Treading lightly- Laredo to Isla

-

Feet are among the most important appendages for pilgrims-😂seriously- so I tread as lightly as I could today. 
Yesterday’s rain meant wet boots and soggy socks for most of the day and that’s not good.
Anyway the sun came back today and that was great, especially for leaving Laredo and walking its long beachfront.


Even spotted a dolphin or three 

At the end of the beach, there was an inlet crossing to organise. Sure enough a boat showed up- it saw us coming - it was like hailing a water taxi from a sand dune 

We made it - on and safely across 




Then the first climb - up and around the headland to the beach at Noja 


My feet were revolting by this point  because the ‘all around the headland’ thing meant climbing at times on all fours up up and clambering down down with pole in hand on narrow steep rocky paths - so it was absolutely fabulous to reach the beach, take off my boots and socks, and walk in the water for a while 


I stopped for a swim at the Noja end of the beach - did a bit of foot surgery, my boots back on and headed off to the albergue at Isla. 

I treaded lightly today. It was worth it. Tonight the hospitalera’s son is cooking a communal dinner. 
Thanks for your messages everyone 🙏




Comments

  1. Anonymous22 October 2023 at 08:51

    Hi Mike
    Wow what an inspiring journey you are on. It looks tough in places and I hope your feet dry out. I sense a real spiritual journey is emerging. What an amazing experience. Take care and you are in our thoughts. Makes Buckley’s look like a stroll on the beach. Kind regards Ian.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous23 October 2023 at 00:55

    Hi Mike
    I’m enjoying your blog.
    Keep the posts coming!
    How is the autograph hunting going?
    Geoff

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Santiago to Oviedo - Singing and sauntering

-
Image
Arume Bar in Santiago is so welcoming. Bar owner Habin shook my hand as I walked in, and asked me to play. Andoni the resident guitarist saw me and came over, gave me a hug, and we did a set. I love Santiago. My hostel was close by the cathedral. After checking in, I went in search of a beer (well two actually). And something to eat. Later I met Camino friends for  dinner, and suggested we go to the Arume Bar - it was an open mic night. Local artists played including one (Harry) who I knew from Finisterre as well as a Mexican guy who was fabulous. Andoni’s wife sang Stand By Me (blended with Every Breath You Take) with us. Next morning, chocolate con churros hit the spot. The rest of the day was a slow saunter around Santiago. My body appreciated it. I said goodbyes to various Camino friends and had an early night. I dropped the key in the box, left the hostel. I started making my way to the bus station. The cathedral precinct was almost deserted. I sat down in the Plaza Obradoiro ...
Read more

Salceda to Santiago de Compostela- Arrived!

-
Image
Today I arrived at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. There was much celebration. Friends ahead of me friends behind me - we watched each other walk in - memories of steep climbs and descents, being alone, being together on the path - came flooding back. There was no need for words - just smiles and hugs, and plans to get together tonight. Head light primed for an early start. I organised with friends further along to meet them for breakfast - I had some kilometres to cover. It was dark. Fortunately, I (sort of) knew the path. I had walked it in daylight - and in the rain and dark before. I stayed here once . . . Years ago, a good friend came back to this place to see if I was alright. It was cold, dark and wet. I had been ill and he checked on me. We walked together to the Cathedral, even singing ‘Volare’ towards the end when I came good. I made breakfast at O Pedrouzo- how wonderful! Everyone wished each other well- some I had seen each day, others not for ages. After breakfast, we bi...
Read more

Made it to Madrid!

-
Image
Tapas and pintxos anyone! How can I go past a market named after Saint Michael? It was wonderful returning to Madrid - and having enough energy to go out for an early dinner. It had been a long day since the Beach Hut morning farewell 😊- in fact it was the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and was the longest night in Australia as I left. Leaving Nowra, I had half the globe to cross! The train journey to Sydney airport was scenic and subdued, with only my guitalele for company glancing at me suspiciously from the seat opposite - ‘you’re doing this again, Mike?’ The flight left on time, the service was fine and I watched ‘A Complete Unknown’ a couple more times time before landing in Dubai. Like a Rolling Stone indeed. Dubai looked a little brighter closer up The flight from Dubai to Madrid detoured south over Egypt (for obvious reasons) and after ‘seven flying hours’ landed in Madrid.  The plane was on time - and my pack appeared on the baggage carousel. Thank go...
Read more