Me again-wow,two posts in one day!!

Marianne, forgot to tell you your pack did not make it on the camino-when I went to the local hiking store to have it properly fit he said it was too short in the torso and not big enough in the hips, so I bought a 50L Ospey to fit, luckily it was on sale!! And update on my dreaded ¨B´s: happy to report they are comfortably nestled in Compeed and are not painful :)
Najera in a town along the banks of a beautiful river where I had lunch today sitting on the grassy area- Lizx it is the town where you saw a ¨creepy man¨at 4am.inthe alberque - I am staying at a new private Alberque (10 euros) where I hope to meet no creepy men.
The weather continues to be gorgeous. Today it was cool with a gentle breeze- the 10 miles flew by! Tomorrow is another 9-10 mile day to a town called Ciruena where I have already made reservations- thought it was a good idea because where I´m staying tonight was full a short time after I arrived. Today I saw lots of pilgrims and a group of 30 or so school children. I also met a Romanian medical student who spoke perfect English. We both were sitting on the same rock with our boots off letting or toes air out.

Hola......

I´m having breakfast as I post in Navarette. I throughtly enjoyed a day of rest. After walking 10 days and covering 80 miles /140 km(if you count the miles getting lost in Pamplona, Estella and Logrono- all big cities!) , and my feet DO count them!!

The day after I walked 12 miles my legs felt weak and tired, but are now rejuvenated after a day of rest.

The strikes in Spain haven´t affected me since my mode of transportation is my feet!!!! Today I do 10 miles into Najera. The weather continues ideal, no rain since that horrid day climbing and descending the windturbines outside Pamplona.

Marianne, I didn´t notice the sport shop as I left Logrono, but there were lots of people walking and biking the park trails as you leave the city.

A typical day on the Camino:

Wake up- naturally or by the lights being turned on or the rusting of stuff as others prepare to leave.

Wait in line to use the toilet if in a busy Alburque.

Dress- or not if you wore the clothes you will walk in to bed. Note- if you happened to be in an Alburque that hadn´t turned on the heat and it was freezing- remove extra clothes, hat, gloves , jacket and whatever else you put on to stay warm as you slept.

Breakfast- if you can find a cafe open.

Strap on the pack- I swear it gets heavier with each day.

Put one foot in front of the other and repeat until you are hungary, thirsty, need to remove a layer of clothing as it warms up,adjust your pack, blow your nose,drink some water, find a descrete place to pee,take a photo, refer to the map or just want to stop and soak up your surroundings!!

After you reach your destination- wash any clothing that needs it ( really I don´t know why I do this- it only gets stinky again after a few hrs.), take a siesta and then go in search for food- the ¨pilgrim´s menu¨ is available in alot of the cafes andrestaurants and for 8-10 euros you get vino, first course( pasta, soup or salad), second course( beef, pork, chicken or fish with potatoes and vegs. and then some dessert ( flan, tapioca pudding or ice cream).

Lay you weary body down and then wake up and repeat!!
In Logrono I decided to score some euros and found a large bank with an inside ATM so I went in and 30 mins later walked out frustrated and with no euros. Even with the help of a nice employee who spoke perfect english non of my cards would work. Then 10 ft later I saw a "hole-in-the-wall" ATM and figured what the heck, I´ll give it a try and 10 seconds later I had euros in my pocket and a smile on my face.
Love, Francesca

LO

in navarette

fran wrote a text.' after ten days of walking i am enjoying a day off in navarette. took two naps.

Francesca is in Logrono

At the F&G!!!! For those wondering, that's a stop from our trip four years ago. She did TWELVE miles today....awesome. She said that someone hacked into her google acct for LOS so has to text til she straightens it out. Says "I am good especially after a bubble bath!!" She is carrying on tradition with the stay at F&G....guess that means you are next, Goat and Liz!!
Love to all

Several short days....

Made the decision yesterday that I like doing short days (6-8miles) and not taking a full day off.
Today I walked into Torres del Rio from Los Arcos and am at a tiny alburque where no English is spoke. I arrived with my supper in a bag-I stopped at the market at entrance to town and bought a can of tuna, small bag of pasta, two carrots, one tomatoe and a can of white beans. There is a cucina here so I create majic in it- I´ll take a pic of my masterpiece!
Today I walked with Leah, a young gal from London who plays the medieval harp in an orchestra!
Interesting gal- the miles flew by as we chatted . She walks my pace because she has been having knee and blister issues- and if the truth be told she is not alone. I have a small blister on my middle toe- it is intact and I have surrounded it with mole skin. Updates to follow Vinny!!!
It was my eighth day of walking and have covered around 90 kms (sounds so much more impressive than 50ish miles). Haven't decided where to spend Easter- infact the entire Holy Week is very busy on the Camino and I need to make reservations at private albuergues or Hotels soon- I'll work on that after lunch and a siesta.
Tommorow is Viana or Logrono- there are some steep descents and I'll decide how my body is doing.
Love ya, Francesca

Pictures to prove it.....

A local farmer surveying his grape vines on horseback.

Typical albergue beds.

There is a gorgeous church in every city and village.

Typical bar breakfast.

Spring has arrived here too.

Not mine- the poor foot of the Irish man who had to return home after only three days walking:(

There are rumors circulating that I am on the beaches of Barcelona eating sea bass and watching my toenails grow. To squelch these false accusations I will now give you a visual of my first week on the Camino Frances:

Enjoy!!!!! OOOOXXX Francesca

It pays to look in all directions!!!!!

Sunday:To my surprise and delight I spied a computer tucked away in a corner of the bar in the little hillside village of Villamayor. I had just consumed my supper (in honor of Rosie) three cervezes and a bag of chips (I had a huge bocadillo and insalada mista at 2pm) and was paying my bill when I saw it!!
First I´ll catch you up on the last few days:I left Puente la Riena and on a gorgeous day walked to Lorca where a kind alberque owner opened for a weary perigrino ,the sign said it was closed but when I called the phone # she arrived in a minute on her bicycle and opened!
I´m sticking to my plan of 5-8 miles a day the first week- I could do 10-12 if it wasn´t for the 20 lb pack I´m carrying and the hills that are never ending. The countryside is as gorgeous as I remember. Spring is in full bloom and so far the only rain was the day I walked up to the windturbines. To quote Mr. Rogers "It´s a beautifuñ day in the neighborhood..."
In Lorca I enjoyed a 2euro dinner-cooked in the alburque cucina- duos juevos, yogurt with banana and a small baguette. Slept like a baby in a room with beds for 16 and I was the only snoring!!!!
Saturday I walked to Estella where I stayed in a municipal , donativo albuergue and helped prepare a communal meal shared by 6 other perigrinos - soup , pasta with vegetables, salad ,pane and lots of vino. The city was not as vibrant as I remembered it- lots of closed shops and signs of a poor economy. I really prefer the small villages.
Sunday: I walked 7 miles to Villamayor where I am splurging and staying in a Casa Rural (both alburgues were closed). I have a bedroom with linen on the bed, lots of towels, a hot shower and a kitchen, living room with tv and even a wood burning small fireplace- it will be hard to leave in the morning.
It is 8pm (Note- Europe moved ahead an hour last night, so the time difference is 7hrs. central) and I have spent the last two hours sipping my cervezes in the town square watching all the locals enjoy the evening- the children are riding bikes, playing ball and just running and chasing each other- something we don´t see enough of in the States.
I love reading the comments- thanks for all the encouraging words. You are all in my thoughts as I take this journey.
Love, Francesca

Francesca again......

Just finished supper and no one was on the "free" internet, so thought I would blog again and share with you some of the fellow pilgrims I have met along The Way:
The school children in Pamplona that Liz mentioned were delightful. I was strolling thru a city park and a kid came up to me and said"Are you a peregrino?" Soon the entire group of kids (probably 8 or 9 yrs old) surrrounded me and when I asked if they studied English in school they all responded in unison "yes". We talked for several minutes in English (to the delight of the teachers) and they all were so excited to practice their English skills. I was a special moment.

Lawrence, the Irish man who I met in Cizur Minor at the Albergue where he was having his massive blister (from the base of his toes to his heel- Vince I have a picture for you!) tended to by the resident "Blister Barista". He was heading back to Ireland the next day with a heavy heart, but said he will return in the fall to complete his camino.

The "young-uns" who hook-up and go with the flow! The group at the albergue tonight have a guitar and as one put it "we walk from bar to bar".

The chiropractor who was "a-hands-on-guy". I politely said "no thank you" after I saw him lift a girl two feet off the ground as he adjusted her spine. He would have needed an adjustment if he did that to me!!

Jean from NYC who 2 weeks ago decided she was going to do the Camino- went out and bought a pair of boots and all the equipement she needed and is doing it!

JoJo- my pack weighs 20 lbs, and I am a prolific journal keeper !!

I·

Francesca here......

Success at last!! I,ve been walking three days and my feet,body and spirit remain strong and intact. Hoping to get pics loaded, but I am not tech savy, so be patient.
Quick look at my days in Spain: Arrived on Monday and discovered it was a holiday,St. Joseph-also known as Fathers Day which is celebrated only every other year- only in Spain! Everything was closed when I arrived in Pamplona so I drowned my sorrow at a VERY pricey restaurant,the only one open and I was starving. Side note- any Waterloo folk recognize the name Connie Cole whose husband is a retired general and they return to Waterloo often to help with the freedom flights. They both went to West and graduated in the early 60s- small world- they were on the state side leg of my flight.
The highlight of my walking so far was going up and down to thej windturbines outside Pamplona in a heavy rain- I literally had 10 lbs of mud on my boots !! Today was a beautiful Spring day and the next couple of days are forcast to be the same. I am covering 6-10 miles per day and am meeting lots of pilgrims who are all enjoying the camino and what it brings to you.
I will continue to listen to my body, heart and mind and take each day as it comes. "Feet fast,legs strong,Ican do this all day long".
Love, Francesca

fran update

Fran called rosie and she is there on the camino. She's doing great! it was some holiday there so alot of things were closed. The highlight of her day was some school children were on the trail and fran asked them do you speak english and in unison she heard "yes". So she was able to converse with them. She was in Pamplona. I don't think she is able to blog at this time. I will keep posting it I hear anything. Fran love you , I am so excited for you that you are doing the camino.

drinking beer training

the pilgrims who walked with me on the camino in 2008 will understand this training if me and rose are to have that 1 week of shopping. How was the flight fran. thinking of you there in gorgeous spain.

Guess What Fran?

Take good notes cause I'm still going in September!!!!! WITH LIZ!!!!!!!! We plan on doing it in 4 weeks and SHOPPING for 1 week!

We will be thinking of you everyday while your gone. BUEN CAMINO!!!!!!!

Ready-Set-Goooooo !

I'm officially ready for my walk across Spain- "Stop Whining, Yukon Do It" polish is on my blister-free feet! Thanks for all the support and encouragement. I'll text when I have posted a new blog.

Having a St. Patrick's day party with family and friends tomorrow night and then I'm off to the airport early Sun. morning and arrive in Madrid early Mon, morning :)

you can do it

How exciting to be on this journey again. I will be thinking of you and checking out the blog often . My prayers go with you while you walk that gorgeous countryside of spain. Love you ! Sorry I didn't get any notes sent to you, so I will use this blog to send you notes during your journey. You look in amazing shape, way to go, and such a sweet training team you had in missouri and arizonia.
Love, Liz

OMG It's almost time already!!!!

Fran, I can hardly believe that it's time already!!! Wishing you a blessed and wonderful journey. I will be with you in thought and spirit (scheduled a foot surgery yesterday, so obviously not in the flesh!!). Looking forward to vicariously joining you. I will be anxiously looking for posts and blogs.
Love ya lots, Mariann

on sept.5 2008

when we were in spain on sept. 5 the note we read on that day was from joe he said "when you feel someone walking beside you, say "Hi" to Mom, Dad, Nick, Neda and Pete.
Love you Fran.

I figured it out!!!!!!!

This is the MKT trail where I do the majority of my walking.

Taken with my new phone and uploaded without a hitch- let's hope the computers in Spain are as accomodating :)

Phone/Photo Update.................

Rose- remember how we struggled with uploading pics for the blog in Spain- well I think I've come up with an easier option which also includes a cheaper phone . I bought a GMS unlocked phone with dual-SIM card slots and an SD chip for tranfering photos to computer-my plan is to take 1-2 photos a day with my phone and when I want to upload a pic to blog I only have to download a few photos instead of hundreds- (the phone was $70 on Amazon and the micro chip $9 at Wall M). For $10/mth I purchased an international text package from my phone provider (AT&T)- it allowes 50 outgoing texts and unlimited incoming texts a month- my AT&T sim card went into one of the SIM slots, and when I arrive in Spain, I'll purchase a preloaded Spanish card, for 2nd Sim slot, to use for making reservations and any phone calls I need or want to make(includes great rates for calling US).
Wow-I sound like a true techi-Not! Had alot of help from a very knowledgable gal at AT&T.
Plan for my trek across Spain is to keep phone off most of time and each day before I start my walking(midnight in US) I'll check for any imp. texts and then again when I finish my walking for each day I'll do a group text to give you my status- so make sure I have your cell phone # if you want to recieve them :)
Rose-I'll pass on my phone if all goes as planned!
PS I'm still trying to figure out how to transfer photos on my computer with the SD chip- any suggestions Tech Mama?

You Go Girl!

Lookin good. I'm pulling for you all the way. You can do it. xo
P.S. I looked for some reference to what we called the notes Joe gave us last time but I can't find anything. Marian/Liz.....what did we say when it was time to get into the plastic bag to pull out one of Joe's notes? I found a picture of Liz doing it but that's it.

I'm getting excited for our walking reading about your preparations, Fran.  I think I'm ready to start exploring the websites mom found about a gluten free Camino experience.  Make sure you take great notes for us.  We'll need all the help we can get going on our own. :D  I look forward to lots of updates.