We have a problem

Well dissapointing news .....
The walk has been going fine, great weather, good food,
nice people and I am feeling very strong.
With about 280k+ gone and en route to the city of Burgos
I´ve picked up a stress fracture in my foot - xrays blah blah
 - so I have been told by Dr - no serious weight bearing
exercise allowed for 4 -6 weeks;
its pretty sore and the whole thing pretty much sucks right now.
Thats all I can say ..... 

All the training and planning etc - so I am going to bus and
backpack  it to Santiago de Compostela and then see where
Andrew and Aleks are then and catch up with them.

Deb doesnt leave Brisbane for 2 1/2 weeks so I guess
I´ll piss around feeling sorry for my self for that time.

Thanks for all the support

THE END :(

Spain by night

Arrived in Logrono - about 180k in - this is the first big town (city) so decided to have something other than a Pilgrim meal - astounding culture this Spanish culture - the place is absolutely dead until about 7pm then its like a gun goes off and everyone is on the street all ages out for a walk and dinner and a drink.

Sure its late summer however the go seems to be tapas - i.e. small amounts of food on a plate and a glass of wine. The plates cost $2.50 - $3.50 each and you can choose a whole different variety of food. So cheap eating and not bad tasting. The older folk are full on into it and have a great time - no meat and 3 veg and a night in front of the TV for this lot.
Blister causing some drama and foot soreness on the same foot as the blister is not helping. Each town has a medico close by the hostel so may get things checked before too long.
News on TV of bushfires in Australia

The walk moves on

I´ve been going well and day 7 and 150k will finish in Logronos this afternoon my time - a fairly big town in the Rioja wine growing area. The country side has been fantastic - an old church or old village seems to pop up from no where a little hard to absorb at times - the camera is in the pocket so grabbing the snaps when I can. Up early this morning - there was a snoring competition last night and I was the loser with next to no sleep so thought I´d do an update. The blister is a little sore however everyone has them - the trick is to keep them clean and well dressed. Its a bit like the MASH war zone each night - however everyone helps each other. Enjoying all sorts of nationalities on the way - lots of Europeans and ony one other Aussie and 2 Kiwis (coincedentally from a town I lived in) - the Spanish is getting a good work out and so far no disasters and the Spanish are forgiving and we all seem to work it out.

Hope all well at home - each venue seems to have internet so as long as you dont mind waiting in line or getting up early like this its ok - going to be hot out there today - 630am now so quick brekky and off we go

Well 100k gone and 700 to go in 30 days ........ whose idea was this! Am in a lovely palce Puerta Reina after passing through Pamplona yesterday. Some random observations

Weather - hot its 20 at 10am and then 35 by noon so aiming to stop by 1 - 2 most days - seeing some of the other trekkers rolling in around 3 is not a good sight
Accomodation - tonights is great - ahuge place sleeps 80 but only 4 to an open room, last couple have been just ok - most of them put on a pilgrims meal for 10 euro and the accomodation is between 5 - 8 euro - snoring and rolling around on bunks can be a problem - so sleep is really a set of catnaps
Food - Breakfast - sometime the accomodation puts it on - other times you start with the fruit or leftovers from yesterday and stop for a coffee and food at the first town who serves it - lunch same deal and of dinner usually in house however last night a few of us chipped in and made spaghetti with a bottle of spanish red and bread and sat out behind an old church - cant pay for that experience
Blisters and things - managed to get a blister on left heel - its a cracker however and Aussie pharmacist is tracking pretty much the same speed so has been helpful. On the go for 5 - 7 hours a day so any problems, rubs or nagging spots you are going to find them however everything else is holding up ok - dare I say I think some weight is falling off - yeah I know .........
Boots - some people are doing this in sandals! The ground can be so loose and unven they have me beat on how they are doing it.
People - the Spanish have been super friendly to do date - we hear buen camino (good walking) many times a day - they are always happy to help and even tolerate my school kid language skills

Hope all well and I am avoiding any Poms like the plauge at the moment

We have lift off!

After saying goodbye (for now) to Andrew & Aleks I flew with the budget carrier Ryanair from London Stansted airport to Biarritz in St West France then a train with 4 poms to the one of the popular commencement points - St Jean Pied de Port. Checked in at accomodation - got my Pilgrims passport and some dinner before trying to sleep - kept waking up looking at my watch!

Anyway 7·40 this morning set off into the Pyrenees for the 27k journey to Ronscavelles in Spain - the first 2 hours were a breeze a little humid but all well. After a coffee and food at Orisson headed on only to run into zero visibility with fog, cloud and drizzle. It slowed me down to a crawl as signs appeared out of the mist and the markings on the ground were a little confusing. A number of people got disorientated and I found a number just sitting on rocks on the side of the road looking to hook up with others. Couple all this with some serious up up going and it wasnt much chop - ended up getting in to Ronscavelles around 2.30 so a 7hr day.

Facilities here are very good - good showers, clothes lines and a very good meal tonite - pasta, fish & chips then yoghurt to finish - oh and a bottle on the table to share!

So there we have it - sleeping arrangements are interesting with double side by side bunks - may have to do a Rod Marsh and kiss the guy next to me early on - that way he wont sleep ...... or snore and I¨ll be sleeping like a baby.

I´ve just seen the day 2 cricket score so not so keen to bump in those poms again!

Another 27k tomorrow and then to Pamplona on Sunday - the bulls have finished running so should be ok.

Andrew and Aleks did the catering at the ladies house who owns the ski chalet - by all accounts the meal was well received - she is interviewing another couple as well - fingers crossed. They come to Spain tommorrow to do the camper van thing and with a bit of luck I will see them on their travels

Regards to all

End of day 2 in London - long flight in second back row from Singapore thank god for an empty seat beside me. Andrew arrived from New York a few hours later - great to see him; and Aleks joined us a few hours later. Pub meal last night - double decker bus tour and Westminister Abbey Tour. A couple of meetings today and dinner with my old mate Rawly and his wife tonight.

However this has been the rest before the storm - I fly into France tomorrow before heading off on the first day of the walk on Friday - I'm excited about getting going however a little apprehensive about the unknown. Thanks for the texts and emails of good luck - I'll post on here and hopefully some photos as much as I can.

Been a real bonus to have the time with Andrew & Aleks - they have a job interview tomorrow for a job in the French Alps for winter - so fingers crossed for them