June 23 - Foncebadon to Molinesca Well this is it. The walk to Cruz de Ferro - a simple iron cross atop a weathered pole - people for centuries have been leaving stones or other tokens of love, remembrance, blessing or all of the above at the base of the pole - I would estimate the mound is 15 feet high at the top extending out over 30 feet all the way round. The mound is huge - I will be making it bigger and my pack lighter at the same time. I have carried three small stones from Canada - one from my family plot in remembrance of my ancestors and specifically my grandmother, dad and brother David. The other two stones are form China - a good friend - Barry asked me to place ... read more

June 21st - Leon to Astorga and walk to Santa Catalina I force myself out of bed and head down for a buffet breakfast in the hostel. I call a cab and head down to the bus station - only a 20 minute walk but I want to save my feet for the Camino. The bus ride is only about an hour. I get to Astorga and I am off. It feels great to be back on the trail again. Within the first 5km I meet Dennis and Shirley from Vancouver. We walk and talk together for awhile and then they forge ahead - I indicate I will be staying in Santa Catalina when I get there they are waiting and we get a bunk room together - also meet Bernd from Germany - he and ... read more

June 17 - Najera to Santa Domingo We had a decent night sleep. Tanya is still not feeling great and decides to bus ahead. I am stubborn and want to walk - I did get marching orders from the nurse - actually he did not tell me not to walk which I took as an ok. I decide I am going to walk the entire stage today alone. I need to prove to myself I can do it, do it alone and I need to show my feet who is the boss! As my guide book says - this stage is 70% on wonderful wide country tracks passing through remote and gently undulating farmland with little shade and few water fonts - there is also a warning not to follow old way marks - I am ... read more

June 15 - Longrono to Navarette Another sleepless night - as we feared the revellers (as in the other major cities) partied in the streets - the kids seem to feed off each other and of course alcohol - the later it gets the louder they get and inevitably the loud anthem type singing starts - this stopped at 5:30 in the morning. It is obvious the local police do not even attempt to intervene. I am sure the exhausted partiers then went back to their respective accommodations to rest up for more of the same tonight. We unfortunately do dot have this luxury and have to be out of the hostel and on our way. Today we will only walk 13 km to Navarette. Most,of the walk is alongside a busy main road we stop ... read more

June 13 - Los Arcos to Viana We woke up @ about 6am and met Mark and Debbie outside our hostel @ 6:30. At this point my feet are In fairly bad shape - Tanya has re-lanced my baby toes - and I have taped them for today's walk. They are warning me not to move - we decided to taxi on our backpacks today to save some of the pounding on our feet - I carry a waist pack to hold valuables, sun tan lotion and water - I indicate to Mark and Debbie that they should keep their pace and forge on and that we would meet them in Viana but they would not hear of it. The walk will only be about 19km today but again with very little shade and some short ... read more