Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 30

Tom and Eric spent their thirtieth night on the Camino at Villafranca del Bierzo. Tom said that it was "kind of a miserable day, jockeying between rain gear and no rain gear all day. [It] makes one almost long for the good old Meseta... almost."

Frank Family Wine Dinner

Sharon and I went to Matteos Frank Family Wine Dinner with our neighbors Greg and Michelle and Rod and Kathy.

We visited the Frank Family Winery last October while we were celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary.

Castillo de los Templarios

Exploring Ponferrada

Tom spent the day exploring Ponferrada. He was dashing through rainstorms, while 24 year old (Eric) nurses aches and pains and catches up on social media.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 29

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-ninth night on the Camino at Ponferrada.

They started the fifth week of walking in the dark to beat rain. Tom and Eric stopped in the nice little town of Molinaseca for breakfast of--believe it or not--eggs and bacon, plus canned baked beans (for Irish and English no doubt). They covered 8k in 1.5 hours, slipping downhill all the way in dark over slippery shale and gravel. They did beat rain to Ponferrada and waited for the Albergue Area ( Liz recommendation) to open.

Molinaseca

Lodi

After finishing up more than a year and a half working out of the Napa Valley on Friday, I worked three 12 hour shifts starting Sunday at a go-live at a hospital in Lodi...

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 28

Marking their fourth week, Tom and Eric spent their twenty-eighth night on the Camino at Acebo. Tom thinks that they have about 10 more days to go.

They didn't have a long day. Tom and Eric turned in at noon in Acebo. This was short of the traditional stage end at Molinaseca. They battled wind, rain and cold over the 4500 foot peak.

After settling in and while having an excellent late Spanish lunch of scorpion fish terrine, mussels and rabbit with almond sauce, they watched the rain come down in sheets. It was a good choice not to push on.

Red sky in the morning, Peregrino take warning.

Along the way, they stopped at a little hut on side of mountain: a Peregrino rest stop and alburgue with no services other than outhouse and well water. Tom and Eric moved on after warming up, but there are great stamps featuring Knights Templar symbols as they were here protecting pilgrims centuries ago.

Cruz de Ferro

This was an emotional day as Tom and Eric reached the iconic milestone of the Cross of Iron (Cruz de Ferro) and left their rocks. Tom left two rocks that he picked up at El Retiro Jesuit retreat house in March when he decided to walk the Camino. He and Rebecca had a good experience there some years ago. Tom also left a third rock from home representing his own burdens. The last two rocks are memorials for Becky and Max. He was glad to have Eric with him as emotional support.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 27

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-seventh night on the Camino at Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal del Camino. The alburgue is run by the English confraternity of St James, but seems to be staffed by Irish. They had a nice afternoon tea and biscuits in the spacious back yard.

In Murias de Rechivaldo - 100s of swifts on wires, going on forever

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 26

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-sixth night on the Camino at the Gaudí Hotel in Astoria. They had some great view from their room of the Episcopal palace designed by Gaudi. It was one of few jobs he took outside of Catalonia.

Starting early, they covered about 20k with some rest spots. Tom said it was a nice walking day with pleasant weather. They can see the mountains that they will be starting into tomorrow.

At the McConnell Estates Winery

Sharon and I met the Borjas, Renterias and Alan Wackman at Alan's house. Our boys played baseball together for a number of years with the Gunners and the Outlaws. From Alan's house, we wandered to the McConnell Estates Winery. This is the Wackman's winery... We listened to a Styx tribute band?!? Even though Sharon and I cut it short due to the fact that I had to work on Sunday, It was a great evening.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 25

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-fifth night on the Camino at Alburgue Santa Ana in San Martin del Camino. They had the best paella yet!

Foothill Regional Park Run

After spending the night at the Tomasins, I took an early morning run in Foothill Regional Park behind their house. I covered 4.61 miles in 0:56:43. The climb to the top of the Alta Vista trail slowed me to a crawl...

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 24

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-fourth night on the Camino at Alburgue la Casa del Camino in Valverde del Virgen. They said goodbye to the parador in Leon at the last possible moment (noon) and covered only 10k today. Tom said that they are planning a couple of abbreviated days coming up.

antique knocker on door of Alburgue la Casa del Camino

the parador in Leon!

To Windsor

Finishing up a year and a half working out of the Napa Valley, I headed to Healdsburg to met Tomasin at his office. We made a quick stop at John & Zekes in Healdsburg.

Heading to Windsor, we stopped in Dino's garage to watch some of the first half of the Panthers versus Broncos NFL game. From there, we headed to the Tomasins house. Julie made a great dinner of carne aside, rice and salad. Tomasin and I finished the night watching the rest of the football game. The Broncos eventually won the game by the score of 21 to 20. Cam Newton got hammered repeatedly. I amazed that he wasn't concussed...

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 23

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-third night on the Camino at Parador de San Marcos in Leon. "Another guilty pleasure but if good enough for Martin Sheen why not us?"

Tom described the day as nice and cool; it was partly cloudy. It was perfect for walking the 18k to Leon.

ESPN to Launch 30 for 30 Podcasts in 2017

ESPN to Launch 30 for 30 Podcasts in 2017

ESPN Films and ESPN Audio are teaming up to produce 30 for 30 Podcasts – bringing high-quality sports storytelling to fans in audio form. The series will tell original stories in the likeness of the acclaimed 30 for 30 documentaries, made specifically with a narrative podcasting approach. The first season will launch in early 2017.

Individual episodes of 30 for 30 Podcasts will explore and report on various new sports stories and will feature a combination of original interviews and archival sound. The stories will be produced both in-house and in collaboration with outside reporters, documentarians, and ESPN talent. The effort is being led by Jody Avirgan (also of FiveThirtyEight podcasts) and a five-person production team is currently being assembled.

“Long-form podcast offerings from ESPN Audio have been popular thus far, and working with the ESPN Films team we will break new ground with deep reporting and high production values,” said Tom Ricks, vice president, digital strategy, ESPN Audio. “Sports fans and fans of our 30 for 30 documentaries will now have a new way to consume this compelling content.”

Added Libby Geist, vice president and executive producer, ESPN Films and Original Content: “ESPN Films has had an incredible run over the last eight years, including shorts and feature-length documentaries. Audio documentaries are an exciting extension of the 30 for 30 brand and we look forward to presenting our unique approach to storytelling in podcasting form. With this series, we hope to continue serving our fans on a new platform, but also introduce 30 for 30 to audio consumers.”

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 22

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-second night on the Camino at the Albergue El Jardin del Camino in Mansilla de las Mulas (hand on the saddle of the mules).

Tom said that they started the day early (about 8ish). He noted that it seems like the days are growing shorter already, especially in the morning. They covered only about 18k today which allowed them to check in early to rest their feet and Eric's aching knee. There were nice tree shaded lanes again.

Grouse Lakes Hike Pic 2

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 21

Tom and Eric spent their twenty-first night on the Camino in El Burgo Ranero. They just finished their third week of walking. Tom admitted that a little camino fatigue is setting in. They will be in Leon on day after tomorrow and then there will be change of terrain as they begin to leave the meseta and move into Galicia. Looking at calendar, they are considering slow down a bit or doing a layover or two.

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - voi

The complete list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!



Code Expiration: November 29, 2016

Grouse Lakes Hike Pic 1

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 20

Tom and Eric spent their twentieth night on the Camino in Saharan. With a late start and a warmer day, they tackled a shorter leg. They are hoping to send some excess stuff home...

Grouse Lake Trailhead Hike

Sharon, Janie and I hiked a little over seven miles in four hours. Starting from the Grouse Lake Trailhead, we hiked down the Glacier Lake Trail to the Crooked Lakes Trail. Sharon and I had hiked part of the Crooked Lakes Trail with Jack in 2007.

We got a late start from Carmichael and didn't get on the trail until about 12:20 pm. With a long stop for lunch, it was after 5:00 pm by the time we got back to the car.

Based on a recommendation from Larkin, we finished the day with dinner at Dingus McGees in Auburn. I had short ribs, while Sharon and Janie both had a steak.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 19

Tom and Eric spent their nineteenth night on the Camino at the Albergue in Terradillos del los Templars. They have 239 more miles to Santiago de Compostela.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Sharon and I watched Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping as a HD rental on the AppleTV. I had read a positive review of the movie in USAToday recently and stumbled on the movie as I was browsing iTunes for something to watch.

The film is a 2016 American musical mockumentary film. The documentary follows Conner4Real (Samberg) as he undergoes the ups and downs of the pop star life. It was written, produced by and stars Andy Samberg. It co-stars Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Joan Cusack and Maya Rudolph.

I frankly didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Running only 126 minutes, it felt a little like a Saturday Night Live digital short ran amok.

When I mentioned to Drew that I had seen it, he noted that Kyle Holmes was an extra in the film.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 18

Tom and Eric spent their eighteenth day on the Camino trekking across the meseta between Frómista and Carrión de los Condes.

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 17

On an uneventful day, Tom and Eric turned in early and spent their seventeenth night on the Camino at an alburgue with a pool in Boadilla del Camino.

Lexus RX400h Day 2,987

Tom and Eric's Progress on the Way of St. James - Day 16

Tom and Eric spent their sixteenth night on the Camino at the Albergue Ultreia in Castrojeriz. Tom noted that they were entering the hot arid Meseta high plateau with more ruins, churches, NorCal-like fields and more windmills.

Monastery of Saint Anthony