Fourth day

Muddy forest paths and ancient bridges spanning rivers. Its idealic, beautiful and its a perfect tonic for me and my state.

We always walk a little ways before stopping for breaky. You line your packs and walking sticks up and go inside. My heart warms at how friendly and at peace everyone seems. No wonder once you are on the way, its hard to stop or leave.

I wonder what the poor people are doing?

Lunch stop today was so pleasant.. We did a really good eight km and found a grassy  field to plonk down on. We had gorgeous cheeses, strawberries, juice, fresh bread and salamis..... Lay in the sweet grass and looked up into blue skies. Slept for a while..Mmmmmm wonder what the poor folk are doing?

Third day on the walk

Getting into the groove of it, but finding it challenging .. We did 19 km today, lots of sharp up and downs, but I think the most pounding for me feet was the walking on bitumen. My feet are still pounding after half an hour of shoes off and stuck up in the air.

We had some beautiful weather- still chilly and gorgeous lanes to walk through.

Plenty of stone walls to sit on... Which we took advantage of.. But as anyonewho walks   knows, the feet begin to swell and legs stiffen, so always hard to get going again.

The food has been amazing. Lunch stops at bars always have bocadillis - huge rolls of pure meat and cheese.Age has been having just a platter of meat.. Hmmm.

I can't get over the purity of spirit of those who are walking the way.. And those who live along it. Just when we were exhausted this morning, a tiny farm house had signs up in the barn , saying free coffee and free hugs. A friendly man welcomed us into a room with a fireplace and lots of seats.. And proceeded to spoil and fuss over the kids. His children presented them with biscuits and fruit juice.. So I gave them a clip in koala each.. So lovely to see the smiles.

The generosity of people like this makes my heart sing and the world not such a harsh place.

I can see why people come back again and again to do the way. 

Something I have loved is running into the same people at stops along the way. Morgan and Age are quite the celebrities along the walk.

So proud of them both.. Espec Morgan. Man after these few days, I am truely wondering if I can do just the 120 km we set out to do.

Last nights Albourge

. Our Albourge last night was really nice, but far out - the snoring I have been warned about was well and truly around. 

Pure stone floors make it a pretty cold and unforgiving underfoot.

Poor old Morgan, for the first time in a month, fell  out of bed at 3 am. He was on the top bunk. 

With a room full of tired walkers, it was less than ideal for a crying child in pain, I was out of bed in a flash and after checking all limbs, had to drag him out into the courtyard outside and by light of my iPhone give first aid, scrapes and bruises was all thank goodness 

Second Day walking.

I have always had a respect for the miles Morgan  and Age have done, but far out, when you get to do some yourself, that respect triples. We have nothing in hills and slopes that the boys have done,but they   have been challenging all the same. Its a photographers dream here. Mossy tiled roof tops, gorgeous glades full of wildflowers and tumble down shacks and walled gardens.

The kids have been great. Am so impressed at the level of maturity Morgan has shown and the assistance he offers his sister all of the time.

Took this photo after a particularly tough hill. So lovely to lay in the soft grass in the sunshine.

We did near to 18 km today. Need to keep up the miles so we get to Santiago by next Wednesday. Its apparently going to be good weather and rolling hills , rather than the sharp climbs we have had in and out of valleys