6 October 2015, Tuesday Triacastela to Sarria, Stage 31, GPS: No data as watch died and operator error after recharging. Fitbit: Steps: 29149, Stairs:101, Miles: 12.73 We have a buffet breakfast associated with the albergue, several doors down street. It is a full breakfast and delicious. Complexo Xacobeo is a place to remember. Xacobeo is the Galician word for Jacobeo which translates into James. So the Way of St James and the Camino de Santiago are terms used interchangeable through out. We don our rain gear and are out the door a little after nine. We walk to the end of the Main Street and turn right toward the San Xil route. I would have so enjoyed the other, longer route to the Samos Monastery but the weather is iffy and it adds six kilometers to ... read more

4 October 2015, Stage 29, Sunday Valcarce to O'Cebreiero. GPS: 13.17 miles From Hotel Valcarce to Meson Anton Fitbit: Miles: 10.9, Steps: 25.058, Stairs: 290 As forecast we awake to rain. Bags down by 0800 was a bit of a challenge since decisions on what to wear for warmth and dryness delayed packing. But we managed and had breakfast in restaurant. For a truck stop all was very good. Karen thought eggs, ham, tomatoes, and tortilla was way too much food. So we gave half our tomatoes to a couple from Eugene, Oregon. She is/was a Doctor and they lived in SE Portland. Karen has on rain pants and we are both wearing rain coats then our backpacks with ponchos over everything. We are along the highway, climbing gradually, until Herrerias. The rain reduces visibility of ... read more

1 October 2015, Thursday. Stage 27. A cold 40 degrees as we start our walk from Molinaseca. GPS: 21.65 miles. 10 hours from start at La Posada de Muriel to end at Paradores Villafranca del Bierzo. 8 hours 21 minutes moving. Our longest day of walking! Fitbit: 20.3 miles, 46,476 steps, 117 floors. Today and yesterday were two very tough days. The ups and downs from Rabanal to Molinaseca on rocky mule path and the very long day with several up hill climbs to Villafranca have taken a toll and we are welcoming our rest day; especially our feet and toes. From our cozy room at La Posada de Muriel on the edge of town in Molinaseca we are soon off and on the Camino. Looking back at the last plaza in town we see a ... read more

29 September 2015, Tuesday, Stage 25, Astorga to Rabanal del Camino GPS: 13.14 miles, 4 hours 35 minutes moving, 5 hours 45 minutes from hotel to albergue Nuestra Senora del Pilar. Fitbit: 14.13 miles, 32,337 steps, 101 stairs. Left in the dark at 0701 from Pousada Real Casa de Tepa and the night clerk had to let us out for breakfast downtown and back in. We arrived 1245 at Albergue in Rabanal del Camino. I have awakened about 4:00 and finally get up an hour later. We go down near San Francisco Square for coffee con leche, orange juice and a croissant. We again miss the two little characters, dressed in Maragato costume, that parade around in a little circle on the clock at the top of city hall! We swing by, on the camino, the ... read more

27 September 2015, Sunday. Stage 23, Leon to Villar de Mazarife (we are now two stages behind Brierley who is at 21) GPS: 13.72 miles, 4hours 55 minutes moving and 6 hours and 45 minutes from start at Hotel Luis Leon to Albergue San Antonio de Padua end of walking day. Fitbit: 13.41 miles, steps 30,689, stairs 52. Breakfast is not until 0800 on weekend at the hotel so we do not plan on an early start. It is further delayed by our trying to get blog on Barcelona out. We agree to disagree. see early posts. Yesterday we had scoped out the most direct route to Plaza San Marcos and the Parador. It is about a mile from our hotel. The 10 am morning is cool and refreshing as we walk through the nearly deserted ... read more