Living Contentedly

√     FAT 25 √√   SAT FAT 17 CARBS 54 SUGARS 19 SODIUM 235g 48% CEREALS PRESERVATIVE 220,223 13% GOLDEN SYRUP 10% BROWN SUGAR STABILISERS 410  415 EMULSIFIER 471 SNICKERS       Fat Total 23.3g/100g      Fat Saturated.  8.1g/100 √   Carbohydrates.  58.3 √   Sugars.  52.1 √   Sodium.  264mg CONTAINS  35% MILK CHOCOLATE 26& CARAMEL 23% PEANUTS 15% NOUGAT FAT 11%/100M CLIF BAR Total Fat:  6–8g Saturated Fat:  1–2g Total Carbohydrates:  40–42g Dietary Fiber:  4–5 Sugars:  16–20 Sodium :  230mg COMPARISON: Aldi Oat Bar rates higher in Fats & Saturated Fats Snickers rates higher in Carbohydrates, Sugars & Sodium. Clif Bar rates lowest in all measures. 

A funner day today. I couldn't fit a quick link to my bike because the little spacer on my chain breaker has gone ÀWOL, so I redirected my energy/ life force for the day.  As you can see, in Port Stephens you can't go wrong with scenery. I walked from Salamander Bay near Mambo, along the water's edge to may be Dutchies Beach? Anyway it took a little over an hour each way, & it was majestical. There were no sailboats in action, just a few tinnies bothering the boat ramps.  I must say any of those little beaches from Bagnalls through to Dutchies (well anywhere really), would be a great stopover on a sail camp cruise. The water being so clear, the bush closes the waters edge & there's even a swan gathering place.    Yacaaba way off. Black Swans, 37 in fact. Lovely as the heads appear near Peppers Rathole Same same, but further east. Finished with a swim. 

After days of putting off going to town I mde a big step today towards normal. A swim, bike parts, groceries & a new mattress was achieved & I had energy to help Joe remove a stuck diff plug. Well he appreciated it.  The fire is blacked out. Meanwhile Mia has been deployed putting out fires in her watercart. Tomorrow she takes on the job training at Parkes airport to become a caretaker, groundskeeper and so on. 

Strengthen my endurance so that through patience and perseverance, I may gain my soul and glorify You in all things. Amen . Recently I have been reminded of the deep pleasures that arise from pain. Good health, greater confidence & unfettered self love. Can't beat any of that. I am aware of the need to embrace tiredness, tenderness & hunger in order to transform your spirit.

Its probable that at this very moment a war of viruses is going on against the antibiotics I introduced to my system yesterday. But for the first time in an age I feel like I'm not fighting "the world" alone.     Not to be melodramatic, but I have really felt burdened by this "bug" for a few months. Despite having achieved a great physical feat, I've felt dreadful a lot of the time. I've been stealing moments of gratitude & have greatly enjoyed myself, but this bug has stolen from me.     The symptoms had been easing off, I'm not totally free & the antibiotics obviously need more time, but today, this moment, I  feeling the best i have in ages. Bring it on!

My Improving Health Well, the symptoms of my Virus Cocktail (Covid, Adeno & Rhino viruses), are ever so slowly fading away. Def the headache & fever are gone, muscle aches & stiffness have reduced, runny nose almost ceased & chest congestion is mostly quiet. My throat can flare up after coughing or sleep (snoring). My physical energy are still only moderate, but my mental energy is trying for 100% so overal I'm really happy.  This mornings view towards the sun Two things I have to do is, stop watching social media. However entertaining it is to witness the Downfall of Donald Trump, it breeds idleness but also a negative or combative energy within which is totally unneeded. The other I guess is the Convalescing Mode about the house. Its typical for me to get a stiff back if I'm bedridden for a few days. I then dot around bent over, sipping coffee feeling sorry for myself & comfort eating. So bad, I have to stop that.  Post Script : After blogging...

Sunday of the last week going onto December & I am  kneecapped by flu symptoms No matter how much care I pour into myself, I cannot break free.  I suppose with the cyclone effected weather pattern we are in now, I'm not missing much.  The good Dr Noir, despite my minimising the symptoms insisted I get tested, which I did yesterday (22/11/2025). After getting a weirdly "clear result" message, I've just received a backup one confirming positive testing for; Rhinovirus, Stenovirus & Covid. That explains why I've been feeling run down, sick, sore & exhausted. Good news I'd it should clear up with rest & hydration.  As I write, Joe is off to get a self test kit for his work. 

Home from Spain by nine days, seven or so spent in bed with flu. Sick of being sick & needing a script for pills I rode to East Maitland. There the doctor honed in on my dry cough, diagnosed possible virus & referred me for a swab. If I do have Covid, ergo Joe, I will not be surprised. The raging fever that hit as I boarded the plane, the headaches and sinusitis, body stiffness and aches, and the persistent dry cough were all full on. I feel terrible passing it to Joe. On the way back my cycling looked increasingly weak, as I walked low hills and struggled out of first gear. Back pain didn't help. One bit of bright news occurred when I asked the doctor if I could use his scales. I weighed in at "73" (I thought 72), but anyway this puts me at 15kg weight lost since before I left. If I can shake this virus, I'd be happier still. 

The Cooyong, March 2024. Even there it felt remarkably photogenic. Tripping over these images tonight, I am equally awestruck. 

Wed.  * Julie calls, we discuss her departure a week tomorrow for Italy, Spain & UK.  *_Last night solar hw pump starts growling, so its turned off. Worried about a steam explosion due to fire on without positive circulation. After checking out the pump, it begins working again.a little miracle, until later when it stopped. Anyway in the evening, fire on, no explosions just yet, but had a toasty shower. * Sandals arrive Pat PO.   * finish panting ness boat cream. Only ext bilges to paint, then trailer skids. Really enjoying working under cover.  

The first five days home have been tough due to a raging cold that set in on day one. Friday through Monday I've been sleeping, coughing, clearing my nose & little else. I've had tiny moments in the previous day, of feeding the chooks or cooking but my productivity has been really low. In fact I passed it on to Joe & he missed work already.  All my plans are on hold, but today I think I will get more done, ordering a new hot water pump, putting a new battery in Suby, will make me happier. Hope so. 

17:04_Sydney time with 3hrs 48min flying time left to land on Singapore.  Sat in the back row of the plane, Row43. Next passenger is a nice young Bristol woman who was visiting her brother in Sydney. She is renovating an old home just like Mia. Feeling a bit blah. Im not sure why air staff cram the food in asap. The faire was pretty stodgy: tacky penne pasta with spinach, potato salad, cheesecake with thick crumbly base, biscuits & cheese. After eating good stuff & getting heaps of exercise I now feel bound up. Luckily i am next to the closest to the toilet! I'm still feeling great about the project, just down on the food choices. But this is what most people eat, apparently.  10:07pm au time, just under an hour to Singapore & had jiggly turbulence for the last hour, seatbelts on.  Funny, had s snack just now, a leek & chicken calzone which was again super doughy. Been reading kindle, watching flight path & short videos as well  as 2 Brit movies: ...

What she lacks in household goods she makes up for in stuff for her horses. You name of: 

Well its days two out of Sydney, so it must be Wednesday, but could be Thursday. I realised with just minutes to spare that I had to hurry to board my plane to Madrid. Arriving to check in for Flight BA458, I learned it was BA548 to Berlin, and that I would not make it. I rushed about a bit frantically, tired, navigationally challenged for no effect. I found a BA Help desk and the lovely man there got Mr on am immediate flight with Iberian Airways. Right now I'm sitting in the very backseat listening to a Spanish girl and her mum watching Bluey on a laptop, and a very attractive air stewardess machine gunning off five words a second and I only get one of them each minute.  The Spanish strike me as having no volume nob and love life unapologetically.  Luckily I had snacks stashed, so onboard I've nibbled, dried bananas, a but mix, energy bar and day old peanut butter roll. Water from the WC onboard.  My next tricks are to locationy pack, get a bus to Burgos (too late for I...

Night of 17/9 too late for hostel, saw Arrows so walks.  Found Guadalupe? Walk uphill in forest 2 am h/torch on red, goats freaked, way of crosses. Happy, praying, saw hydrangeas, remind me of sr marg, oops. G is cathedral. Snack snooze, walk says Camino x Guada Foresstial. Shadow of spire in fog high in sky. 

In my cot in municipal albergue Tarjados, I  rereading "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Graham. The lighthearted & humorous tone is a healthy escape from the arduous & dour mood of the Camino.  In the story, The Mole has spent much of summer in company of Ratty learning the ways of the waterfront & boats. Eventually Mole's urge to meet Toad is addressed & the two fellows row to the elaborate & well-stocked boat shed at Toad Hall.  They might ordinarilly expect to visit a fellow boater to discuss boats & the waterfront happenings. However Ratty suspects that the " boastful & conceited  but otherwise having great qualities" Toad, has developed another interest. He had noted that Toad's latest boat was lashed away & gathering dust.  Typically, Toad is effervescent in his praise of his latest interest, which happens to be touring in a horsedrawn gypsy's caravan. Toad insists they both join him that very afternoon in his ne...

After a hard walking day yesterday, 27 to hear, another 1_or 2 to the cathedrL Forge Ahead - Portugal Porto & walk 10 days via Fatima.  Ret. 1 Nov Ahead Slow Finisterre x 5 days Ret. 28 Oct On Hold Remain a few days to rest, decide Head Off Book flights & transfer to MAD Must Dos Laundry Banco Check options: weather, flights,

Overnight was restless with cold & cramping so this morning I woke before six. I had a half strength capucinno & baled. I was a bit surprised to learn it was 6am, but it began getting light before 7 when I began  a mongrel downhill.  At some point Fung a Chinese corporate lawyer latched onto me. We talked & walked to where I stopped, early at midday. But I was hungry, weak with mild hyperthermia & was in no great hurry. I had spag carbonara which was nice but hammy. zipper? puntasampanaio Now in my cot Samantha of Latvia is here, I have a pod, certain, blanket, WiFi, hot shower. All I need. 

Submerged by the citadel a sodden gray rat emerges at the riverbank. Climbing past corpulant Tui cathedrals that could irritate the Portuguese. But Spain's colours are exposed, crumbling domiciles & vacuous industries. Remote from cities great boulders cleave off to lie undisturbed & appreciated. Streams gurgle with fresh wash under monolithic stone bridges. Beauty created by Nature & unknown men with arcane skill. This confusing nonsense is there to be witnessed only. Academic men pretend but can't recreate the magical durability. 

An animal hotel for " toskas & banjos" . I am wondering which one is the cat, I prefer toska. So different to Spain's "  gato & perro".  Fisherman's camps along the shore are very untidy, but tolerated . . . for now. Met a lovely Korean woman. She & her husband walked Frances & today will finish the Coastal in Oporto, before touring to Fatima, Lisboa & Bali. Her husband was busy taping his feet. Lovely woman. 

Rereading K Fosket's Camino narrative. Carting a tent, stove & sleep bag sure takes albergue stress out of the effort.  He relayed early, his as a teenager he fell in with tent camping as an ideal leisure activity. Making coffee is the cream on top.  The extra weight is the thing though & I note his third chapter opens with a discussion about blisters. 

Had the misfortune to hit a dorm with four ppl that had looselu spent time walking the way.  It was though they fell over themselves to create a,bad vibe."Oh I've had horrendous blisters ... i get my pack sent forward daily ... I took a risk getting new shoes in Porto ... terrible business ..."  A second woman chimed in & they began talking about home, work & post grad studies. Lady two, who just the night before melted a pair of socks "drying them in the microwave" expressed real concerns about second wave colonisation while teaching in the NT until funding was cut. She relayed a poor history of experiences six years ago when she "walked (part of) the Frances". Just to lower the tone further. They all agree that walking anywhere over 20k a day was the devil's work.  A guy, part of a Spanish couple asserted that "all the private albergues & businesses will close this weekend for winter". (Tomorrow, Friday, being the last day o...

Walking with Giddy a Dutch group leader was good crack, but I couldn't wall past a second kebab shop.  I ordered, a falafel kebab with extra cheese, chips & Pepsi. Waiting.  . It was good, not great. Chips had an oddly sweet tomato sauce & sour cream, Pepsi was 100%, only for 50% of kebab & took rest away for dinner. Rainy into SDC - I just wanted credential. As I neared photo station at cathedral I exchanged duties with an older woman there so that was good. I bought a,brightly coloured hat for Mia from a refuge street vendor. It looked well made & altho a little expensive, for the best cause.  My old Albo was "open" but shut up & rather than wait I walked to the next area, Barrio San Lazaro for a €10 modern barn type albo. Sadly WiFi is u/s @ sign in thing. So rather than stay another night for €5 I'll hit the trail.  QUOTE FOR TODAY: TOUGH PROBLEMS DON'T LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO.

Little Lunch. After startingvwirh two panadol it wasn't looking good.but I felt OK once moving despite rain. I stopped after 2 hrs for my first gel. O hope of helps.  A little while later at a bar the owner can't fathom tostada & marmalade. She decides I want marmalarda aonisjong me for my pronunciation & serves me toast with whipped cream? She does add a piece of slice. Goal for later is to eat citrus & buy solid lunch food & oats sachets for breakfast. Rain features.

Eased off to the bank with no Wise card. Poop, at least no one can use it.  At the albergue I met an old e-cyclist, being fill on French we could not really chat. I did learn he was riding the Camino Frances from St Jean & found day one very difficult. He was quite short & old (late 70s or more), heavy set & unfit, yet here he was, loaded to the gunnels & having a crack. His machine was a cracker too; Scott brand with 2.5" tyres. It actually looked too big for him, but he seemed to know the bike really well, and I wished him well. The Stones : after last evening's freakish get I thought today would go easily. Huh! I'd passed Lobre & Salceda was not far away, but The Way seemed lashed to highway side walks, so I was getting anxious. Then after passing a sello man, I saw the arrows go under the road, sello man actually tried to stop me saying was a na l loop, but I could a stone structure that I recognised from Julie's photos. I soon confirmed this as...

Accommodation :  Portomarin.  7/11. Albergue Madrid.  =   8 Sat.         √ Madrid.  =   9 Sun.        √ Madrid.  =   10 Mon      √ Air.          =   11 Tues.    tbc Air.          =   12 Wed.     tbc Home.    =    13 Thurs.  tbc Transfers & Flights: Portomarin.  Walk.    √ Prtmn to Lugo        (8/11) Lugo to Madrid      (8/11). √} Madrid to Airport  (11/11)

The mileage is quite modest. That's because the villages after Melide have no albo's or expensive ones. Not just a few dollars, but €40 and up. That reminds me, I met two older women, one was curious as to whether I was returning to St Jean. Anyway, they had walked the NORTE and found vacancies along The Way and prices from €8 to €25 including a meal. They were a bit surprised at my experience and I now believe that with my knowledge to avoid cities and look at smaller towns and villages, I would get by OK.        -----     ------     -----      ----- Walking was going to be wet today. I made it to a bar round the corner & noted a storks nest on a cathedral spire. Leaving town was direct but I tried hard & at one point, that I thought I knew from last where I fed chooks &_ducks, threw me a loop. I walked five extra k's in belting rain. Once settled I walked lovely bush trails, with a few...

Primary goal for today is to confirm my flights. If I can buy an outfit? 

Its late eventing, so we've lost se daylight. My offline phone reads 10:55 but its going on 17:55.  We had a crappy start, after it was announced we were nearly ready for the off, a problem securing a cargo hatch saw up delayed in dark, wonf & rain for ages. Then it was announced we would be landing on SIN after diverting around Afghanistan. On the flight tracker we made a ninety degree turn over the northern reaches of that area & shot across India with the Himalayan mountains off to port.  I haven't heard a definite on our stopover in Singapore, I hope we don't have to disembark for  few hours. But now having mentioned that, this will probably happen. :) I had the all portion of fruit salad & a veg frittata earlier & my digestive system hummed over the he frittata & literally sang in ecstacy over a single piece of pineapple, some rockmelon & other juicy morsels of apple, pear & grape. It was literally one of the smallest buckets I've seen, ...

I showered early & made sure my phone & power pack are full, put on fresh clothes.  Worry #1: That the airport bus driver would not take cash.  Result #1: He did happily. Worry #2: I would alight at the wrong terminal due to lack of directions. Result #2: The bus had a recorded msg. Worry #3: I would find out too late that T4"S" is away from T4. Result #3: The S refers to the area after luggage check. Worry #4: Thus flight would be effected by European flights chaos. Result #5: It looks pretty normal here, no crowds, no delays. After hitting the street, I wanted to visit San Nicolas for a rosary. A mass was underway, but I pulled over to the side & did my thing.  Having only €20 I bought supermarket food. I wanted banana rolls, but they were selling sealed pkts only so I got cheese & apple. I got some orange juice to ward off bugs. At the bus terminal I got straight on, cash was a non issue. Bus was chockers but did its job. I got very embarrassed thinking...

Typically the dorm at the Albergue was flooded with human stench but amazingly I slept till 7am & am not suffering for it.  I've just found an airy sandwich & pastries bar 50m away and ate a tuna salad roll that was crispy good. There was a police operation just outside, not sure what but high security, no rush.  Today's goal will be to spread my wings a little without getting lost and being safe while I do this. I would love a museum or gallery to while away time and soak in some culture. I just need to avoid any seedy looking places, of which there area many. There is a Metro station nearby(ANTON MAETIN), if I was game i could give that a go but the ticketing ?? Online, I know the airport is NE from here by 14k, walkable, at least part of the way. I do need to confirm the Terminal number, probably T4 again, but no guarantees until I confirm my flight booking tomorrow. 10:30; have begun stretching my legs and getting my bearings. Fortunately I found a lovely church no...

My dorm hosted many matured aged S Korean men who cooked up a garlic storm before bed. This mornings air was thick with the aromas of digested garlic & Asian sauces. They left a half hour ago, but the stench remains. I won't miss that, & its wet & cold outside. Of course I am only half serious. I will miss everything. I hope I don't miss my fitness, I will strive to keep going with walking & cycling, surfing & sailing.   Two hours till the Lugo bus leaves Portomarin. I still love this place, it feels coastal despite being hundreds of kilometers inland.  Lucky accident, watching Spanish TV mews, I realise my phone clock is an hour slow. The New Ted is of course ready for such things. I am still 30 minutes early. Standing at the bus stop opposite the Portomarin sign, two couples have asked me to take photos.  Unwinding, my body is more relaxed than its been for a while. Its feels loosed, & my mind is drifting into romantic ideals, I am searching...

Raining with 25k to walk. The good news, i don't gave to do it tomorrow. I tried hard to not get lost & my Camino vibe meter was dialled in. A few steep hills & rickety trail at times. Saved by a teenager who called me in for free coffee, Mandarin  & chat. Nice kid! @ ligronde Gonze, one of the villages. Dropped down into portomarin, located an albo but the fellow there escorted me to a new place overhanging the river.  Found the estacion only metres away I'll be hitting that early. Found a market, got bananas, baguette, bikkies & nuts to snack tonight & tomorrow.

The day dawned wet & grey, so the normal burst was a little subdued. I made a cuppacino of sorts, at @lb & spoke with Alaskan woman. She lost her husband a yr ago, aged 69 to heart attack. She said the Camino had restored her emotionally. Good news for her. I made it 20m to a bar, the toast was good, the coffee got burnt & I should returned it.  Today's walking was on muddy trails in solid rain, pretty unenjoyable. I dragged my cooling carcass into Palas de Rei just before midday. At Cafe Morrino, where I ate before (large jolly woman in tights), & ordered a burger & chips. I will take my time over it then go find an @lbo to dry out. No photos as my phone was in my pack to stay dry. No remarkable sightings apart from wet pilgrims, & muddy trails. Many Spanish on the trail, must be a holiday thing.  With trail walking being so cold & drab, I am very much looking forwards to ending my walk. Portomarin is a mere 24k from here. Perhaps I will book 3 nig...

0632: Albergue de Pergrinos, Barrio San Lazard (668k)      The lose Exit Plan is to walk 20k a day till Portomarin before bussing out to Madrid, Saturday 8/11/2025.      There are 2 subgoals:- a) to eat vegetable lasagna & cheesecake at;           Taste the Way            9 Lugo Ave            O Pedrosa  (654k)           b) to locate "the stones".            Location: Footbridge &           shrine between LOBRE &           SALCEDA (645k) Today, the cafe should come up 12k.      -     -     -     -     -     -      - Well it was actually 19k, & 19 hard won k's too.  Walking Against th...

When I thought ahead I was sure I would give my all, but I was not sure if I would succeed. Reasons against success were many:- - I might injure myself. - it might just be too long of a walk for me to complete it without extreme fatigue, or blisters. - just not doable with my knowledge of Spanish, the Camino, long distance hiking. - I might just simply lose interest because its boring, uninspiring or I don't fit in. - there'd be a drama at home calling me away. So I was never confident. I recall the early stages when I was being super careful on lose or uneven ground, do as not to roll my ankle. I would dutifully grease my feet & tension my laces just so.I probably didn't hang out with others, to prevent myself from looking foolish or getting distracted.  During the middle stages of the Frances my feet showed signs of good durability & my legs were working as well as ever. I entertained the possibility that I might do it. But ultimately, it was until a few days out ...

Felt tired, sick & achey overnight, but ate left over rice & this morning had a hot shower to warm up before hitting wet roads. Ate toast & coffee.  I am being more aware of body status when walking alone, plus I can meditate without trouble.The last 2 days I walked extensively with Fang x China & Rainbow of Taiwan & China. I particularly found R distracting & draining. The rain didn't help. Through the day I ate a banana, two spinach & cheese triangles from Calais de Rais (sp), lemon tea, a gel, croissant. With shops closed for holiday it was slim pickings.  While walking over the backside of a high ridge in drizzle, I heard a pack of dogs barking excitedly before s crackingly loud gunshot split the air. Further down the valley just as I arrived at a village crossroads I heard the lead dog's distinctive bark & watched as the vehicle the fogs were in pulled over followed by two others. A heap of fellows wearing fluoro orange jackets or hats pile...