Tag Archives: One Girl

Adventure, Camino Frances 2018, Hiking, Life, Travel

Finishing things off. I didn’t come this far, only to come this far.

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‘I didn’t come this far, only to come this far.’ ~ Unknown.

Finishing things off … (YES!) I’m anal like that! Just as lids need to be screwed on properly, leftovers must be eaten the next day, every-last-skerrick squeezed from the bottle or scooped from the jar, shoes and clothes worn to the very end. Naturally, you’d understand I simply can’t not walk to the end of the trail – to Fisterra.

So here I am, dreaming up the icing for the cake.

As most of you know I walked 800kms supported by Wilderness Wear and Salomon from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago in Spain to raise awareness and funds for One Girl Australia and to earn my compostela. Along the way I laughed, cried, made new friends, pushed my boundaries and learnt there are new comfort zones I need to push into. Mostly, I was overwhelmed with what could be achieved by simply moving forward.

In the spirit of that motion I simply must continue to the end – to Fisterra!

Why?

  • Before I had even left Santiago to fly home I knew I’d be back to walk to the end, to cross the entire country. My shin splints stopped me in my tracks at Santiago but I am a finisher.
  • Heart warming moments have come from this adventure, the community support, goodwill and kindness was UNBELIEVABLE.
  • My friend’s daughter who is a year 6 school leader just nominated One Girl as a charity their school would fundraise for next term. I’ll share her story soon.  Misch ;) xx.
  • Perhaps someone else will ‘Do it in a dress’!
  • This time around I will do the entire walk in a dress (weather and shyness played a part in me not completing the entire walk in a dress). I’m ok with being noticed now, I think! I need to push into that.
  • Women’s adventure – I’m contributing to the landscape. You can be in your 40’s and keep it wild! Or 30’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond. Bugger boring passive, consumption (of anything).
  • I want to test myself further. I only realised towards the end that I am perhaps not as open to people as I thought. I began to soften into that as the trail hit the Galicia.
  • My spirit soared through this experience – isn’t that enough reason?!
  • I wonder if I can move $8,135 to $10,000, people are still donating and asking if the fundraiser is open (it is btw, here) … why not try?
  • I didn’t come this far only to come this far.
  • I am a hiker and there will always (need to) be a hike on the horizon.

I’m taking my own advice … the words I dished up when I wrote my blog post after walking the 32kms Ruitelán to Trìacastela.

‘Sometimes it’s better to ask the question why wouldn’t I do it? Not why would I?’ ~ Camino reflections, 9th May, 2018.

Why wouldn’t I hike the last of the 100kms in September when I live this close to Spain, the trail will have cleared from the summer swarms, the Autumn will be arriving and my good friend from the first 800kms is already packing? Good friend you ask? If you’ve been reading along, you know him! It’s the big brother of the Texan A Team, the master of the ‘true camino experience’! One of the great characters of my camino story who will keep me honest to the spirit of the pilgrimage. He taught me one of my greatest lessons on the trail, one about humility. I am supremely grateful for having crossed paths with Frank and his brother Alan, our camino ambassadors of laughter.

And so friends so we move, forward and onward.

Buen Camino,

Fran xx

P.S. Fancy getting your own challenge on?

Committing?

You can create a fundraiser page here by joining the Women (& Men) Who Hike’s team and get your trail shoes ON! You can even order a dress here! You can hike anyway you want – set your own challenge:

  • Walk to work once a week
  • Get off the bus, train, tram a stop early
  • Do the stairs or the park at lunch-time
  • Meet a friend, do it with your kids, family, colleagues, on your own
  • Man I wish I could make a commitment to walk with my mum, that would be a lovely use of time (she lives in Aussie though, soz mum)
  • Give up coffee/wine for a week/month – for One Girl
  • Rope your workmates in
  • Or like me – plan an epic adventure that works for you

What-evs friends – get creative! Why not? Creativity can look like all of those things and so much more.

Adventure, Camino Frances 2018, Hiking, Life, Travel

Writing from Rabé de las Calzadas – Day 12

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Today we walked from one beautiful village into the deliciousness of Burgos, then out of Burgos and into another beautiful village. You just never know who you’ll meet around the corner when you’re walking the camino. I thought I’d tell you about last nights dinner but last night has been and here we are today … and it’s shaping up to be quite a special one (even with the sore achy feet).

Days on the Camino – 12

Kms – Today 28 kms. Our total is now around 300’ish kms hard to know the maps are all over the place.

Starting point today – Cardeñuela, Spain.

End of the day – Rabé de las Calzadas, Spain.

Number of girls in Africa educated – 20

Total funds raised so far – $6,205.00. 

If you’d like to contribute you can do so here.

Frances Antonia – Do it in a dress.

Thanks for the help Kimmy from the Women Who Hike team.

Today was dedicated to – Those four that I love the most, who sent me packing with big smiles and said ‘have fun mum, go and do your hike to help girls’. I love you all beyond words and I hope my hugs are holding you … otherwise Jimmy can dish a few extra ones out for me.

Accommodation – The last stop before we walk The Meseta – Albergue Liberanos Domine. A dorm room, 3 bunks and spacious (€8.00 each). This privately run albergue is super clean, family run and has excellent food. The vibe is awesome.

Food highlight – It has to be breakfast in Burgos … a bun with egg, bacon and the creamiest goat’s cheese followed by a second tapa … the Spanish tortilla!

In a word(s) – Co-incidences.

It was a day of coincidental meet ups on track of the BEST kind! There was Matt the Aussie we met back in Zubiri. We also came across the Italian ladies from Piedmont taking a break and as promised I took a photo.

And if that wasn’t enough …

Gerard from Holland who I met on Insta while camino training (never face to face) and have been sharing the camino with through photos and comments was sitting at the table right near them! He and his walking crew are at the Albergue tonight. The sassy American girls who have floated in the same villages the past few days have just arrived and a couple of funny Italians just rolled in. The pilgrim meal is going to be a fun one tonight.

The camino is a funny place that changes day to day. With each day it becomes a part of you and you become part of it. This afternoon I’m going to finish writing early. I think the signs today point to an evening of sharing camino stories. We have landed in a beautiful village with a special group of pilgrims. Time to live the night.

Buen Camino,

Fran xxx

Ps Thank you for all your comments here and on IG they make my day.

Adventure, Camino Frances 2018, Hiking, Travel

Writing from Nájera – Day 8

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“Yo que fui lo que tu eres, tu seras lo que yo soy” ~ inscripted on the cemetery gates of Los Arcos.

“I was once what you are, and you will be what I am”. A good enough reason to be living today and not counting down to something in the future don’t you think. We laughed a lot today mostly at ourselves and our alternating sources of discomfort. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else though, walking is my purpose now.

Days on the Camino – 8

Kms – Today 29 kms. Our total is now around 202kms. No major ailments the legs are less stiff, feet hurt by the end of the day, no more heat rash on the feet. Just waiting for the bites to settle now ;)

Starting point today – Longroño, Spain.

End of the day – Nájera, Spain.

Number of girls in Africa educated – 19

Total funds raised so far – $5,980.00. 

If you’d like to contribute you can do so here.

Frances Antonia – Do it in a dress.

Thanks for the help Kimmy from the Women Who Hike team.

Today was dedicated to – My sister for making me laugh till I cried today x 10!

Accommodation – We tried something different today and pre booked a night. We found an Albergue that has a twin room and was clean and reviewed well. (€15 each). Very happy here although it was weird knowing we had to be somewhere by a certain time or we’d lose our room! We’re fast walkers so getting here by 3pm wasn’t a problem. Tomorrow we’ll go back to rolling into town and finding a place.

Yes Liz you can pre book the private Albergue’s. You don’t pre pay but you need to arrive by 3 or you lose your room. I’ve met people who have pre booked the whole trip. Remember sprightly Carol? She did a tour last year and this year she simply booked all the same places. If you forward your bags on via transport (rather than carry your pack) you must have a place booked. It does mean you can’t change your plans on the day though. We prefer the flexibility.

Food highlight – Eating a juicy Spanish orange on a mountain top.

In a word(s) – Laughing.

It was a day of laughing at ourselves. What else can you do when at any given moment something hurts! After a sluggish start at around 20kms with new sense of vigour I announced to my sister ‘I’ve woken up’! She replied ‘the nurofen you took 1/2 an hour ago has just kicked in’. Queue another round of belly laughs.

There was a lot of walking without talking today. Most of those we passed acknowledged us with a head nod … we’re all feeling it. Not like the first few days!

I love it though. This is the guts of the walk. The time you have to dig in, it’s the character building stuff. Today I thought a lot about how unreal it is that this walk of mine with the help of so many others is going to send girls to school! Girls who without this are more likely to be married at 12. We’re sending almost a whole class of them to school. That’s so much more than any discomfort I may feel. That’s my purpose. Following on from yesterday thoughts … it’s purpose that gives me a way marker in life.

On this day of walking between vineyards, of spotting animals, lakes and ancient pilgrim hospital ruins, photographing landscape and people (pilgrims – mostly from behind). This overcast day with its fresh breeze that made walking tired so very pleasant I think of all of those who have supported this project. I walk on knowing that while I’m here walking with a purpose and I won’t have regrets.

Buen Camino

Fran xx

Adventure, Camino Frances 2018, Hiking, Travel

Writing from Lorca – Day 5

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As each new day unfolds on this walk across Spain it’s bringing a new landscape to my life. There are the physical ones I’m walking into, the mistakes we make that we will tweak tomorrow, the unbelievable swell of support from women around the globe who are right here walking with me and standing with me to support One Girl. And then there’s relationship with my sister – I missed her today as we wandered a little way apart. She’s my Robin or maybe I’m the Robin depending on who’s Batgirl at any given moment.

Days on the Camino – 5

Kms – 28 kms. Total is around 105.2kms!! Yes we’ve cracked the first 100! I’m still blister free. The heat rash thing from yesterday is clearing or it’s no worse. My feet are sore, naturally.

Starting point today – Zariquiegui, Spain.

End of the day – Lorca, Spain .

Number of girls in Africa educated – 19

Total funds raised so far – $5,950.00. If you’d like to contribute you can do so here.

Frances Antonia – Do it in a dress.

Thanks for the help Kimmy from the Women Who Hike team.

Today was dedicated to –

A friend in Bendigo with a gracious heart, a kind spirit and a wise soul. My friend Selene whose heart is a little broken. Today was always going to be a walk for her and this morning we walked up the hill to these bronze statues representing the pilgrims of the Middle Ages. On which one has this engraved:

Donde se cruza el camino del viento con el de las estrellas which translates into English as where the path of the wind crosses that of the stars.

My friend who reads here will know the serendipitous nature of me walking into this moment on her day of being in my thoughts. It’s in the wind dear friend I hope it hugs you.

Accommodation – The albergue La Bodega del Camino in this medieval like village in Lorca is ticking all our boxes. A double room in this hostel is €20 per night! So rather than €9 each for a bunk we have a double room with doors that close (currently introverting in here – we all must be ok with knowing what we need right ;)). And now we have a new accom option when they arise – the private room amongst the dorms.

There is a bar and restaurant here with the option of the pilgrim meal or an a la carte menu. Also handy drying racks on the balcony and loads of them!

Personally we are quite enjoying longer walks, less breaks and arriving at the albergue’s in the early afternoon (we must have a meal/break between 15-20kms). The showers are empty, the beds are free and the afternoon becomes ours. That’s our Camino way.

Food highlight – Local peppers are no longer on the menu … but for lunch today was a massive bowl of spag bol was! After 28 odd kms and no lunch stop – I inhaled that!

In a word(s) – Blissfully tired and NOT getting off this double bed! A self catered €6 dinner is taking care of that, thanks sister.

It was a social trail today! Remember German Lucas from Orisson, day 1? Well as it turns out he wasn’t walking with his dad. He was just sitting with a guy who looked like his dad and they’d met on the Camino. He is on the left and man he sets a cracking pace! I hope my kids at 23 are independent enough to walk a Camino on their own. Lucas is meeting his mum further down the path to walk into Santiago with – how special!

And on the right is Mark he also German and excellent at identifying wild herbs. He was walking with Gunther in a past photo remember the gentleman pulling the trolley from day 2? We’d never spoken until today and I presumed Gunther was his dad, it turns out he isn’t! They had also met on the Camino. It seems I make a lot of presumptions.

We walked about 20kms with these guys and as they settled for a break in the town of Cirauqui. My sister and I were going to push on but first I had a brief chat with Miriam. A Dutchie who does a part of Camino each year. Each year for 10 of the last 14 – she started in Amsterdam. No, I’m not joking she started in Amsterdam 14 years ago. How’s that! And guess what else? She lived right near where I do now in The Netherlands! Coincidences of the nicest kind.

To exit the town of Cirauqui you walk under a Roman Arch and along a Roman road to exit. Off we marched the two of us, Batgirl and Robyn with our big grins. We made a BIG mistake here. We’d walked through the town – the one we planned to have lunch in and instead of going back under that Roman Arch to find food we walked on. We couldn’t be bothered turning around but we could be bothered to tackle the next 5.5 kms! Nuts. That was 22 kms without a stop other than a coffee in Puente la Reina, (home of the famous ‘Queens Bridge’ that was built to support the safe passage of medieval pilgrims) and our breaky of boiled eggs and fruit!

No surprises then that when we made it to Lorca after a good 27kms we dropped our packs – SPENT and done for the day!

But what a day it was – we walked into a new landscape where the vines and olive trees grow, where the thyme grows wild and along the way we passed through medieval villages, walked on Roman roads and crossed Romanesque bridges built for pilgrims of the past. And BOY did we laugh at our bodily woes, my sister and I.

On this day we also clocked over the first 100 kms of hiking and another two girls will receive an education thanks to some more unbelievable family generosity. The global community of global women continue to fill my inbox with heartfelt messages of support, hope and kindness … the Camino is providing or is it life that is providing???

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Today a new blogger started following me and she just started a blog (with this quote). I don’t know her, I don’t think I do … but I like that she’s started a journey. That’s where it all begins …

Buen Camino

Fran x

Adventure, Camino Frances 2018, Hiking, Travel

Writing from Larrasoaña – Day 3

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Arriving, unpacking, showering, clothes washing, afternoons to write, ponder the day, share stories and relax, dinner, repack, breakfast, hiking … repeat! That about sums up my days so far on the Camino. Quite routined yet absolutely unpredictable.

Days on the Camino – 3

Kms – 28kms today = 57kms total (blister free).

Starting point today – Roncesvalles, Spain.

End of the day – Larrosoaña, Spain.

Number of girls in Africa educated – 17

Total funds raised so far – $5,295.00 If you’d like to contribute you can do so here. Frances Antonia – Do it in a dress.

Thanks for the help Kimmy  from the Women Who Hike team.

Today was dedicated to – Today I stepped for my friend Ian! We met some 15 years or so ago sitting in the immigration office in The Netherlands. We can have years without contact but always when our paths and cities collide we eat and we laugh. He has been so supportive of this trek, providing hours of PR work and life support (as required ;)). Since moving to The Netherlands he has been one of my closest confidants and biggest believers even though he lives in France. I love you my dear friend.

Accommodation – The albergue San Nicolás in Larrasoaña is a family run pilgrim hostel. It’s €12 per night, we added a pilgrim dinner here for €11 for the 3 courses. The rooms are female only which is nice.

Food highlight – It definitely wasn’t the breakfast – toasted baguettes that were so toasted I’d call them croutons! We stopped for a lunch break in Zubiri after the first 20kms – a tuna and olive empanada pie highlight hands down👌🏼👌🏼.

In a word(s) – settling in.

The Roncesvalles albergue runs like a well oiled machine. Not quite out of the mountains it sits at an altitude of 950m and is populated by 30 inhabitants! With the help of the Dutch friends of the camino who volunteer at this old monetary, pilgrims are orderly organised in from 2 and out by 8. Wake up music plays through the 200 room dorm speakers at 6.30am.

This morning we tried the pre-ordered breakfast. We had a long day of hiking ahead. We ordered it simply because of the ‘habit’ of sitting down to breakfast while on a holiday and because it was available. Note to future pilgrims walk a little on your way and you’ll find a better cafe and supermarket.

We soon realised that on the Camino sitting down to breakfast is a quick affair. Walking is what we get up to do, however you do you camino. While I carry my pack some opt to forward theirs on with transport to their next accommodation and this gentleman opts for a trolley for his bigger pack! I prefer to carry mine so we can decide on the day or during the walk where we will stop, but I have a time luxury, a strong(ish) back and my age helps.

I also like the idea that it feels like a day’s work! Good old fashioned hard work. Moving my body beyond its comfort zone and making it stronger. There was a time when we all would have moved and carried heavy things. That’s what I’m telling myself ;)

There was a lot of one foot in front of the other today and the ever present friendliness on the trail. I think walking your own pace is important and your own way … but sometimes when you meet someone who’s pace matches and the conversation is good and it works it’s awesome.

I think we’re beginning to build our Camino family. Tonight we caught up with the sprightly one (Carol) and said goodbye as we plan to go further tomorrow. It struck me over dinner as I spoke with Manuel (7th Camino) with his Spanish and my non Spanish how completely surreal this environment is. You know how kids love school camp? I think this is like that and as adults we’ve forgotten how fun school camp was!!

While the routine of how we start and finish the day each step, each climb, each corner brings something new. As we trekked away the snow topped mountains and through the rolling hills of the Navarra region we met the spring. We walked through farms, towns, plains, across rivers as we followed the Camino arrows into the realization that these days with their uniqueness will form something spectacular.

We’re going to try something new tomorrow. We’re opting for an early start with fruit (from the supermarket) to snack as we walk … we’ll stop for coffee at the first town.

The simplicity living with what you need in a pack and this minimal routine provides an ease to make these tweaks. The tweaks that improve the flow of the day, days that lead to weeks, weeks that will form the month – the walk. Each of us here will tweak different things but we will all arrive home tweaked for the better – how could we not.

Buen Camino

Fran x