20.2 miles

I managed to do two walks today, one in the morning, and one after dinner.  I am really enjoying both the actual walking and the virtual walking, as well as the virtual sketching.  I've "seen" lots of mountains and hills, hikers and sheep, a few hostels, shops, homes and churches.  Today I sketched the sunset from the day before at Roncesvalles (I've been spelling it wrong and need to go back and fix it in my journal), and also a new church.  I'm assuming that I will "see" lots of churches on this journey.  I even have a "buddy" that is also walking the trail and sketching.  She is a little bit behind me, but maybe she will end up catching up, or
 even  passing me.

17.4 miles

I completed the first stage - to the town of Roncesvalles, 17.4 miles on my virtual Camino.

Today's "walking" included a walk with Linda Brown at the Wildlife Center, and my tap class, plus whatever extra steps Fitbit added.  It ended up being 2.4 miles for the day.  My sketch was of the Roncesvalles Church.  I wasn't crazy about the composition, and should have gotten a better photo from Google.  There were a lot of them.  I need to get better at hatching and cross hatching if I'm going to get good at this.

14.8 miles

I missed a day of walking yesterday (already)? I had to be out to teach my watercolor class early, and my knee was hurting a bit, and then the rain started and I just decided to take a rest day.  But I was back out there today bright and early, and made it to 14.8 total miles so far.  Almost done with the first stage of the Camino.  I should (virtually) make the town of Roncesvalles tomorrow.

9.9 miles

I am now 9.9 miles along the trail, headed for Roncesvalles - last stop on the first section of the journey.

In real life, I did a slightly longer walk today, plus a lot of walking while grocery shopping.

The advantages of this being a virtual trip:
1. 9.9 miles would be a very poor showing for a real Camino, would barely have made it to the first refuge/hostel. Only walking a mile or two in real life means that I can sleep in my own bed.
2.  Instead of a 30 pound backpack, I'm walking with a small fanny pack that probably weighs less than 2 pounds.
3.  I didn't see any wooded areas (or porta-potties) in the photos, so I would have had a slight (not so slight) problem in that regard.
4. No blisters!!!

7.6 miles

An endless stretch of road in the fog. Hard to get that feeling of just how far you can see.

In real life, 1.5 miles today, including a walk before church, plus Fitbit steps.

5.5 miles

In real life, I walked about 3/4 of a mile today, plus Fitbit steps for the day, making a total of 2.1.  That puts me at about 5.5 miles on the virtual trail.  These sketches were done from the Walking4Fun website.  I read the chapter in "The Artist's Journey" where they walked from Saint Jean Pied de Port to the Orrison Refuge, a total of 6 miles for their first day.  The author mentioned that the trail was so steep that they needed to stop every 20 feet to catch their breath, and that they were glad to stop and sketch.  I would not have made it, and would have needed emergency assistance.  LOL

3.2 Miles

The "second day".  Approximately 3.2 miles into my journey.

In real life, a 0.6 mile neighborhood walk, plus whatever steps my Fitbit accumulates today.

First Day's Sketches

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the starting point for El Camino

(Sketches done from photos provided on Walking 4 Fun)

 About 0.6 on the trail at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

I'm Walking the Camino - Sort of

So I'm a 74 year old out of shape couch potato, and yesterday I was trying to see if I could find something online that would inspire me to start and stick to a walking routine.  I stumbled onto something called "Walking 4 Fun" , a virtual walking site, where you could choose your trail and it would provide maps, pictures, and a walking log.  Curious, I investigated further, and found that the Camino was listed.  It's around 560 something miles.  Hahaha!  At the rate I walk, it could take a couple of years.  But ever since watching the movie "The Way" with Martin Sheen, I wished that I could do this - in another lifetime, with another more fit body.  LOL  So, here I go.  So far today I walked .7 miles.  Yes, that's "point 7".  I also knew that if I were really walking the Camino, I would want to sketch along the way.  Me, the procrastinator, who keeps joining sketching challenges and bailing before the end of the month.  So I ordered a book from Amazon called "Sketching the Camino" for inspiration, and later today will find an empty sketchbook and I will be on my way.

I'm not doing this as a "fake journal" ala Roz S.  I  will describe my actual mileage on walking trails at home, but with sketches of the Camino from the photos provided by the program.

Today is a painting day with a friend, so I may not get another walk in, but I'm wearing my Fitbit and will accumulate a small amount of steps as I go thru my day.  Who knows, I may be inspired to do another walk this evening.