Time flies when you’re having fun eh? I surely hope my time in Spain doesn’t go by fast when I get there! Like the title says, I am 20 days before I start my 5th stint on the Camino Frances. I can’t believe I have been caught by this bug since June 2011. There is no sign of it letting me go also, judging my eagerness to return to Spain.

I have just over 2 weeks of walking ahead of me so if all goes well I should get to the Templar city of Ponferrada. Although I may reach Villafranca if I put in a few long days. My flight touches down in Bilbao on the 5th of May and I catch a bus from the city’s main bus station afterward. It will bring me to Belorado where I plan to start the next morning. I have emailed Jana in Cuatro Cantones (I encourage you all to stay there – a fab albergue) and she will save a bunk for me there! Should my flight be delayed, I have the option of catching a later bus to Burgos which is 50km westwards from Belorado.

I walked from Belorado to Atapuerca in 2013 , a 30km day, but I may stop short in Ages this year. It is a challenging first day with a good climb at Villafranca Montes de Oca and a long slog of 12km through woods before arriving at the barren San Juan de Ortega. I have good memories of devouring lunch and a cerveza at the bar there before moving on to the next town.

I’ve also learnt that some friends of mine are walking different sections in or around the same week. Unfortunately, we won’t meet but we will good stories to tell when we all return. I travel to Tipperary this weekend to walk two longish days (around 20km) and hopefully to have some tapas and vino.

I had a random thought of throwing on my backpack in work today and a big smile appeared on my face. It is strange what makes people happy. I can’t wait to get back out there.

Buen Camino!