The albergue de perigrino bodenaya we stayed in last night was extra special and can see why the guides say it is highly recommended. The owners were so welcoming and made it feel like home, they washed our clothes for us and made us a lovely 3 course dinner. The Camino family vibe soon got into full swing and everybody laughed and joked about their day.

They say you have a love/hate relationship with the camino whilst you settle in and I certainly hated the camino yesterday. I had even planned in my head the way home and thought f**t it! But, everyone is expecting me to just give up and I’m determined not too.

Today we walked with Dominique from Austalia who is a TV producer and language teacher. A lovely lady and her first Camino too. 12k in and time flew by, as we all talked about our life and why a camino.

We walked through a little town called Tineo and soon purchased my shell and now proudly show it off on my rucksack. Now a true pilgrim.

Tineo was a small quaint town but the shops reminded me of something you would find in st fangans museum in Cardiff. All products stacked on the shelves behind the desk and the shop keeper would bring you your items. Very 1940’s rather than 2019!

Terain today wasn’t too bad, few muddy patches and little baby hills. 28.4km completed and 225km to go.

The albergue last night was very basic, met some lovely people from all around the world (Australia,Ukraine,Portugal,Barcelona, Argentia and Lithuania). A very relaxed atmosphere until ‘the sergeant major’ turned up and told everyone off for their wet clothing around the place. Reminded me of my mother and objects being out of order.

Started out at 6am again. Very foggy and dark until sunlight rose. Terain was very mixed and all up and down. Falling has certainly knocked my confidence going down hill. The ups were very steep and lung bursting, even had me crying at one point as I turned and saw yet another hill. But I made even if i did swear and grumble alot.

I did question myself alot today as to why a camino and certainly cursed the dam thing. If there is a god on the camino, I’m not in the good books!.

30.8km in we soon arrived at the albergue

Pictures from day 2

So we arrived at the hotel at 11pm, so we couldn’t get the cathedral stamp to say that we started in oviedo and had to do with a hotel stamp. We also couldn’t get a shell for my bag. For those who have not done the camino, the shell shows others that you are a pilgrim.

So we started out at 6am and thought it was only fair we went to the starting point which was the cathedral.

As we headed out of oviedo the shells to follow were few and far between. The floors were wet and as I walked down the hill i fell elegantly to the floor. A few scrapes and bruises but nothing major.

As we headed out of town the weather was not going to kind to us, the echoes of thunder and lightening could be heard across the countryside and the heavens opened. My first thoughts were f**k this as I started to get wet and uncomfortable, but I soldiered on and soon dried out.

Lots of up and down parts today, and some hills I thought my lungs were going to burst and it had crossed my mind as to”why am I doing this?”

We soon arrived at the albergue at 3:30 and settled in. Not sure what to make of the albergues yet and will let you know.

All in all a good first day despite it being wet.

Arrived in Macclesfield at 23:20 on thursday evening. It wasn’t a good idea to have my nails done at 18:00 as the m6 was a nightmare, but a girl has to have some luxury on the camino.

Easyjet flight to Bilbao was a little delayed but a smooth flight indeed and even got in 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Landed to a sunny 32° and caught the shuttle bus for €3 to Bilbao town and then walked 500 yards to the hotel. What we didnt know upon arriving at the hotel, was that there was a bull festival taking place so everything was closed for 2-3 days with only a few bars and cafes open.

Up early doors saturday morning and the plan was to catch the 8:30 bus to oviedo (the starting point) and to have a lovely relaxing day figuring things out. But when we arrived at the bus station we soon found out the likelihood of getting a bus ticket would be rare, as the youngsters looked like they had partied all night and were queuing for buses home. Finally we got a bus ticket for 18:00hrs this evening but the latest our hotel would allow us to check in oviedo was 19:30, so booking.com became our friend as we then rearranged hotels whilst having a coffee and a pastry.

I must say that public transport in Spain so far I am very impressed with. €19.32 it cost for a ticket to oviedo travelling approx 150 miles. I can imagine this type of ticket in the UK costing double!

So with 8 hours to kill, we put the ruck sacks on a walked to the old part of Bilbao. A beautiful city I must say, a very relaxed atmosphere and a mixture or architecture. Temperature today was a toasty 30°.

We also found out where the festival was held and the Spanish certainly looked like they knew how to party and the council for sure knew how to clean up after a party too. I was very impressed with the disinfectant they were spraying and brushing over the floor, but it did make the floor slippy.

As I write this blog we are currently on the bus to oviedo. The temperature as we head west is soon starting to cool to 22° which is nice. Hopefully we wont arrive too late tonight and get a good night sleep in. Apprehensive about starting the camino tomorrow, just not sure what to expect and this is now where the fun starts and me stepping out of my comfort zone. I will update the blog tomorrow and let you know how I am and what I’ve been us too.

Xx

Roughly the plan is to follow the route from followingthearrows.com which means we should complete the camino primitivo in 12 days and also have rest days before flying home. Rest days of course depend on injury but hopefully we will say to plan.

Day 1, Oviedo to San Juan de Villapanada, 30.6km

Day 2, San Juan de Villapanada to Bodenaya, 27.7km

Day 3, Bodenaya to Campiello, 28.4km

Day 4, Campiello to Berducedo, 30km

Day 5, Berducedo to Grandas de Salime, 22.8km

Day 6, Grandas de Salime to Fonsagrada, 27km

Day 7, Fonsagrada to Castroverde, 33.7km

Day 8, Castroverde to Lugo, 24.3km

Day 9, Lugo to San Roman da Retorta, 21.6km

Day 10, San Roman da Retorta to Melide, 30km

Day 11, Melide to Salceda, 26.8km

Day 12, Salceda to Santiago de Compostela, 29.8km (Total 332.7km)

• Walking poles – carbon lite sports diret
• Bag – Deuter 30L
• Boots – scarpa

2 trousers – craghooper kiwi pros
2 t shirts – normal sport t shirts
Base layer – normal sport brand
Coat – bergerguhas
3 socks – bridgedales ultra lite crew
3 bras – sports Mark’s and Spencer
Towel – micro fiber
Belt – amozon
3 knickers – Mark’s and spencer
Toiletries
Tablets
Phone cable
Plug – USB travel adaptor from amozon
Neddle and thread
First aid kit
Pegs and string
Sun hat
Head phones
Sun glasses
Passport camino
Passport
E111 card
Money
Travel card and pin
Charger pack
Flip flops
Ear plugs and eye mask

All weighing in at 6.5 kg