Pilgrimage

I heard my first cuckoo while crossing the South Downs and they are present all the way along the Camino.Continue Reading

I’ve stopped in Astorga before tackling the mountains ahead. There is a pleasant cathedral which opens from 9.00 to 10.30Continue Reading

I checked out of Hospital de Orbigo at 6.30 and headed out across the fields and passed a cow shedContinue Reading

After another splendid buffet breakfast I set off on the next stage of the Camino. The temperature soon rose intoContinue Reading

The ideal rest day is to do very little. Not the case today. I’ve exercised the stomach more than wasContinue Reading

No hanging around this morning. Breakfast was toast and jam and then we were on our way into  Leon. It’sContinue Reading

Sounds more like a band but it’s my latest town on the approach to Leon. I suspect the Kings ofContinue Reading

Actually this place is buzzing with pilgrims. All the hostels and hotels are full, the bars and restaurants are packed,Continue Reading

After yesterday’s hellish walk, today was a little stroll between decent cafes. Just 22 Kms to the charmless Sahagun andContinue Reading

We are well and truly on the Meseta, a more or less flat plateau about 900m high, supporting fields ofContinue Reading

Yesterday’s slog continued for another unremitting 23 Kms to the village of Villarmentero de Campos and the Albergue which isContinue Reading

There were 25 of us for the Paella dinner last night. It is the only way to eat it.  IContinue Reading

I picked my way through the debris and broken glass in Burgos this morning having played my part in theContinue Reading

Great evening yesterday when I spotted our 4 Canadian friends who have featured on previous blogs, most notably a drunkenContinue Reading

Much to Manfred’s disgust, I’ve checked into a 4 star hotel for 2 nights. Ahead of me in the checkContinue Reading

I’ve now walked 529 Kms out of 1045 Kms. Today I passed the half way point. Whichever way I lookContinue Reading

The temperature is rising, a taste of the summer heat to come. A steady 24 Km today; just 38 KmContinue Reading

Shame to pass through La Rioja so quickly although much wine was consumed. Now it is Castille for a fewContinue Reading

It could be Monday and it could be Azofra but it hardly matters. We are definitely in La Rioja becauseContinue Reading

I never thought I’d walk again after the past couple of days of walking on one foot but my rightContinue Reading

It’s Saturday in another charming small town in Navarra, Viana. The approach to these towns is always the same. YouContinue Reading

Today’s walk passed a monastery with a wine fountain. You just open the tap and fill your bottle or yourContinue Reading

A really nice hostel last night with a decent bar right outside. However the village church next door kept chimingContinue Reading

For the first time on my Camino I’m heading west toward Santiago. And for the first time I can discardContinue Reading

Lazy day in Pamplona but that’s what it says in the plan. I’ve walked 333 Kms in almost 3 weeks.Continue Reading

You don’t need to have read Hemingway to know all about the bull run in one mad July week. ItContinue Reading

This is a big day for me because I have arrived at the Camino Frances which is the main pilgrimContinue Reading

These hills of Navarra would be a lot of fun in a car.  Heavy heavy clouds have been hanging lowContinue Reading

I’ve left behind the pleasant towns and headed into the hills, crossing from the Basque Country into Navarra. Quite aContinue Reading

I left San Sebastián soon after sunrise to start the next stage to Pamplona. A long walk straight over theContinue Reading

Impossible to travel in Spain without visiting the churches. I started today in the cathedral. Nothing noteworthy.  I walked upContinue Reading

A day of idle wandering around the old town, lurching from one coffee with milk to the next. The churchContinue Reading

San Sebastián. Another delightful walk over the Basque hills in warm spring sunshine. At one point my path was closedContinue Reading

Lovely walk along the coastline. The sun is still shining and it’s a typical Sunday with hundreds of racing bikesContinue Reading

A pleasant walk today, down from the Basque hills to the coast. So far I have escaped the rain. MyContinue Reading

More wandering over the Basque Country, a dozen satellites tracking my whereabouts. I have also acquired a bilingual app whichContinue Reading

Travelling on a mixture of roads and footpaths in the Basque Country for 5 days to San Sebastián 

A distressed fellow pilgrim in the hotel lobby pleading for a chiropodist to attend to her blisters.  Spent the morningContinue Reading

I leave the comfort of the ferry and have to pretend to be a car to clear the port. BilbaoContinue Reading

Have been hobbling around the Brittany Ferry to Bilbao with a juicy, smelly blister. Fortunately Mandy brought my trusty oldContinue Reading

Arrived in Portsmouth this afternoon, dumped the backpack in left luggage and headed to Gunwharf Quays for a final SundayContinue Reading

A fine hike on footpaths and country lanes over the South Downs. Bluebells. Magnificent views. Arrived unexpectedly early at myContinue Reading

Shorter 18 mile walk today, through Haslemere and Liphook to Liss. Arrived at the jolly Jolly Drover just before theContinue Reading

Beautiful day to start the journey after weeks of rain. Walked along the Wey through deepest Surrey to Godalming. VeryContinue Reading

Day 0 Packed Maps downloaded iPhone charged