Getting ready! (April 2012)

Departure from Ashland is coming up on  April 23.  Lots of last minute tasks and chores, tied to the trip itself, research arrangements, and also to getting the house prepared for housesitters.  After spending a few days in Athens, Ga visiting Mark, we'll fly to Barcelona and spend a day time adjusting and exploring.  Our plan is to take the train to Montserrat on May 1, and be walking bright and early May 2.

Here's an outline of our planned route, and a nifty overview map showing many of the caminos.  We're starting at Montserrat (a short train ride outside of Barcelona), following the Camino Catalan (red) through Huesca and on up to the Monastery San Juan de la Pena near Jaca.  From there we'll pick up the Camino Aragones (turquoise) heading westward, and meet the Camino Frances near Pamplona.  The Camino Frances (green) is the most heavily traveled pilgrimage route; we'll be following it as far as Leon.  In Leon we'll head north on the Ruta del Salvador (lavender) to Oviedo, then down the Camino Primitivo (yellow) to Santiago de Compostela.  After Santiago we plan to continue west to the coast at Finisterre.