WALK FOR CHROMOSOME 6: September 2019

Sunday 29 September 2019

29 Sept. 2019, day 56: Vilalba - Baamonde, 19 km (1103 km)

Today I pass the waymark 100.99 km. So I probably end up at just over 1200km. I expect to arrive in Santiago on Friday, october 4th.
Because it was a short distance today, I walked a lot with other pilgrims. No rush and we talked a lot. This morning I first had breakfast with Christina at a bar. Soon we came across US Peter (there is also an Aussie Peter) and a little later Edith with her husband. The route is again beautifully rural. We walk a bit on an old road.

Photo moment on an old bridge.

It is now raining and it will continue to do so for the rest of the route.
Because we talk a lot, we walk wrong. The others decide to walk on and pick up the route further on, but that means quite a bit of walking along the road. I walk back 300 meters (down), find the right path and climb up again. It is a nice path across a number of farm yards.

After a while I first meet Peter and later Christina and the others. We take a break in a kind of bus shelter.
The 100.99 km point is at the entrance of Baamonde.

Due to the rain we quickly reach the vey large albergue of Baamonde (94 beds). I can still get a lower bed in an 8-person room. Better than the mega dormitory upstairs.

Shame about the weather. It is unpleasant to sit outside and a hand wash will not dry. Hopefully better tomorrow.

Do you want to support Professor Conny during her 1200 kilometre walk for Chromosome 6?

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Direct bank transfer:
Bank account: NL21 ABNA 0423 1266 95
In the name of: Stichting Steunfonds UMCG
Reference: 4950351 Chromosome6
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Saturday 28 September 2019

28 Sept. 2019, day 55: Abadin - Vilalba, 23 km (1084 km)

This morning I realized that I probably had left my scarf in the restaurant where I had my pilgrim's menu last night. So I went back to the restaurant this morning, but unfortunately it wasn't there. I went back to the hostel to have a good look, but unfortunately my scarf was not to be found. I'm a little sad about that, because I once got that scarf from my mother-in-law and it was very beautiful.
The walk today is slightly hilly and largely on unpaved paths and beautiful country roads. When I leave it is not even 10 Celsius degrees and very foggy. At 12 o'clock it's 13 degrees and still foggy. Then the fog disappears, it becomes sunny and pleasantly warm.

When I am on my way for less than an hour I catch up with an American couple with whom I have spoken before. They wave me from far away with my scarf! They had taken him from the restaurant because they thought I was staying in the same albergue as they were The whole albergue now knows that I had lost my scarf. Every time I come across pilgrims during the day they start to ask about my scarf.

Very old bridge

Wearing my scarf again

It is funny that you keep meeting the same people and getting to know them better and better. I still usually walk alone and sometimes see no other pilgrims for hours.
Today I also chatted with a German couple. They also asked what the QR code on my backpack meant. After my explanation they gave me some money for the project spontaneously. So sweet.

The route today was very beautiful. Very rural. No spectacular views, but just a nice walk.

Now I am in Vilalba. The town has a nice church and an old tower.

Today there is a fiesta, so music on the central square with, among other things, the Galician bagpipe. I also quickly bought bread, because tomorrow is Sunday.

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Friday 27 September 2019

27 Sep. 2019, day 54: Lourenza - Abadin, 23 km (1061 km)

Today it would be just as much climbing as yesterday (900 meters), but then over a shorter distance and with few drops in between. So I go higher into the mountains.

When I start walking it drizzles. After a while the poncho really needs to put on, but it is not cold yet. The route goes partly through beautiful narrow paths and passes some old villages. The storage sheds look different here. Smaller and elongated. They are also not called a horeo, but I forgot their name.

After more than 8 km I cross the old St. Lazarus bridge when entering Mondonedo, a beautiful old town.

I visit the cathedral, which had the same architect as the cathedral of Santiago.

Then a nice café solo grande on a covered terrace opposite the cathedral. A new route runs directly from Mondonedo to Gontan. This route of 12km is almost completely unpaved and goes largely through the forest. A lot of climbing is needed.

It starts to rain harder and it takes a long time before I find a place to rest and eat. When I get above the forest I walk among the horses, in the clouds.

The wind is strong and it is wet and cold. I put on my rain pants, because it is too cold in my shorts and with wet legs. The promised view cannot be seen. When I have just reached the top, the rain stops and the fog blows away. I can finally take some pictures.

I have to descend a bit to Abadin where the weather clears up a bit.
The hostel in Abadin is nice. I take a quick warm shower and eat some food. I'm tired.

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Thursday 26 September 2019

26 Sept 2019, day 53: Figueras - Lourenza, 31 km (1038 km)

I slept fantastic and I am confident that it will work out today. After a good breakfast I leave the albergue at half past seven. Against my principle, in the dark. From Figueras, I walk to the long bridge over the Ria de Ribadeo. From the bridge I have a nice view on the lights of Ribadeo and its harbor. With the crossing of the Ria, I enter Galicia from Asturias.

Once I leave Ribadeo, I can immediately start climbing. I have a good pace and the steepness of the climb is not too bad. I walk alternately between meadows and through eucalyptus forest.

After more than two hours of walking I have my coffee break, just past O Vilar. It's going really well today. The sun is shining but a refreshing breeze makes sure it doesn't get too hot. The views are getting more and more beautiful and I am happy to walk in the mountains again.

In Galicia, the direction posts show how many meters (!) are left to Santiago.

I have my lunch break with delicious brown bread and goat cheese at the church of Villamartin Grande.

After that I descent to San Xusto.

A hefty climb follows. At the top a short break and then I descent to Lourenza.

The Albergue is quickly found and looks great again. Shower, hand wash and blogging with my legs up.
I am tired, but all in all it was not so bad today. Along the way, I again met several pilgrims I already kno, but each walks at his own pace. One pilgrim tells me that she has brought the sponsorship campaign for rare chromosome 6 disorders to the attention of her family and friends. So sweet. I hope many more will do that.

Hasta manana,
Conny

Do you want to support Professor Conny during her 1200 kilometre walk for Chromosome 6?

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Wednesday 25 September 2019

25 Sept. 2019, day 52: La Caridad - Figueres, 22 km (1007 km)

It is not my favorite day today. It starts and ends in a minor. Must be due to fatigue.
The hostel in La Caridad is fantastic, but why do people have to get up at 5:30 when it doesn't start tot become light until 8:00? Slept too short, but remained in my bed stoically until 7:00.
The weather is good, dry and a good temperature. The start of the route is nice.
After a Roman bridge, a choice point comes and I choose the coastal route.

That route is said to be nicer and tomorrow I will go into the mountains and will no longer see the coast.
Until Tapia de Casariego the route is rather boring with only paved agricultural roads, including a long straight road to Tapia. After more than 2 hours of walking I am in Tapia on the coast. Then suddenly it is beautiful again. My coffee break with a view on the waves that hit the rocks. I share my coffee with a Danish man, who shares his cookies with me.

I walk further into Tapia, visit the town hall (for a stamp in my credencial), the church and the supermarket (I have finished all my food). Then I decide to leave the Camino for a while and walk to the harbor of Tapia and along a boulevard with a beautiful view of the rocky coast.

Also after Tapia I follow an alternative route to enjoy the coast for a while. My next break is at the Playa de Penarronda.

I sit with a group of French people in the shelter of a chapel.
I feel a blister coming under my right heel. That is very unusual for me. Perhaps because of the many paved roads or the wet socks of yesterday? Fortunately it is not far to the hostel in Figueres. It is a beautiful hostel. Perfectly clean, good beds and real sheets!
At the hostel, I have a look at my schedule. I am still 3 km from Ribadeo, which means 31 km from Lourenza. With the climbs that I have to do tomorrow 32 km is actually too much. I try to find an alternative overnight stay, but all options before Lourenza are completo. That is disappointing. I decide to call for a reservation in Lourenza, then I can at least take my time for that long walk.

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Tuesday 24 September 2019

Sept 24, 2019, day 51: Villuir - La Caridad, 27 km (985 km)

I need your help,
I have to confess that I am a little bit disappointed. Since I restarted my Camino I have raised only a little bit of money. What do I do wrong and how can I improve it? I know that I only walked short distances last week in order to spare my ankles. Luckily my ankles are still fine and I now increased the daily distances. I am convinced that I will make Santiago this time.
So can you please help me all to advertise this sponsor action within your network? I would be very greatful for that.

Last night I was with 4 other pilgrims at a small albergue, where we were incredibly spoiled by Lua. She did our laundry and cooked tasty and lots. Breakfast was also immensely luxurious by Spanish standards with a boiled egg.
At half past eight I set off. Soon after, it starts to rain cats and dogs. I quickly threw my poncho over me, but it rained so hard that the water from my bare legs flowed into my shoes. In the shelter of a tree, poncho out and backpack off to find and put on my rain pants. But in the meantime I am soaking in my shoes.

Today the route goes mostly through slightly hilly agricultural area, where I regularly walk through a hamlet or through a small forest. I walk alone to be able to walk at my own pace, which is better for my ankles.

I have my coffee break at a picnic place in front of a farm. My lunch break on a bench in the square in front of Navia's town hall.
During both breaks I put on dry socks, so 4 wet socks dangle on my backpack in the afternoon. But luckily in the meantime it is dry and even the sun sometimes shines.
There are wooden road crosses in this region that indicate the direction to Santiago.

Just after 3 o'clock I arrive at the private Albergue. Fortunately I made a reservation, because both this and the public Albergue are both full and many pilgrims are sent on. La Xana is a beautiful Albergue with lots of wood and a wonderfully sweet caretaker.

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Monday 23 September 2019

23 Sept. 2019, day 50: Cadavedo - Villuir, 27 km (958 km)

Today I walked all day together with Mary from Denmark. We walked an alternative route along the coast. At 8:30 am we set off from the Ermita de la Regalina chapel with a beautiful view of the cliffs.

The GR-E9 follows a nice path along meadows and through forest, mainly on the edge of the cliffs.

After 8 km we arrive at a picnic bench with, what else, a beautiful view.

A little later the GR marking is somewhat unclear and we decide to walk towards the Camino. In the meantime it started to rain. The route goes first through agricultural area and then again through forest. We meet other pilgrims and drink coffee in Canero.
More than 7 km later we arrive in Luarca, a beautiful harbor town, wedged into a bay.

In Luarca another stop and then the last 3 km to the Albergue.
Despite the rainy weather it was a great day today.

Tomorrow another long walk.
Hasta manana, professor Conny

Do you want to support Professor Conny during her 1200 kilometre walk for Chromosome 6?

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Sunday 22 September 2019

Sept. 22, 2019, day 49: Soto de Luina - Cadavedo, 21 km (931 km)

Today was a fantastic day. It was great weather with a cooling breeze and the route was beautiful. I walk a lot through woods with many climbs and descents to cross several hills and streams. It is a beautiful, varying forest. The paths are occasionally quite steep and stony.

After yet another fairytale-like forest I pass a spring and then completely descend to a pebble beach. I sit on the beach for a long time.

Then the path goes backup again with beautiful views of the coast.

I end up in a pack of dogs with hunters who urge me to walk on.
Not long after that I arrive in Cadavedo. The small private Albergue is quickly found.

Hasta manana, Conny

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