Begonia D - Bushwalker

BegoniaD

Begonia D - Bushwalker

Hi, my name is Begonia, I started this blog so I can keep my friends and other interested people upto date with my latest adventure walking trip.
My latest plan is to walk to Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Frances route. Why don't you join me on my journey across four mountain ranges begining in France, across northern Spaint to the end of the world. Share the joys, adventure, culture, flora, fauna and ancient midevil towns.
TO ALL MY FRIENDS, It will be great if you can all PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH.
I love walking becasue is soothes me and makes me feel alive. Being able to experience the environment and native animals gives me great pleasure, especiali when I can photograph them. I took up bushwalking about 10 years ago since we live near the Mt Lofty ranges in South Australia. These days I dream of walking in many interesting areas around the world.
MAKE SOME COMMENTS TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE OR DON'T LIKE ABOUT MY ENTRIES ON THIS BLOG.

Pilgrim Certificate or Compostela

Europe » Spain » Galicia » Santiago de Compostela July 8th 2009

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BegoniaD

After Walking about 1,00okm including detours I received my Compostela. My second so far! In ancient times pilgrims would get a Shell as a cirtificate to show they had walked the "Camino".... read more

Santiago de Compostela to Fisterra

Europe » Spain » Galicia » Santiago de Compostela July 7th 2009

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BegoniaD

Santiago de Compostela to Fisterra The next day my friends went to Fisterra by bus and I needed to see a Doctor about my feet pain. After getting a bus to the hospital and getting some medication, I was walking up the street trying to get a bus back. I met Saleta Sanchez Ponte, my saviour in Santiago. She walked back with me and showed me a short cut to my Hostal, then she gave me a key to one of her empty flats so I could rest my weary feet for as long as I needed to. We dinned together and later she took me on a tour of her city (old historical areas) and we had a lot of fun. Saleta showed me ‘The Three Marias’ statues (now only two left). These ladies were ... read more

Sarria to Santiago de Compostela: 140.5km (Total 919.9km) Days 39 to 43

Europe » Spain » Galicia » Santiago de Compostela July 5th 2009

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BegoniaD

Sarria to Santiago de Compostela: 140.5km (Total 919.9km) Days 39 to 43 On the outskirts of Samos is when I met up with Mary Bell from Salamaca whose family breed cattle. She was 35 years old and worked as a private police officer within the ‘Terrorist of the Middle East’ projects. Ma-Bell came with two other girlfriends but has separated as they are too slow, but all meet up at the end of the day. We seemed to get along well enough and ended walking all the way to Santiago, having much fun along the way. Leaving Sarria in the dawn light, we pass Monasterio da Madalena shining brightly against the dawn blue light. The day was excellent, walking in the cool day through tranquil woodlands. Helped Maribel with some pain relieve cream for her shoulders ... read more

El Acebo to Sarria: 141km (Total 779.5km) Days 34 to 38

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » León June 30th 2009

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BegoniaD

El Acebo to Sarria: 141km (Total 779.5km) Days 34 to 38 The trail was steep and rocky descending towards Puente. Just before arriving to Molinaseca, an old local man sat in the shade of a tree offering a straw bed for weary pilgrims with sore legs - he offered leg massages. Meruelo River as one enters Molinaseca, local farmers tended to their fresh produce by the rivers ledge. Stopped and relaxed in Casa Marcos coffee shop where they served Santiago Cake with your coffee, it was delicious. There was an abundance of flora and fauna along the trails, also a lot of vineyards on outskirts of Ponferrada. My detour via Campos took me by the ancient Roman water cistern Fuente Romano, build as a clean source of drinking water near the River Bueza and later a ... read more

Leon to El Acebo: 110.3km (Total 637.8km) Days 29 to 33

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » León June 26th 2009

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BegoniaD

Leon to El Acebo: 110.3km (Total 637.8km) Days 29 to 33 Along the trail I met a young couple who had been travelling around for 2 years and were from Renmark in South Australia. They had some time left and thought, why not the ‘Camino’ walk. It so happens Greg knew the son of one of my best friends. The world is so small these days. It is amazing! We kept meeting each other along the trail for the rest of the Camino. Well, due to my continuing feet issue, I decided to only walk 8-10km today so stopped in Virgen del Camino at about 9am. The Albergue would not open for many hours and I felt good. Also a local girl at an information booth stated there was an Albergue about 5-6km along the trail, ... read more

Carrion de los Condes to Leon: 112.9 (Total 545km) Days 24 to28

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » León June 21st 2009

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BegoniaD

Carrion de los Condes to Leon: 112.9 (Total 545km) Days 24 to28 The first day on my very own, it felt strange and my mind wandered a lot in search of those elusive questions. First I tried to see a doctor but the clinic was closed so I continued walking. The heel and foot pain was now constant but eased as the day wore on. The walking along the mesata was difficult, the Calzada Romana or ‘shoed’ trails (roman laid stone roads) stretched for about 14km amongst the fertile lands full of wheat, corn, potatoes, peas capsicums and colourful wild flowers. To finally reach Calzadilla de la Cueza with its welcoming cool and inviting swimming pool - here I soaked my very aching feet and swam in the cool waters - it felt like paradise, ... read more

Burgos to Carrion de Los Condes: 87.2km (Total 432.1km) Days 20 to 23

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos June 19th 2009

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BegoniaD

From Burgos it was farewell to my friend from here. I will be walking on my own from now on. So on wards westwards, one foot at a time. I had 4 days rest for travelling to Madrid and returning to Burgos 19th June 2009 with two cousins who walked with me for a few days. It took most of the day to drive to Burgos, arriving at the albergue at 1020pm (closed at 1030). The hospitalero let us in stating we were taking the last couple of beds, but in fact there were more than 10 beds still available. Due to very noisy celebrations, sleep was difficult. Burgos to Carrion de Los Condes: 87.2km (Total 432.1km) Days 20 to 23 Leaving Burgos, we came across literally full streets of discarded rubbish everywhere from the celebrations ... read more

Burgos - Day 19

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos June 9th 2009

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BegoniaD

Spent a whole day in Burgos, the city with one of the most beautiful cathedral in Spain, spent over 4 hours within its walls. Burgos Cathedral or Cathedral de Santa Maria was built in the 13th century and combines many different architectural styles applied over the centuries. My favourite style is the Gothic sections with the gargoyles. The tall spires are a delight to look up at and the surrounding medieval streets are just full of life. The famous El Sid and his wife are buried directly underneath the huge star lantern at the heart of the cathedral. Also known as Count Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, born in 1040, he was a Muslim. ... read more

Redecillo del Camino to Burgos - Day 15-19 (355km)

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos June 9th 2009

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BegoniaD

Well it’s been a while since I have had internet availability so will be quick today also, I have been meeting a lot of locals along the towns and all are very friendly. In Redecillo, that night we had a very severe storm with hail stones. My friend called it a ¨hail Mary¨. Belorrado was a lovely town and the walking amongst the beautiful tracks with clouded skies was special. I got a happy birthday candle stuck on an apple on the 6th of June for my birthday, it was a nice thought and the apple was crunchy too. At a town called Tosantos the Albergue was run a Spanish man who lived in the old wooden and mud house that had recently been renovated. The was an ancient pilgrim hospital in midlevel times. It was ... read more

Logrono to Redecilla del Camino - Day 12-16 (282km)

Europe » Spain » La Rioja June 5th 2009

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BegoniaD

I have been walking for several days since I last wrote. Have enjoyed wonderful mild weather and met so many lovely people along the the trail as well as so many helpfull and gentle locals from people stopping to chat from the fiels to any one you for assistance or directions. A highlight was meeting Felicias Daughter Maria, a lady who welcomed pilgrims for over 20 years just before entering entering Logroño and now since she died her daughter does the deed and supplies coffee and toas plus a stamp on your credential for a donation. Her house is quaint and colourfull with lots of flowers. I soaked my aching feet in a water fountain within our albergue patio and met by chance a few walking members from the Badajoz club I walked with back in ... read more

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