Lost in the mountains!

I had a perfect day despite getting hopelessly lost! Fortunately I was lost with my two Spanish amigos with not a word of English between them. I had a crash course in Spanish conversation... perdidos, perdidos, perdidos! Three paths presented themselves. We tried all three, following the most plentifully arrowed up a steep hill and down the other side- until it petered out. We returned to the junction and conferred on plan B... climb the electric fence and follow what appeared to be the track on their map.... half a kilometre passed the fence a yellow arrow. With hoots of joy we followed the track into pretty Lubian, with an extra 4 or 5 km under our belts.

And so I begin again....

Early this morning I caught the train from Santiago to Puebla de sanabria to start along the Via de la Plata, the Camino from the south, Seville. The train passed many of the towns we'll be walking through.
It took me a while to find a yellow arrow but soon I was rewarded with a plethora of them! It is a glorious sunny day and the walk was mostly along a river and through forest but some on road. After a short day's walk I have arrived at my first stop at Requeo de Sanabria, lunched, washed and am resting.

The castle at Puebla de sanabria.

The path and my first Camino monument
Sorry pics all out of order but you get the gist!

Last training walk

Nellie kindly accompanied me on a last walk up Mount Rogers yesterday. It was a beautiful autumn day, cool and Canberra's best blue skies.

Back on track

Six weeks today until I fly out to walk another part of the Camino Frances- this time in France! I've been training, or trying to, in this summer's heat it's been difficult, for about 6 weeks already.
This morning I returned to my tried and true training track up to One Tree Hill.
Gungahlin edges ever closer to the foot of the hill...

When I returned home I sewed my Australian friends of the Camino patch on to my pack to convince myself of the reality!

A day in Madrid

Picasso, Miro & Dali enthralled me at Reina Sophia this morning. Lots of education and inspiration... And a relax in the gardens 

Farewell Sicily!

We've had a great time and the food has been amazing - even in national park cafes!!!

Mt Etna

Glorious views from south side of Mt Etna. Last major eruption covered this area and lava like huge earth works all around us. Sophie and I held each for fear the wind would blow us into the minor craters!