The Song in My Head: Linger - The Cranberries
Word of the Day: tent
Today’s (Random) Craving/Memory: Banjo. I miss my dog.
Total Steps: 22,732 steps
Total Walking Distance: 10.8 miles / 17.4 kilometers
⏰ Wake Up: 5:30am
💤 Sleep: 12:00am
Woke up today at 7:30am.
Today I take the train to Gijón to start the Camino del Norte.
But first we woke up in León.
I went downstairs to floor 2 to say hi to the rest of the squad.
Abbie, Allegra, Elisa, Nicolò, Laura, Benjamin, Duncan, and I are all going to Gijón for the Norte. Except Duncan; he flies back to London out of their local airport.
We packed up, went down to the lobby, and said bye to Allegra. She’s going back to Italy. The rest of them then ordered a 3 euro breakfast from the Albergue.
It was gross and cheap.
I’ve learned my lesson with Albergue/pilgrim food, so I went across the street to a cafe. Got a pastry and a Spanish omelette for 4 euro. So filling.
I then met them back at the albergue and we walked to the train station.
We got there, got on the train, and I went to sleep. It was a 3 hour train.
I woke up about 2 hours later, and all of them had made the last minute decision to get off in Oviedo and take a bus to Porto to do the Portuguese route. Hahahaha
So they got off, said bye to Duncan and I, and we continued on our way.
We got to Gijón at 12:30.
I was here exactly 1 month ago, getting picked up by Paula and Isabel. And I still remember the entire town by heart.
I went straight to the Decathlon to get a tent and a foam sleeping mat. Then I found out Josefine, who’s also in Gijón doing the Norte, would sell me her tent for half price so I went back to return it.
I was planning on camping tonight but I got an Albergue with Duncan for 20 euro, just to get situated before I started the pilgrimage.
I got my room, Duncan showered then we went walking to look for places to eat.
The cider house we wanted to go to was not taking reservations so we went to the market, got chorizo, cheese, bread, and beers, and made sandwiches in the park.
So delicious, and only 4 euros each.
Way too much bread though.
We then went to a coffee bar with Josefine and her friend Rosie. They’re both doing the Norte as well.
We played kombio. Of course.
Then around 5pm, we left because they were going to go get tattoos. I went back to the market to get some food for my walk tomorrow, and then Duncan and I went to the Albergue.
He took a phone call, and I went to get a coffee and did some planning for the next month.
About 2 hours later, I changed into shorts and went to a sports bar to watch the Sporting Gijón soccer game.
The game was great.
The game ended, Duncan pulled up, and we went walking along the coast. Fans wearing jerseys were everywhere.
We then turned around and walked back to our Albergue in Cimavilla. We found a cider house and sat to have a drink. We got two beers and a bottle of cider. It was his first time having the cider.
We talked about life, family, and similarities and differences to UK and US lifestyles.
We left around 11:15pm and went back home, and got ready for bed.
Tomorrow I begin the Camino del Norte. I’ll get up at 6:20am, eat breakfast, shower, and pickup the tent from Josefine and get walking.
I’m going to stay in a donativo tomorrow in Salina’s/La Vallina.
Super excited, as there’s also a super cool place to cliff jump there. I did it a month ago when I was here visiting Isabel and Paula and it was awesome.
See y’all then,
David