This is the map of what most pilgrims tackle the first day through the Pyrenees.  From what I hear, the Route Napoleon is eight miles up and eight miles down.  It is said to be the toughest day of the camino for a few reasons: not being used to carrying a pack, the steepness of the hike in both directions, and the length of the day (at least eight hours).

The Route

This is the Camino Frances, which I will be walking beginning September 14.  Rather than end in Santiago de Compostela, I will walk on to Finisterre--the end of the world.  From there I hope to have time to get to Muxia before catching a train back to Santiago, then to Madrid, and fly home on the 24th of October.

This will be my Camino blog so Joseph, Sarah, Emily, Andrew, and the rest of my family and my friends can keep up with my pilgrimage across northern Spain.