Mini running of the bulls...

Wow, what a day! If this is a taste of things to come then bring it on! There's hardly been a dull moment. This morning the intention was to walk to Pamplona, easy enough walk, only 20 km along reasonably easy terrain. Simple day...
I'd been walking all the way with Dawn, who'd up untill today, really needed my encouragement. Today though she was really powering on and I decided that it was time to walk alone for a while and focus on why I was walking myself. So I left Dawn and essentially started my own camino today. After a few km by myself in which I passed a few small groups with new found speed, I'd stopped just before a suburb of Pampalona called 'Trinidad de Arre'. Stopping just long enough meet some of said small groups again and promply getting invited for early afternoon coffee, which I keenly accepted!
Moments on entering the town we see boarded up doors and windows and nobody around (siesta time, fair call on the nobody around part). Soon after, in a bar we all find out that today is the towns festival, which includes a mini running of the bulls. Hence the reason the main street is boarded up! Woohoo!
Canceled are all plans for Pampalona today! What an amazing sight. Such strong animals, such brave, borderline stupid men on one small street!
The rest of the evening was spent with very cool randoms in the refugio talking in sooo many languages, some people translating for others, everyone adding in but primarily 'hands & feet' language. Hehe!
What's tomorrow got organised?

A long road to Roncesvalles...

Holy crap!
That was the longest, most physically draining day of my life. I don't believe that I'll ever be able to say 'I can't' ever again. So much is happening I cannot even mention it all, I'm so tired I fell asleep trying to blog a message and I'm ready to do the same tonight! Good train trip down to Saint Jean Pied de Port. One train almost missed the only connection, stressful! I met 2 ladies, Dawn and Helen who were training in Australia together. Dawn walked with me today and we helped each other through a huge day.
Saint Jean is called one me the most ambitious starting points for the Camino, 1.3km incline over 25km, the hardest day on Camino. Pain!
I must sleep or I'll die! I hope everyone is well at home, UK and Oz! Love you all!

To Spain and back again... (+ 750km)

Photo: It's only a short trip all over Europe Cass!

Holy crap... my time has finally arrived and all in what seems to be a blink of an eye!
Tomorrow is my last day at Virgin Megastore, Brighton then I have 2 days to get myself organised (Hahaha ha haha ha). On Wednesday morning, early, I'm off to Luton airport via 2 busses, a quick flight over to Paris, arriving in the early evening. 2 nights stay in Paris in a hostel and an early train ride to 'Saint Jean Pied de Port' where I'm still not sure where I'll be staying, presumably a pilgrims hostel.

More news coming soon...

It's official, I suck at posting... and I'M COMING HOME!!!

Pictured: Brighton by the eve... I'm actually going to really miss it!

Well the date has been set... 2nd of December! Yep, that's the day my flight from Heathrow, London gets into Sydney, Australia.
There's quite a bit of time between now and then though but I have plenty of things planned between.
I'll be finishing up a Virgin here in Brighton at the end of the month and then flying over to Paris to start a very long trek, yes I'm going ahead with plans to walk the Camino de Santiago. I so far managed to organise walking shoes (friggin' expensive), flights and few other bits and bobs... though generally unorganised, as per usual!

In other random news I moved house again and I'm staying with friend and workmate, John till I head off to Paris / Spain. His a super star and has saved me millions to help out traveling. Also my sis is flying off from London on the 18th to begin her winter round Europe tour which fits in perfectly for me as I'm headed that direction to see Kosheen that very day anyhow! WOOHOO!

Not sure what's next after I finish on the camino but I'm thinking of heading to Ibiza just to visit 'Cafe del Mar', the home of some of the best chill out music in the world, that and it's been a long time dream to visit! After that? France, Italy, Greece......?

P.S. I've updated my little countdown thingo to reflect my new date to arrive home... 84 days and counting...