we needed to heal to continue the walk.
(For those of a certain age, it is shocking to see that even the young are afflicted). 
Off from Leon on Thursday with a"see you soon" to our bus friends.
BIEN CAMINO
Karen and Guy

Half way there

Lunch with Emilio

Someone gave up the trek, ya think?

An early morning momentous passing

We reached the halfway point in our journey today at Terridillos de la los Templarios, a former stronghold of the Knights Templar. Stage 19 on the Camino Map.   Three days, at 16 plus  per day gets us to Leon and the end of the
MESETA!

Found a Bodega along our route, but no one answered. We assumed that it was siesta time. We are out of the well-known Rioja, but having some nice Verdejos (white wine) from the western Galica wine country.

A typical, early morning view, up here on the Meseta.
K&G.  P&M

Nearing 200

Have had some nice days with no rain and lots of color.   Have had some not so nice days with more rain and mud.   It rained all day and snowed in the higher elevations getting to Atapuerca, which is where the oldest living remains of human existence in Europe have been discovered, over 1 million years old.
Into Burgos tomorrow and the  infamous Meseta, which will complete 200 miles on our journey, and hopefully drier and warmer weather awaits.
K&G -P&M
Cannot keep pictures in the correct sequence when downloading to blog from smartphone. It seems to have a mind of its own.

Day 11

Left from Navarrette for  Najera this morning in the pouring rain, 20 mph head winds, 5 hours of 43 degrees and freah mud.  
Our inspiration was the different modes of transportation that we have seen so far.
Update for damage report:
We know now how to thread and drain a blister while on a trail.
We know the importance of icing an injury.  Gin and tonic does wonders.
K, G, P, &M

Nearing 100

After slogging our way up to the Alto del Perdon, we had to wait for the school field trip to vacate the premises for photo ops.  They got to ride the bus .

Mikki's miracle occured today ,  although the wine fountain  did not to work today.   Eek!  Who would have thought it would be closed on the Sabbath.

Damage Report nearing our first 100 miles.
3 blisters
1 head plant
1 controlled trip
1 aching shoulder
1 Questionable back
Hopefully bodies will adjust soon!

Tomorrow we complete 100 miles.  It will be a 2 bottles of wine day!!

Pamplona

Our encounter with an injured horse, having just bolted for freedom, almost trampling us pilgrims.  He did not respond to "stop  horsey, horsey."
After the horse incident, we learned sheep have the right - of - way.
Guy and Phil marking their territory.
Leaving Pamplona in the morning with rain and hills. Expecting more slippery MUD.  Off to Obanos tomorrow.  What were we thinking!  

Guy

Guy says"crossing the Pyrenees is a butt kicking trek!"
Karen says" upward. Slog!"
Phil. says"  We made it to Ibaneta (the summit), and we didn't end up like Javier!
Mikki says "the best part is vino at the end of day!"  How come Vino does not come out of the spigot?
On our way to Zubirra tomorrow.
G-K-P-M

Hi all. Off to a memorable start. Loss ratio : (1pole, 1 sunglasses)  recovery rate: 50 percent.  Credential in hand.  Weather sunny.  Valcarlos tomorrow.   Away we go!!