CruisinColemans, Author at Cruisin with the Colemans

Group Trip to Spain – Walking the Camino de Santiago

Posted on February 23, 2025 by CruisinColemans

If you read our blog earlier this week, you learned we have moved up our date to begin leading group experiences*. If you missed the blog, it’s a great story; you can read it by clicking here. We are taking our first group to walk on the Camino de Santiago this July 7-18, 2025. Below are details about what to expect on the trip, followed by the total costs for singles, doubles, and singles in shared rooms, the registration deadline, and what is not included. If this doesn’t work for you this year, we will have a trip for you next year, which is summarized at the end of the blog.

As of March 24, 2025 – The trip is SOLD OUT. Please subscribe to see what trips we will be adding in the future!

What to expect:

You can walk every day on the Camino Frances from Samos to Santiago de Compostela, covering 132 kilometers or 82 miles over seven days.
You don’t have to walk at all. There will be plenty to do for people of varying physical abilities.
Light continental breakfast, typically coffee and a pastry
Have a communal dinner with your group every night, including multiple courses and wine. These will not typically be your average “pilgrim” dinner – when you are Cruisin’ with the Colemans, you are with foodies!
Private or semi-private (with another group member) rooms that fit your needs
Daily luggage transfer: all you have to carry is a light pack with just your snacks and water
Transfer to/from Santiago airport at the start of the trip
Daytime transfer if you need to skip a part of the walk
Begin in the small village of Samos to explore the Monastery of San Xulián de Samos, built in the sixth century
Rest day near the end of the trip in Santiago de Compostela with guided or not guided time in the old town
On the rest day in Santiago, we will explore the Cathedral and the museum and do a rooftop tour of the church. A botafumeiro is not guaranteed during mass (this is a $3000 expense)
Enjoy a traditional guiemada ceremony as a group after dinner in Santiago de Compostela
Group bus trip to Finisterre to enjoy the beach, shop, take the 2.5 km walk to the lighthouse for sunset, and celebrate with a group dinner
Transfer back to Santiago de Compostela for the end of the trip
Advance support for planning your trip
Camino 101 Zoom sessions to get ready and get familiar with those you will be traveling with
Help to make travel arrangements to/from Spain, including suggested flights from the US to Spain
Credential, pilgrim shell, and travel wallet to carry your pilgrim credential and passport
Thumb drive of photos and completed summary videos of your trip

The Cost Breakdown of the Trip:

For those who are traveling as a couple, your cost for all of the above will be $4,350 total
For those who are traveling solo but are willing to share a room with another member of the group, your cost for all of the above will be $2,600

To secure your spot on the trip, a $500 non-refundable deposit is due immediately. The remainder is due by June 1. Payment plans are encouraged.

Deadline to Sign Up: The registration deadline is April 1st or as soon as we reach 12 people.

What is Not Included: Your only remaining expenses are your gear, daily lunch and snacks, and airfare from your hometown to Santiago de Compostela airport or Sarria train station. We will have a car ready to pick you up and take you to our starting point. If you need assistance, we can help you plan your flight. Most people fly into Madrid and then take a connecting flight or a train to Santiago de Compostela.

Can’t make it this year but want to go Cruisin’ with the Colemans next year? As of February 2025, we plan to offer much more group travel! In 2026, we are looking at a walking tour in Italy; in 2027, we are walking the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago. We are also looking at future caravan opportunities for our RV friends!

*We are not certified travel agents, but we are experienced travelers and educators with over 25 years of leading group experiences. We organize travel experiences to destinations we know well from our own journeys. However, we do not claim to be experts on the various cultures or locations we visit. If available, we may hire a local expert to enhance your travel experience.

From Travel Blog/Vloggers to Tour Guides

Posted on February 21, 2025 by CruisinColemans

When we started this blog in 2018, we had a long-term goal of leading groups* on adventure travel. Initially, we envisioned this goal for after retirement. However, the time has now come for us to pursue it. We have been inspired and are ready to lean into this new direction. But before I share more about that, let me provide some background on our story. When we started this blog in 2018, we had a long-term goal of leading groups on adventure travel. Initially, we envisioned this goal for after retirement. However, the time has now come for us to pursue it. We have been inspired and are ready to lean into this new direction. But before I share more about that, let me provide some background on our story. Brian and I used to lead sedentary lifestyles. When we met and got married, we both weighed over 300 pounds. Although we both enjoyed traveling, we never imagined the adventures we’d had since then. The photo from the mud run (above) was a huge leap for us. We used to joke, “If we’re running, it must be because something bad is happening—like a bear is chasing us!” Haha! We started walking our neighborhood because we had put on even more weight after a year of dating and planning a wedding. I remember when the scale surpassed 300 pounds. I was mortified and needed a change. I was extremely fortunate to be with a man who was up for any crazy idea I had. We started walking our neighborhood, which led to fad diets but a bit of hope that change was possible. This hope led to trying more realistic diets; we did Weight Watchers and transitioned from walking to hiking in local parks. By 2012, we had both lost over 100 pounds. We spent our time tent camping and hiking epic trails all over the country. Our passion for travel had always been present, but we fully committed to planning significant trips, taking advantage of our ability as teachers to travel for a couple of months at a time.

June 2017 – the moment that changed us forever

In 2017, we embarked on our first Camino de Santiago, backpacking 500 miles across Spain from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela and continuing on to Finisterre. This experience was life-changing, igniting a passion for travel that grew in ways we never anticipated. In fact, the lessons we learned on that first Camino are still unfolding for us. Less than a week after completing the Camino, we purchased an RV for more travel adventures. Since then, we have RV’d over 50,000 miles through 36 states. We have walked five more Caminos, including the Camino Portuguese, the Camino del Norte, and the Via Francigena. In 2018, during our first major RV road trip through Ohio, Michigan, Canada, and New York, we launched this blog. We also established our brand, Cruisin’ with the Colemans, because we anticipated that one day—though a long time from now—we would lead group trips. Given our background as teachers and experience leading groups, this felt like a natural progression for us. We have taken students abroad, on cruises, and to New York City, so pursuing this long-term goal seemed like a perfect fit. Foreward to now, Brian is only a couple of years from retirement, and my retirement date depends on our financial stability. But more importantly, we have typically made our summer plans by this time of the year. It’s not for a lack of trying, but nothing felt right. This week, we were honored to host Bill Bennett and his beautiful wife, Jennifer Cluff. We had an outstanding time talking about Camino, travel, and our mutual interests. By the last day, on our last drive together, during a conversation about destinations we should explore, Jennifer asked why we were not leading groups. Our answer has always been, “Because we are waiting until we retire.” I need to reflect on what I just typed. I realized that my previous statement is the complete opposite of everything we stand for. It’s a revelation for me. We’re not about waiting for retirement but about taking action and starting now. Ok, back on track. Our travel plans for 2025 are taking shape, and it is time for you to join us on our first group travel experience*. This will be a 12-day trip walking the Camino de Santiago from Samos to Santiago de Compostela, where you can walk the full 120 kilometers from Sarria to Santiago to earn a Compostela.

Finalized trip details can be found in this more recent blog.

Here is what you can expect on this trip from us:

You will have the option to walk all day, every day. If you don’t want to earn the Compostela, you can walk part of the day with less mileage. If you want to bike, okay, we have you covered (this will not earn you a Compostela). You don’t have to walk at all. There will be plenty to do for people of varying physical abilities.
The walk will be about 17-25 kilometers or 10-15 miles per day; you can do as much or as little as you want
Light continental breakfast, typically coffee and a pastry
Communal dinner every night, including multiple courses and wine
Private or semi-private (with another group member) rooms that fit your needs. If you want to save a bit of money here, we can work with you on the other types of room/bed accommodations
Daily luggage transfer, so all you have to worry about is carrying a light pack with just your snacks and water
Transfer to/from Santiago airport at the start of the trip
Daytime transfer if you need to skip a part of the walk or just don’t want to walk that much in a day
Rest day at the beginning of the trip in Samos to explore the Monastery of San Xulián de Samos, built in the sixth century
Rest day near the end of the trip in Santiago de Compostela
On the rest day in Santiago, we will explore the Cathedral and do a rooftop tour of the church
Enjoy a traditional guiemada ceremony after dinner in Santiago de Compostela
Group bus trip to Finisterre to walk to the lighthouse for sunset and celebratory dinner
Transfer back to Santiago de Compostela for the end of the trip
Advance support for planning your trip
Camino 101 Zoom sessions to get ready and get familiar with those you will be traveling with
Help to make travel arrangements to/from Spain, including suggested flights from the US to Spain
Credential, pilgrim shell, and travel wallet to carry your pilgrim credential and passport
Thumb drive of photos and completed summary videos of your trip

When is this happening? July 2025, shortly after the 4th of July holiday. The trip will be 12 days, so with your travel days, you are well within a solid two-week vacation. We will have a lot more details very soon.

How much will this cost? We will have details about the final cost of the trip very soon. Your only additional costs will be airfare to/from Spain, lunch, snacks, and personal equipment. We aim to keep this trip around $3,000 per person. From our research, we feel quite good about that number, but we need just a bit more time for a solid number. A deposit of $500 will be due shortly after the trip announcement. We are limiting participation to 12 people. A payment plan will be arranged, with the total amount due 10 days before departure.

This trip will not include:

Church or museum admissions outside of Santiago
Lunches and snacks
Travel insurance (but you are required to show proof of personal medical and travel insurance)
Transportation to and from Santiago
Personal equipment, such as backpacks, hiking poles, etc.

What’s the next step? Honestly, be ready to make a deposit. We expect the 12 slots will fill fast. We anticipate making the complete announcement next week. We have a few details to implement to ensure the highest quality trip possible. If you go Cruisin’ with the Colemans, you are going in style! Thank you for following this blog adventure to the end. Our goal remains the same—we want to inspire you to take adventures, but even more so, we want you to take an adventure with us this year!!

Do you have questions? Do you want to make a deposit? Do you want me to know that you are considering making a deposit? Whatever your questions, our email address is cruisinwiththecolemans@gmail.com—we would love to hear from you!

*We are not certified travel agents, but we are experienced travelers and educators with over 25 years of leading group experiences. We organize travel experiences to destinations we know well from our own journeys. However, we do not claim to be experts on the various cultures or locations we visit. We may hire a local expert to enhance your travel experience if available.

You can subscribe to our email list right here. We promise not to spam you and will not share your email with anyone!

How We Choose Brand Partners. Is It All About the Free Stuff?

Posted on February 2, 2025 by CruisinColemans

In a world where influencers can easily “get free stuff” from companies, we tend to be selective. There are many reasons for this, but two stand out. (1) We don’t need that much stuff as we continue to downsize. (2) We want to support companies whose products we believe in.

Long before we became “influencers,” we were just two people who traveled extensively! For a decade, we had been tent campers and international travelers who enjoyed hiking and backpacking. In 2017, we bought our first RV but had no intention of having a social media presence. We launched this blog in 2018 and started our YouTube channel in 2019. We had no idea what would come of our little Cruisin’ with the Colemans. It’s become more than we imagined, and we are thankful for that. We didn’t force it; it just continues to evolve.

At this point in our online journey, many companies have contacted us. We see that as a huge compliment—at least, we did until we remembered the impact of our decisions and what we chose to promote. Yes, we have made mistakes along the way. We have accepted free products and created a video or reel about them, only to later realize that wasn’t a wise choice. We are much more careful and selective now. I will never forget that awful drone we promoted for a short time. It wouldn’t harm anyone, but it was a terrible drone.

There is a significant difference between free products and a brand partnership. However, let me clarify: we have decided that if we either can’t or won’t use an item, we don’t want the free products at all. People can expect quality reviews of the brands and products we support. We might review a single item from a company without it being a brand partner; it will always be a product we believe we can use.

For instance, the company “Airplane Pockets” sent us two free samples of their pockets. We tried them out, enjoyed them, and created a reel about them. Since we liked them so much, we added them to our Amazon Storefront under “Travel Gear.” We avoid receiving gear that we wouldn’t use. While these Airplane Pockets aren’t something we’d use if we were only traveling with a backpack, we love using them when traveling with a suitcase. This is a perfect example of a company we will collaborate with that isn’t a brand partner.

An example of a brand partner is RecPro—we LOVE their products for our RV. We had been purchasing from RecPro long before we connected with them as a brand partner. We began remodeling our RV within the first six months of owning it. From removing the jackknife sofa and installing a backup camera to upgrading our blinds, RecPro has everything we need for our renovations. They became a brand partner in 2023 when we reached out to them. What we appreciate about this partnership is that we already knew we loved their products.

That’s the same reason we partnered with Coachmen Apex. We loved our rig even before we bought it. In fact, we purchased it sight unseen! We viewed similar models and many online tours, but we knew the Coachmen Apex 269RBKS was the right choice for us! We researched it while backpacking across Spain in 2017 and bought it within a week of returning home so we could explore and travel more

It wasn’t until 2023 that we partnered with Coachmen, and we signed the contract on Christmas Day. It was the best Christmas gift we could receive because we love Apex. We adore our rig, but most importantly, we appreciate the people who work for Apex. What they admire about us is who we are – people who love to travel and embrace the way they travel. They don’t ask us to change. And thank goodness, because we have no intention of being anyone other than who we have always been.

Another example of a brand partner is a husband and wife duo who founded Rivet Supply Co. They create “adventure boards” designed for your RV. We instantly fell in love with their board when we first spotted it on Instagram. They qualify as a brand partner because we continue to work with them as their company grows.

Our channel will continue to focus on us, covering RV travel, international travel, hiking, backpacking, beaches, and everyday life. The products and brands we connect with will simply be part of the story we tell. Perhaps discussing Coachmen will inspire you to consider RV life, even if you choose another brand; we love that you are getting outdoors. If we feature the products we use when renovating our house or RV, we make them accessible to you so you feel it’s something you can tackle when you are renovating.

What’s in it for us? If we do a product review, it’s just free product(s) to evaluate. Every brand we collaborate with is a little different. Sometimes, we receive free product(s) and also have a discount code to share with you. Other times, we get a discount code for you while also receiving a percentage back. Those partnerships help Cruisin’ with the Colemans feel more worthwhile when we are tired from our day jobs but have blogs to write or videos to create.

Clear Source Water Filter is a brand partner and a product we’ve used for many years prior to partnering with them.

This is a labor of love—we enjoy sharing our adventures with you. We hope our grandchild(ren) will read about and watch our travels to learn more about who we were when we were younger. We certainly aren’t getting rich from being influencers, and that’s completely fine with us! But our travels now have another layer, and that’s pretty cool!

How do we generate revenue? A few brand partners provide a small percentage of compensation for items purchased, but it’s not substantial. We also earn a bit from our Amazon Storefront. When you buy products through our affiliate link, we receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you more to use our link, but it helps us. Our accountant appreciates it when we earn some money because it shows the distinction between this being a hobby and a business.

Our Amazon Storefront is filled with all the products we use and love!

If you watch our YouTube videos, we earn a small income. So please watch those ads—we appreciate it! Brian creates our videos, and I manage the blog and social media. These roles help us determine what needs to be done and who should do it. We like to call Cruisin’ with the Colemans our 5-9 job, meaning we work on it after our 9-5 jobs that pay the real bills. Haha! But, as I mentioned earlier, it gives our travels more purpose, and that’s a huge win!

Thank you for reading this blog. If you have any questions about the products we use or the companies we partner with, please comment. We appreciate you following our adventures, and we hope they inspire you to take an adventure with us.

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Upcoming Presentations!

Posted on January 29, 2025 by CruisinColemans

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Want to connect with us and hear about our adventures? Here is where you will find us this Spring 2025:

February 15, 2025, at the Dayton RV Show located at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. At 9 a.m., we will talk about “From Florida to Maine: The Blunders and Beaches along a 2,000-mile RV Roadtrip.” At 1 p.m., we will talk about “Part-Time, Full-Time, Anytime RVers: Tips for Planning your Next Adventure!”

February 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Base Camp Outdoors Co., to talk about “Hidden Gems Around Dayton, Ohio,” where we will discuss Dayton as the Gem City because there are so many treasures to explore! The Colemans have been exploring and hiking Dayton’s trails for over 10 years. Join us to learn about their favorite trails and biggest surprises, and maybe you will discover a new hidden gem to check out.

March 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Base Camp Outdoors Co., to talk about “Navigating Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks Hiking Trails,” where we will discuss how, like most people, we walked our neighborhood to lose weight and be more active. When we got bored of their neighborhood, we bravely ventured to our local MetroParks. With no experience in trail navigation and zero hiking gear, we started hiking short trails in jeans and sneakers. The Colemans have hiked every mile of the MetroParks trail system multiple times. This Hiking 101 seminar will encourage you to hit the trail with what you have and begin your adventure. Further, we will give you a few gear tips to level up your hiking game.

Mark April 17th and May 15th on your calendar; we will be back at Base Camp Outdoors Co. with more topics!

If you have questions, email us at cruisinwiththecolemans@gmail.com
Of course, always follow our socials!
Happy adventuring!
Michelle[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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Camino del Norte | Güemes to Comillas | Days 10-13

Posted on June 25, 2024 by CruisinColemans

I wanted to write a blog but decided to take a nap. Seriously, I can’t seem to get enough sleep lately. My body is trying to adjust but this Camino is tough on all my parts.

Today was lucky day 13 on the Camino and it’s my first day in awhile without a nap. However, it could be because of the circumstances. We’ve been quite spoiled on this Camino. Heck, I’ve been spoiled on all Camino’s thus far because I’ve never slept on a top bunk. Six Camino’s and no top bunks. I hate top bunks. I despise them. They require upper body strength I don’t have anymore. Let’s be serious, I probably never had it. And in the middle of the night I pray I don’t have to use the bathroom.

Let me back up a bit. I know we haven’t had a “true” Camino experience thus far because we’ve been in private rooms the entire time with only two communal meals. We’ve enjoyed many private rooms over our many Camino’s. I have no shame in that because as a couple I quite enjoy sleeping next to my husband. Yep, I said it. Even when we’re laying near each other in our separate twin beds, which is typical. I enjoy the little bedtime conversations we have before we drift off. I enjoy our luggage spread out all over the room. I don’t care who knows it, I love sleeping with my husband. 😆❤️ I know his habits and have learned to tolerate them. But this guy in the lower bunk across from me is super annoying right now.

I long for communal dinners. I love conversations over a meal with other pilgrims. I don’t need to share a room with them. At this very moment as I lay on my top bunk, I’m listening to several people rustle in their beds, a few still coming in and out of the bathroom, one person stinks of cigarettes, another person just stinks, the person below me has her light on, and another person is touching every loud piece of equipment they brought with them. I’ve usually napped by now and am asleep for the night by 10 p.m. Currently, it’s 11:05 p.m. and several people still have their lights on. I am, by the way, laying in bed in the dark with only the light of my phone to write this blog. I miss discussing this chaos with my hubby.

It’s honestly hurt our Camino to not have communal dinners because we haven’t bonded with anyone until last night. But, in our defense, there have been so many tourist cities it’s been super easy to just stay in a private room. Also, I look for communal dinners and the opportunities have been limited.

Having fun with our new Aussie friends at the Gaudi Castle in Comillas

But, alas, our pilgrim family is beginning to form. We have a pilgrim daughter from Alaska, Sophia. Brian taught her to thread her blisters tonight. She is so happy with how her feet feel! We have friends from the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, and France.

Last night we had an outstanding communal dinner at Albergue El Convento in Santillana Del Mar. We enjoyed wine in their gardens, a sharing time with other pilgrims, and a communal dinner. The rooms were 2 beds each so Brian and I had a private room. Fortunately Brian took the top bunk. He loves me. We had an outstanding communal breakfast. I slept like a baby. I don’t care about shared bathrooms. I just hate sharing a room and despise top bunks, if that’s not clear yet.

Tonight’s albergue is this shared room, photo above. It’s stuffy in here because the doors are closed, the fan is off, the A/C isn’t running, and there’s no air flow in the room. The curtains are nice but they don’t help the air flow.

The plus side for tonight has nothing to do with the lodging but rather the company. Because we enjoyed a communal dinner last night, we made friends with another couple and we went to dinner with them. It just takes one good communal dinner to make relationships. Besides growing closer together as a couple, we walk Camino’s for the relationships.

I want to tell you about the epic scenery we’ve been experiencing for the last few days but I’ve been talking long enough. Please follow our YouTube channel for breathtaking footage of our walk. Words and photos don’t do it justice but we try. This route is simply stunning.

Cows and the ocean. It doesn’t get much better

I have to get some sleep now. There’s already one terrible snorer and it’s not Brian. If I was alone in a room with Brian I would just call his name and tell him to roll over. It would work and I would get some sleep. But this guy is a stranger so I don’t think it’s a good move to smack him.

This is my last top bunk for any Camino. I can guarantee that for sure. Sorry, but in the future I’m going to do my best to quietly sleep next to my husband. ❤️ Thanks for reading today’s rant. It helped to vent.

Update: I didn’t sleep well and I am looking forward to today’s nap.

Camino del Norte |La Arena to Santoña | Days 8-9

Posted on June 20, 2024 by CruisinColemans

The days have been gorgeous but the mountains all around us are daunting. Every day I have to mentally gear up for the hills.

The contrast of the mountains and the sea

A German pilgrim said it best, “I love to climb mountains. But when I go up, I want to go down. I don’t want to go up and down multiple times in a day.” The climbs are no joke. And I agree with her. I’m fine to climb one mountain (or huge hill), but we climb 2, 3, 4, and even more in a day, every day.

The beautiful flowers that surrounded the doorway to a home

The funny part is I knew this is what it was going to be like. I don’t know why I’m surprised. I just keep going back to the fact that we’re from the flat lands of Ohio. However, we’re not the only ones feeling this pain.

The views are amazing! I knew they would be great. My legs are sore but they will look fabulous by Santiago (as fabulous as they will ever look for a girl with cellulite issues). If we meet in person, please ask me to flex my calf muscles, it will make me smile.

The villages are great. There is something very special about Spanish villages. I love days like yesterday and today where we wandered through several of them in a day.

The bigger cities that we stay in make it harder to meet pilgrims. We’ve only stayed in one albergue with a communal dinner. Part of that is us, we’ve been leaning more toward private rooms. But part of that is the Camino and the limitations of who will accept our reservation and luggage service.

We have not seen one pilgrim menu. A pilgrim menu is something we would have daily on the Camino Frances. Even finding stamps for our credential is difficult. This is quite surprising to us. We were in a church yesterday and they didn’t even have a stamp. That was shocking. It’s a different Camino but we knew it would be so it’s ok. But these are my observations for today.

Camino del Norte | Bilbao to La Arena | Day 7

Posted on June 18, 2024 by CruisinColemans

We’ve been walking for a week. My feelings are a mix between excitement about what we’re seeing and a bit of homesickness. I always get this feeling about a week into any summer trip, especially since becoming a grandma.

This feeling is especially strong when we aren’t meeting a lot of people or creating relationships that last more than a day. We are meeting a lot of people along the Way but we have not made those lasting relationships yet. A lot of people we’ve been walking with ended their Camino in Bilbao. We have faith in the Camino so we know there are good things coming.

The two day break in Bilbao was fantastic because we both needed it. My legs were hurting really bad from all the climbing. We slept in, we wandered the city quite a bit, we got massages, and enjoyed a leisurely pace. But, we are on Camino and it was time to begin again today.

Leaving Bilbao is quite industrial, so we took a metro train to Portugalete. This means we walked around Bilbao for about a kilometer to find breakfast and get to our train, then we took a train to Portugalete, and then we wandered around Portugalete for a few kilometers before we started walking the Camino again. The start and stop of today was a bit much for both of us. Once we stopped in Portugalete, we were ready to be done.

Portugalete is a cute town! I love the escalator walkways that get you up the hill easily! I love the tram that gets you across the water. The town really is adorable but I’m glad we moved on to La Arena because I wanted to be back on the ocean! In the end, we walked about 16 kilometers.

The walking/bike path connecting Portugalete to La Arena

I love the scenery all around us and I love walking Caminos. However, not every day is a great day. Today wasn’t a bad day, it just wasn’t a great day. The walking was the easiest it’s been thus far. Heck, maybe that was the problem, it was too easy. 😆 We walked a bike/walking path the entire time. I wish we had a walking/bike path this nice in Ohio. It was quite easy walking but my mind just focused on everything that hurts and my homesickness. It happens.

From industrial to rural, the Camino changes

Tonight we’re in an outstanding apartment with a balcony overlooking the ocean and free use of the washing machine. Dinner is less than 200 meters away. Last night we FaceTimed with our son and granddaughter. It doesn’t get much better! I think we may even have a sunset over the water. I have a lot to be thankful for today. ❤️

We love sharing our travels with you. Most importantly we love hearing from you! Thanks for the comments and messages! We appreciate you! ❤️

Tomorrow will be a better day.

👉🏼 Why follow our social media channels? For even more photos and stunning videos of our adventures. YouTube videos are coming but they always come out after the blog.

👇🏼 Why comment on this blog? To show that silly algorithm people are interested in our blog. Leave an easy comment like, “write more blogs!” You’ll make us smile! 😊

Camino del Norte | Gernika to Bilbao | It’s Not a Holiday, It’s an Adventure | Day 6

Posted on June 15, 2024 by CruisinColemans

As we chatted with so many pilgrims today while walking 20 kilometers and climbing over 500 meters (1600 feet), I’m amazed at how my legs are starting to feel. I don’t want to jinx it but I may be getting stronger.

The climbs, the mud, the rocks, the ascents, and the descents were all treacherous today. The climbs were steep and the mud was deep. Brian’s feet were covered in mud and tennis shoes lost their cute factor today.

These two, desperately needed, rest days came just in time. Brian needs a haircut, our clothes need a washing machine, we both need massages, and our legs need a break from the climbs!

We arrived in Bilbao today, a bustling city with a ton of character. I’m glad we have two days to explore because we need to go at a very slow pace. We didn’t see much today as we didn’t even wander beyond our hotel for dinner.

The sign that told us where we were having dinner

As luck would have it outside of our hotel there was this sign and we knew we had to eat dinner there. Last year on our Camino Frances, our pilgrim friend Sean raved about these “Kevin Bacon” burgers that we had to try. So our “pilgrim family” joined Sean (and his amazing dad, David) for a Kevin Bacon.

The Kevin Bacon is the burger in the back, I had the BB Queen on the gluten free bun

Seriously, it’s the best burger! If you ever find yourself at a Goiko burger joint, stop in! We need a Goiko in the United States! They even have outstanding mojitos and gluten free buns. The only thing missing tonight was our pilgrim family.

I hope another pilgrim family develops but for now we all have different end stops. We’ve enjoyed the company of ladies from Germany, two different couples from the United Kingdom, a couple from the Netherlands, and so many more but their adventure is ending now or they are pressing on because their journey ends in a few days.

Whether our relationships are long or short, we have enjoyed everyone we’ve met so far! I can’t believe we’ve only been walking for 5 days. Today a lovely conversation with a Statistics Professor from Germany got me through a big climb; it even made me feel like my legs are getting stronger.

The village of Lezama where we chatted with a great couple from the Netherlands as we all waited for a bus into Bilbao

As my English friend said today, “this is not a holiday, it’s an adventure!” What an adventure it’s been so far! I can’t imagine what will happen over the next 30 days of walking until we arrive in Santiago. Yes – we still have 30 more walking days!!

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Camino del Norte | Deba to Markina-Xemein to Gernika | Days 4-5

Posted on June 14, 2024 by CruisinColemans

What started out as a good day, took a rough turn, but ended up being our best evening thus far!! Oh, this Camino del Norte, she remains a painstaking, action packed adventure.

It started with a late breakfast which always stresses me out because that means we finish our walk later. We stayed at this Casa Rural that I thought would be pilgrim friendly but the prices were high and they didn’t start serving breakfast until 8:30 a.m. Most pilgrims like to be walking by 7-8 a.m., depending on the weather, sometimes earlier if it’s going to be really hot.

The climb wasn’t too bad before our first stop for a snack but then we made the mistake of looking at Google maps. Our map did save us time, meters of climbing, and mileage but there was a cost. We had to walk through a closed fence that, fortunately, wasn’t locked and then we had to climb through some barbed wire. It felt like we walked through a private compound. There were at least 6 vicious-sounding dogs, thankfully they were chained up. Then there were, we will call them, deer blinds but some could call them guard towers. Fortunately nobody was around but we were thrilled to get the heck out of there!! But no, we weren’t about to turn back and climb down the hill only to climb up a different, bigger hill! Plus, if you know me at all, I have been told I can be intense. So, we were fine. 😆🫣

The route we went on was a bit easier according to the pilgrims we talked to in the evening but – yikes – it was intense!! No, there are no photos of the “compound” as we didn’t need evidence we were there.

We listened to the stream water most of the day

We walked about 15 kilometers on the blacktop which is brutal on the back, hips, and knees. But we only gained about 400 meters (1312 feet) of elevation, as opposed to the main route which gained almost 700 meters of elevation. It was a killer of a day! Brian hit rock bottom, I’m just thankful we both didn’t because I’m not sure we would have made it to our accommodation. We could still be on the side of the road.

An area for pilgrims to visit, meditate, and just relax the afternoon away

But it was the most perfect evening! I can’t believe a day could have so many highs and lows but that’s the Camino. We stayed at this most wonderful Casa Rural (rural house that provides lodging). They did more than provide lodging! We had cocktails, a washing machine, perfect weather for clothes to be dried outside on the clothesline, and best of all, we had our first communal dinner!

We spent the evening with our toes in the lush green grass, sipping cocktails, and talking to people from Germany, France, England, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. We enjoyed the best meal with produce from the garden. It’s truly the biggest blessing of the Camino. Nights like that remind us why we love the spirit of the Camino!

We slept like babies in the most comfortable bed! We woke up to a delicious breakfast including gluten free bread and homemade jam. Seriously, I pray we have so many more nights like this one.

Today’s walk was uneventful, no barbed wire. 😆 We followed the route. Though it was quite hilly we had lots of little villages to enjoy.

Unfortunately we had to climb down 7 flights of stairs today

We made the decision to bus ahead so we only walked 13 kilometers and took a bus for 12 kilometers. We needed the rest after yesterday. Tomorrow is going to be another big day of climbing so it’s time to nap. Bilbao will be here soon with 2 rest days. We’ve never needed them as much as we need them now.

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Camino del Norte | Zarautz to Deba (and then some) | Day 3

Posted on June 13, 2024 by CruisinColemans

The views continue to improve. I don’t know how long it will last so I’m trying to take it all in. Though this terrain has my knees and thighs screaming!

Every kilometer takes a long time and every view takes my breath away or is that the climbing? I don’t know but I’m constantly exhausted. We decided to walk the Norte route because it was hard and had epic views. We’re not getting any younger so we need to check things like this off our bucket list while we still can do them.

I can’t believe this morning started with an easy 5 kilometer walk along the ocean, it was amazing!! This was an optional route and I’m thrilled we took it! The sounds of the waves splashing on the rocks made the walk fly by!

Then we left the seaside to climb, and oh did we climb! We are just training because tomorrow’s climb is even more intense. I keep telling myself it will get easier but we’re from the flat lands of Ohio where a hill doesn’t even compare to this terrain. And honestly, I don’t mind the climb, my problem is how long it takes me. We’re getting into our accommodations much later than I like to arrive. Some nights our clothes don’t have enough time to dry (in part because we’re having to dry them inside because of the rain).

We did have to bus ahead a bit today because it was time to get the staples removed from my head and I had to get to a clinic before they closed. Click on this blog post if you don’t know what happened. My head is healing well. I still have headaches quite a bit. We’re taking 2 full rest days in Bilbao which I pray helps. I’m resting a lot when I can, daily naps are a blessing.

After I got my staples removed, we had about 3.5 kilometers left to walk and a massive climb at about 350 meters (or 1,148 feet). A tough climb especially at the end of the day. We’re staying past the village of Deba at a Casa Rural in the middle of nowhere but with an amazing view of the ocean while perched on a mountainside.

The views are worth it. Tomorrow we’ll have a bit less of a climb, though it’s still going to be another tough day with about 450 more meters of climbing and about 600 meters of descent. 3 days until Bilbao, then 2 full days of rest. 🙌🏼 Maybe we’ll find a boat tour, unless Mother Nature keeps this rain around us.

Time will tell. I would not change a thing! ❤️

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