Afterword
The Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) originated in the 10th century during the decline of Moorish power inContinue Reading
Category: 2016
Weybridge, UK to Santiago de Compostela (Camino Frances)
Day 57 – The End of the Camino
My Camino is finished. I’ve walked 1051 Kms from Weybridge over 45 walking days since 21 April. It has beenContinue Reading
Day 56 – The End of the Road
I told my feet to stop walking and looked up to admire the Portico de la Gloria. This is theContinue Reading
Day 55 – Raindrops keep falling on my head
Heavy showers today and heavy thundery showers for the rest of the week. It had to come. I enjoyed myContinue Reading
Day 54 – 1000 Kms out
Today I walked through the 1000 kilometres point on my Camino. And after 2 really dreadful stops I am nowContinue Reading
Day 53 – Muddy Trainers
Oh dear, the sunshine has gone and there is a hint of rain. Mixed agriculture, as we called it inContinue Reading
Day 52 – The Final 100 Kms
A large number of new pilgrims have joined the Camino today. The days of solitude among the hills and wheatContinue Reading
Day 51 – Stuck in Sarria
I’ve progressed from the Church to the Bottle. The reason is that the Church is locked but the bar isContinue Reading
Day 50 – Fab Monasteries
Utter disappointment, the Samos monastery. Today could have been a short and pleasant walk for 18 Kms. The decision toContinue Reading
Day 49 – Over the Mountain
As expected, today was one of the toughest days for walking due to the steep ascents and descents over 29Continue Reading
Day 48 – Onwards to Las Herrerias
I’ve shaken off yesterday’s affliction but took it easy today. 21 Kms on more horrible tarmac. Met DJ (that reallyContinue Reading
Day 47 – Villafranca Idle
Felt ghastly all day. Just as well it was a rest day. Tomorrow’s walk is not too demanding so IContinue Reading
Day 46 – Villafranca del Bierzo (End of Stage 6)
I am settled in the Paradore for a couple of nights and my few clothes are hanging up to dryContinue Reading
Day 45 – Molina Seca
Another seductive name for a small town on the Camino. I passed several abandoned villages today but the small townsContinue Reading
Day 44 – Into the Mountains of Leon
I heard my first cuckoo while crossing the South Downs and they are present all the way along the Camino.Continue Reading
Day 43 – A Day in Astorga
I’ve stopped in Astorga before tackling the mountains ahead. There is a pleasant cathedral which opens from 9.00 to 10.30Continue Reading
Day 42 – a short walk to Astorga
I checked out of Hospital de Orbigo at 6.30 and headed out across the fields and passed a cow shedContinue Reading
Day 41 – In Hospital
After another splendid buffet breakfast I set off on the next stage of the Camino. The temperature soon rose intoContinue Reading
Day 40 – Resting in Leon
The ideal rest day is to do very little. Not the case today. I’ve exercised the stomach more than wasContinue Reading
Day 39 – Leon, the City that Sleeps
No hanging around this morning. Breakfast was toast and jam and then we were on our way into Leon. It’sContinue Reading
Day 38 – Mansilla and the Mules
Sounds more like a band but it’s my latest town on the approach to Leon. I suspect the Kings ofContinue Reading
Day 37 – El Burgo Ranero: another dreary Camino town
Actually this place is buzzing with pilgrims. All the hostels and hotels are full, the bars and restaurants are packed,Continue Reading
Day 36 – Sahagun
After yesterday’s hellish walk, today was a little stroll between decent cafes. Just 22 Kms to the charmless Sahagun andContinue Reading
Day 35 – Meseta Meseta Meseta
We are well and truly on the Meseta, a more or less flat plateau about 900m high, supporting fields ofContinue Reading
Day 34 – it’s 1972
Yesterday’s slog continued for another unremitting 23 Kms to the village of Villarmentero de Campos and the Albergue which isContinue Reading
Day 33 – 31 more kilometres
There were 25 of us for the Paella dinner last night. It is the only way to eat it. IContinue Reading
Day 32 – back on the road again
I picked my way through the debris and broken glass in Burgos this morning having played my part in theContinue Reading
Day 31 – Burgos sights and sounds
Great evening yesterday when I spotted our 4 Canadian friends who have featured on previous blogs, most notably a drunkenContinue Reading
Day 30 – Burgos
Much to Manfred’s disgust, I’ve checked into a 4 star hotel for 2 nights. Ahead of me in the checkContinue Reading
Day 29 – Atapuerca, Half Way
I’ve now walked 529 Kms out of 1045 Kms. Today I passed the half way point. Whichever way I lookContinue Reading
Day 28 – Warming up
The temperature is rising, a taste of the summer heat to come. A steady 24 Km today; just 38 KmContinue Reading
Day 27 – Castille
Shame to pass through La Rioja so quickly although much wine was consumed. Now it is Castille for a fewContinue Reading
Day 26 – Camino moves onto Azofra
It could be Monday and it could be Azofra but it hardly matters. We are definitely in La Rioja becauseContinue Reading
Day 25 – La Rioja
I never thought I’d walk again after the past couple of days of walking on one foot but my rightContinue Reading
Day 24 – Last Day in Navarra
It’s Saturday in another charming small town in Navarra, Viana. The approach to these towns is always the same. YouContinue Reading
Day 23 – Vino Galore!
Today’s walk passed a monastery with a wine fountain. You just open the tap and fill your bottle or yourContinue Reading
Day 22 – For Whom The Bell Tolls
A really nice hostel last night with a decent bar right outside. However the village church next door kept chimingContinue Reading
Day 21 Westward Ho!
For the first time on my Camino I’m heading west toward Santiago. And for the first time I can discardContinue Reading
Day 20 – 333 Kms
Lazy day in Pamplona but that’s what it says in the plan. I’ve walked 333 Kms in almost 3 weeks.Continue Reading
Day 19 – Pamplona no bull
You don’t need to have read Hemingway to know all about the bull run in one mad July week. ItContinue Reading
Day 18 – Pamplona at last
This is a big day for me because I have arrived at the Camino Frances which is the main pilgrimContinue Reading
Day 17 – Over The Hills Of Navarra
These hills of Navarra would be a lot of fun in a car. Heavy heavy clouds have been hanging lowContinue Reading
Day 16 – Into the hills of Navarra
I’ve left behind the pleasant towns and headed into the hills, crossing from the Basque Country into Navarra. Quite aContinue Reading
Day 15 – Farewell to San Sebastián
I left San Sebastián soon after sunrise to start the next stage to Pamplona. A long walk straight over theContinue Reading
Day 14 – San Sebastián rest day 2
Impossible to travel in Spain without visiting the churches. I started today in the cathedral. Nothing noteworthy. I walked upContinue Reading
Day 13 – San Sebastián rest day 1
A day of idle wandering around the old town, lurching from one coffee with milk to the next. The churchContinue Reading
Day 12 – End of Stage 2
San Sebastián. Another delightful walk over the Basque hills in warm spring sunshine. At one point my path was closedContinue Reading
Day 11 – Coastal Walk to Zarautz
Lovely walk along the coastline. The sun is still shining and it’s a typical Sunday with hundreds of racing bikesContinue Reading
Day 10 – Deba by the Seaside
A pleasant walk today, down from the Basque hills to the coast. So far I have escaped the rain. MyContinue Reading
Day 9 – Warm Sunny Day
More wandering over the Basque Country, a dozen satellites tracking my whereabouts. I have also acquired a bilingual app whichContinue Reading
Day 8 – Heading East
Travelling on a mixture of roads and footpaths in the Basque Country for 5 days to San Sebastián
Day 7 – Bilboa
A distressed fellow pilgrim in the hotel lobby pleading for a chiropodist to attend to her blisters. Spent the morningContinue Reading
Day 6 – into Bilbao
I leave the comfort of the ferry and have to pretend to be a car to clear the port. BilbaoContinue Reading
Day 5 Boat to Spain
Have been hobbling around the Brittany Ferry to Bilbao with a juicy, smelly blister. Fortunately Mandy brought my trusty oldContinue Reading
Day 4 – Stroll down to Portsmouth for the ferry to Bilbao
Arrived in Portsmouth this afternoon, dumped the backpack in left luggage and headed to Gunwharf Quays for a final SundayContinue Reading
Day 3 – Over the South Downs
A fine hike on footpaths and country lanes over the South Downs. Bluebells. Magnificent views. Arrived unexpectedly early at myContinue Reading
Day 2 Due South
Shorter 18 mile walk today, through Haslemere and Liphook to Liss. Arrived at the jolly Jolly Drover just before theContinue Reading
Day 1 – Walking along the River Wey
Beautiful day to start the journey after weeks of rain. Walked along the Wey through deepest Surrey to Godalming. VeryContinue Reading
Days of Preparation complete…
Day 0 Packed Maps downloaded iPhone charged
