Travel Day 3 - Biarritz! A Day in the Bay of Biscay

Date: Sat 13June 2025

Travel Day: 3

Route: Biarritz, France

Distance Walked Today: 10?mile wandering town

Total Distance So Far: X miles

Highlights of the Day:

The first half we had a great breakfast at our place - Hotel AMA (wonderful!) then we just wandered. The art store was fun, which lead to a market, which lead to a walk on the water. An adventure finding an adapter and grocery stores. Then a nap. Today’s goal is getting through get lag. tomorrow morning we head to Saint Jean Pied De Port by train

Photos / Sketches:

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Where We’re Going Tomorrow:

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Daily/Weekly Up Date - Travel Day 1 and 2 getting there

Date: 12-13 June 2025

Travel Day: 1

Route: Minneapolis to Dublin fo Biarritz

Car, light rail, tram, plane, plane, bus?

 Highlights of the Day

Can’t believe the day has arrived—so much dreaming, planning, and gathering of stuff. I’ve never taken this much time off!

Final Prep

Worked like crazy all week to get things as buttoned up as possible at work. Then at home, I did everything I could to leave things in good shape and the house clean for those staying behind. I was still working on last-minute details and triple-checking bags up to 15 minutes after we needed to leave.

At the Gate

We’re currently sitting at the gate, ready to board. A little fun moment—turns out I misread the terminal. Our airline was not in Terminal 2… it was in the main terminal. Easy light rail ride though—no worries. Just one of many small challenges to calmly think through.

Travel Jitters

Travel anxiety is a real thing, folks. I keep double and triple-checking everything, just waiting to discover that huge thing I forgot. It’s kind of the opposite of the other challenge—packing the absolute minimum. I started to relax once we saw both Airtagged bags made it onto the flight.

Overnight Flight

The overnight flight from MSP to Dublin was long, but fine. Leo slept on and off. I only managed about 30 minutes of actual sleep, though I did rest. I usually sleep well on planes, but it wasn’t in the cards this time.

Layover in Dublin

We’re far enough away now that it’s 8:30 a.m. here and about 2 a.m. back home.

We’re sitting in the Dublin airport now—can’t check our bags or go through security for another 1.5 hours. We’ve got a 2-hour flight from here to Biarritz, then we’ll get to our hotel around 5-ish.

Small World Moments

It truly is a small world—we’re having dinner tonight with a friend, Jim Lammers from Minneapolis, who I currently have an art show with at the Landmark Building (on travel sketching). He’s in Biarritz on a different trip, but we happen to overlap for one day. We had a nice French dinner

Another small world moment is that our friends are also in Ireland today. Sadly we won’t leave the airport.

Met a fellow Camino hiker in line for the plane. He isn’t taking a day like we are so is walking a day ahead of us I’m sure we will see him again. Same plane later had a fantastic conversation (over Leo’s sleeping self) about Irish history, road bike rides in Spain, oils, and shared interests and places

Felt like 4 days and felt like 5 hours all at once. Thunderstorms this evening to walk in. Should clear up tomorrow

What’s Next

Our job for Saturday is simple: get to know Biarritz, take it easy, and get over the jet lag. Sunday we head to Saint-Jean, and Monday is the first walking day!

Photos / Sketches:

No sketches today

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Where We’re Going Tomorrow:

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Camino -My Art Kit

“Seeing the world one sketch at a time” is a favorite mantra of the Urban Sketchers. I can’t wait I paint and share.

This is my art kit for the Camino. On a trip where every ounce counts, this is my one splurge—no question. I’ll be traveling and sketching daily and posting updates here, but one thing people always ask is: “What’s in your kit?” So here it is—laid out with my go-to materials, the compact bag I carry, a few recent sketches, and a glimpse of my studio wall back home with more finished pieces.

For much much more detail on how this works I am linking a demo I did for the Northstar Watermedia Society 5 years ago during Covid. It’s long but informative and has the society memes era questions at the end.

A free class! (I miss teaching but just don’t have space for it right now)

Tracking Daily Progress

The best laid plans……This plan will absolutely change 3 days in. This is agenda represents the time we have the and a more solidified first and last few days since they are attached to flights. This agenda is based on the traditional Buen Camino app stages. We may or may not make it to the coast. We will see. My plan here is to layout a traditional stage and periodically update in a different font color our actual path.

I CAN. NOT. WAIT…...

“The Plan” Verus What will actually happen…..

Travel Day 1 – June 12-13, 2025
Today is a travel Flight MSP to Dublin. Leave 7pm on the 12th, and arrive 8:30am on the 13th . Economy flight to Biarritz same day 1:30-4:00 Biarritz.  Evening in Biarritz.

Travel Day 2 – June 14, 2025
Biarritz fun day. Get over jetlag. Consolidate bags. Enjoy the Beach and the hotel. Gather food for the next days trip since things are closed Sundays.

Travel Day 3 – June 15, 2025
Biarritz to Pamplona to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. 2-3 hours to get there. Find a hotel/Albergue. First Albergue? Not booked, will find when we get there. Possible First Pilgrim Meal

Day 1 – June 16, 2025
Route: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles
Distance: 13.26 miles
Total Distance Walked: 13.26 miles

First and Hardest day of walking!

Day 2 – June 17, 2025
Route: Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Distance: 13.26 miles
Total Distance Walked: 26.52 miles

Day 3– June 18, 2025
Route: Zubiri to Pamplona
Distance: 12.59 miles
Total Distance Walked: 39.11 miles

(Tom Suggestion - If you want to skip staying in a big city for a smaller village, there is a lovely albergue in Cizur Menor, a few km west of Pamplona.)

Day 4– June 19, 2025
Route: Pamplona to Puente la Reina
Distance: 14.70 miles
Total Distance Walked: 53.81 miles

(Tom Suggestion - There is a wonderful albergue in Cirauqui, west of Puente la Reina. This is where I made that photo you love from my Camino. If you stayed at Cizur Menor the day prior, this leg is quite doable. Might be a bit long from Puente though.

They serve a wonderful communal dinner in Cirauqui.)

Day 5– June 20, 2025
Route: Puente la Reina to Estella
Distance: 13.67 miles
Total Distance Walked: 67.48 miles

Day 6 – June 21, 2025
Route: Estella to Los Arcos
Distance: 13.30 miles
Total Distance Walked: 80.78 miles

Day 7– June 22, 2025
Route: Los Arcos to Logroño
Distance: 17.21 miles
Total Distance Walked: 97.99 miles

Day 8– June 23, 2025
Route: Logroño to Nájera
Distance: 17.57 miles
Total Distance Walked: 115.56 miles

Day 9– June 24, 2025
Route: Nájera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Distance: 13.01 miles
Total Distance Walked: 128.57 miles

(Tom Suggestion - The ultimate Camino pilgrim communal experience is at the converted monastery in Grañón. The communal meal there is legend. The sleeping arrangements are mats on a floor, however, so it wasn’t the best night of sleep for me.)

Day 10 – June 25, 2025
Route: Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Belorado
Distance: 14.09 miles
Total Distance Walked: 142.66 miles

Day 11 – June 26, 2025
Route: Belorado to San Juan de Ortega
Distance: 14.86 miles
Total Distance Walked: 157.52 miles

Day 12 – June 27, 2025
Route: San Juan de Ortega to Burgos
Distance: 16.14 miles
Total Distance Walked: 173.66 miles

(Tom Suggestion- The ultimate Camino pilgrim communal experience is at the converted monastery in Grañón. The communal meal there is legend. The sleeping arrangements are mats on a floor, however, so it wasn’t the best night of sleep for me.)

Day 13 – June 28, 2025
Route: Burgos to Hornillos del Camino
Distance: 12.97 miles
Total Distance Walked: 186.63 miles

Day 14 – June 29, 2025
Route: Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz
Distance: 12.10 miles
Total Distance Walked: 198.73 miles

Day 15 – June 30, 2025
Route: Castrojeriz to Frómista
Distance: 15.71 miles
Total Distance Walked: 214.44 miles

Day 16– July 01, 2025
Route: Frómista to Carrión de los Condes
Distance: 11.73 miles
Total Distance Walked: 226.17 miles

Day 17– July 02, 2025
Route: Carrión de los Condes to Lédigos
Distance: 14.42 miles
Total Distance Walked: 240.59 miles

Day 18 – July 03, 2025
Route: Lédigos to Sahagún
Distance: 9.44 miles
Total Distance Walked: 250.03 miles

Day 19– July 04, 2025
Route: Sahagún to El Burgo Ranero
Distance: 11.29 miles
Total Distance Walked: 261.32 miles

Day 20– July 05, 2025
Route: El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de Las Mulas
Distance: 11.63 miles
Total Distance Walked: 272.95 miles

Day 21 – July 06, 2025
Route: Mansilla de Las Mulas to León
Distance: 11.54 miles
Total Distance Walked: 284.49 miles

Day 22– July 07, 2025
Route: León to Villadangos del Páramo
Distance: 12.57 miles
Total Distance Walked: 297.06 miles

Day 23– July 08, 2025
Route: Villadangos del Páramo to Astorga
Distance: 16.90 miles
Total Distance Walked: 313.96 miles

(Tom Suggestion - If you can find a way to stretch to Foncebadón on this day I highly recommend it. I call this village the Brigadoon of Spain. It is just short of Cruz de Ferro, so you get there the next day earlier in the day.)

Day 24 – July 09, 2025
Route: Astorga to Rabanal del Camino
Distance: 12.31 miles
Total Distance Walked: 326.27 miles

Day 25 – July 10, 2025
Route: Rabanal del Camino to Ponferrada
Distance: 19.98 miles
Total Distance Walked: 346.25 miles

Day 26– July 11, 2025
Route: Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo
Distance: 15.33 miles
Total Distance Walked: 361.58 miles

Day 27 – July 12, 2025
Route: Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro
Distance: 17.89 miles
Total Distance Walked: 379.47 miles

Day 28– July 13, 2025
Route: O Cebreiro to Triacastela
Distance: 12.95 miles
Total Distance Walked: 392.42 miles

Day 29– July 14, 2025
Route: Triacastela to Sarria
Distance: 15.06 miles
Total Distance Walked: 407.48 miles

Day 30 – July 15, 2025
Route: Sarria to Portomarín
Distance: 13.70 miles
Total Distance Walked: 421.18 miles

Day 31 – July 16, 2025
Route: Portomarín to Palas de Rei
Distance: 15.78 miles
Total Distance Walked: 436.96 miles

Day 32 – July 17, 2025
Route: Palas de Rei to Arzúa
Distance: 17.46 miles
Total Distance Walked: 454.42 miles

Day 33– July 18, 2025
Route: Arzúa to Pedrouzo (O Pino)
Distance: 12.12 miles
Total Distance Walked: 466.54 miles

Day 34 – July 19, 2025
Route: Pedrouzo (O Pino) to Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 12.35 miles
Total Distance Walked: 478.89 miles

Day 35 – July 20, 2025
Non accounted for day . This is a day for returning home or reflecting on the journey. Time to decompress and take it all in.

Day 36– July 21, 2025
Non accounted for day. Hotel booked for this night.

Day 47 – July 22, 2025
Santiago Rest day and decompress day

Travel Day 41 – July 23, 2025
Fly to Dublin day. Have the evening to run around.

Travel Day 41 – July 24, 2025
Dublin Fun Day, Meet Marcy!

Travel Day 42,43 – July 25-26, 2025
James Flies from Dublin got Minneapolis. 3Pm leave on the 25th and land 5:30pm on the 26th

Travel Day 44 – July 27, 2025
Sunday at Home.  Go to work the next day 😊

My Son and I are walking the Camino!

So..We are doing a MASSIVE TRIP…A 6 year dream. Leo and I are walking the Camino in Spain. Doing the traditional French Way. 480 to 500 miles from the French side of the Pyrenees mountains almost to the opposite coast. Who knows, we may make it to the coast.

This site trip from June 12th to July 26th is a massive dream that is about to happen. This is a pilgrimage route that has been active since the 11th and 12th century. We will walk 12 to 17 miles a day for 36 days, staying is hostels (bunk bed accomadations) with people from all over the world doing this path. Evening dinners with the same folks. Sometimes walking alone, sometimes with international friends along the way. We will pass a small Spanish town ever 3 to 5 miles. Our pack has tomorrows clothes, an ability to do sink laundry, toiletries, journals, and watercolor/sketchbooks.

The first third is physically Hard, the second third mentally tough, and in theory the third third is an acceptance of both. I am excited to do this with Leo. We are going to learn who we are and what we are made of. Both working on decisions about what we want to be when we grow up.

AND A BIG DIGITAL, WORK, SCHOOL, BREAK

This will be the most time I have taken off since I started working at 13.

Maybe I will be a few pounds lighter at the end. I certainly hope to unfrazzle myself, and have a plan for my last 10-15 work years and clarity on my art life. I know a simple life, outside, with amazing people from all over the world will be a significant recharge.

Have we trained enough, yes and absolutely no. I hear you saying … James you are awful at directions…the path is marked and Leo has his Mom’s sense of direction.

How much does your pack weigh. You try to stay under 10% of our body weight. at 280 that leave me a lot of range. mine is around 20lb and Leos all be around 16lb.

Why the hell are your doing this. Well, my Dad and I took a trip to Biloxi to see my best friend after basic training. We both remember that trip fondly and time well spent before I flew the nest. TThis is that type trip on steriods. A friend and former studio mate took this trip and said, “James you and your warm personality would be in heaven on this trip”. Our Pastor walked this and preached on it to the point I sketched him on a treadmill behind the pulpit. Many Many podcast later I have had the bug for a very long time. I am so appreciative of my son to do this with me. And my Wife to support and do all the work while I am gone.

I plan to do this will Leo, and then again when I retire.

On this page I will share photos, stories, GoPro videos, watercolors. Hoping to spend 20-30 minutes sharing our story.

So so so excited

, nervous, but believe we can do this. We will meet such amazing people.

Check in periodically to see where we are. Buen Camino.