#7 In Zubiri, Spain

Hello everyone. We have now walked 46 Kilometers, 744 more to go. I need some prayer that the second night in Orrison I slept on a top bunk and when I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I kind of fell the last step and my left foot is acting up. It is not swollen, I am still able to walk but with difficulty. It hurts and I am limping. I went to the Pharmacy and she said I need to bind it tightly. But she didn´t sell anything to do it with, and I am going to try and wrap it tomorrow with two support socks I have. I knew enough to wear one today but it still hurts and I am still limping. Otherwise everything is going great. Absolutely beautiful weather. We´re meeting people from all over the world: Ireland, Korea, Norway, Denmark, Sweden (no, they are not all blond!) lots from France, Germany, Netherlands and of course, Spain. I am having a little trouble with food because I am vegetarian, and also my lactose intolerance has been a hindrance. The scenery is magnificent. Nothing like I expected Spain to look like but I have been told it is because it is not Spain, it is Basque country. That`s all I´m going to write today. We`re going to see if we can find something I can eat, besides bread and cheese. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. Love, Marie

#6 Finally internet!

I've already typed a lot and lost it because I pushed the wrong button. I'm in Espinal, Spain. We've walked around 28 miles now and we're over the Pyrennes. The Camino is everything we expected and more. We've met John from England on the plane who walked around half the Camino and had to quit and hoped to continue someday. And then Yentz from Germany in Biarritz and we shared a taxi to St. Jean la Vielle around 3 miles further from St. Jean Pied de Port. We didn't know we booked a hotel further so our first day we had to walk further. We walked into SJPP (that is what it is referred to) the first night and got our first stamp. Sorry but no internet until today. We walked to Auberge Orrison on Saturday and that was the roughest part walking up the mountain. I felt like a Gopi at one point as I had to walk though a herd of cows. I said a prayer, remembered to remove my red hat, and then sang as I walked to keep then calm. Tricia and I were separate that I had stopped and told her to continue and I would catch up. What was really funny was later on we caught up and I was ahead of her. I evidently had taken a short cut following the yellow arrows and she missed one and followed the road. We had a great time that night meeting all the pilgrims - 34 of them. Next day was the long day, 18 kilometers over the Pyrennes. So today we took it easy. Only 6 miles. We're staying at a little hotel and washed our clothres- by hand. I can't remember the last time I hung clothes to dry. I have been taking photos but Barnes & Nobles confirmed I cannot attach a photo from the Nook. So we will have to wait until I can find a Cybercafe and then I will send you photos. That's all for now. Thanks for your prayers. Love & gratitude to you all. Marie

#5 All set to fly to France tomorrow

Hello to everyone, Thank you for your prayers, my credit and debit cards arrived today. I met up with Tricia and we are all set to leave London tomorrow bright and early. London is busy, noisy, and I will be happy to leave. Different than what I remember from 40+ years ago. They are very much gearing up for the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics. Speak to you tomorrow. Love, Marie

#4 Arrived in London

Thank you everyone for checking up on me. I started off this trip doing something really stupid. I photocopied my credit and debits cards and then left them on the photocopier! I think back and wonder why I didn't catch myself right away? It wasn't until I went to pay for food at the airport that I found I had no plastic with me. So I called back to where I had house & dog sat, and the cards where right where I said they would be. They are being sent to me by express mail as I type. Thank you, Robin. Then I gave Robin the address for the Youth Hostel at Earl's Court where I believed I would be meeting Tricia. I arrive at YHA Earl's Court and Tricia is not there? You guessed it, Tricia was at another Youth Hostel at Earl's Court. We are planning on getting together for breakfast tomorrow because I need to hang around until the Postman shows up with my mail. That means anywhere from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. I hope by doing all this goofey stuff at the beginning of the trip we will settledown and have no more problems. Pray that the credit & debit cards arrive tomorrow. Thanks. I'll keep you posted. Love, Marie

Posting #3 - Getting ready to go...

This is my walking companion, Tricia Wright.  Tricia and I were Hula Sisters when I first arrived in AZ. I've stopped dancing hula but she and I remain friends and now we are going to walk the Camino together.
We now have our tickets to fly from London to Biarritz, France for May 25th.  Hopefully we will be starting the Camino on Sunday, May 27th, if the weather is with us. Keep sending me, and now Tricia also, good energy to be able to finish the Camino.

Ready for my Second Posting, everyone?
I did it.   I am now retired, homeless (my house is rented), reduced all my belongings to what fit in two cupboards in my garage which is now devoid of my car (sold that, too).  I obtained my first one way ticket from Tampa, FL to London's Heathrow Airport for $5.00 and 30,000 frequent miles.  What a blessing!

I am house/dog sitting for my friends in Venice, FL while they vacation in Europe.  They return on 5/20 and I'm off to London on 5/22. I still need to do some planning on what I do when I get to London? Yipes!

I have to admit the last two weeks have been a blur.  If it wasn't for the help of my friends and co-workers, I don't know how I would have got everything done.  Thank you everyone.

I'll keep in touch.
Love,
Marie