Somewhere Slowly

Camino 101 – Q & A

07/03/2021

I remember when I started planning my first walk on the camino and the many questions I had. And then when I told others about it, they sometimes asked questions I couldn’t answer. So here’s some of the absolute basics, in case you or a loved one is planning on walking it and you find … More Camino 101 – Q & A

Happy Backpack Day!

17/08/2022

Well if it isn’t *officially* Backpack Day, it should be. On this day, ten years ago (OMG is it really ten years) I got my Osprey Aura 35 delivered. Fresh from the outdoors shop, from Osprey’s new range, ventilated and panel loading and state of the art. Time was of the essence; in three days … More Happy Backpack Day!

Un-packing list Caracola camino 2022

14/08/2022

As always, a camino isn’t fully written up until I have done the unpacking list. This is a brilliant tip for repeat pilgrims, walkers, travellers – packing lists are an idea, un-packing lists are cold hard reality. I am currently planning another trip and rereading this to pare down my load, trying to learn from … More Un-packing list Caracola camino 2022

Backpack weight loss hacks

09/04/2022

Now that my foot is still bruised and I haven’t been able to do all the training walks I wanted, I really have to think about the weight I am putting in my pack. I want to carry it, because it gives me freedom and flexibility and also because it works as a brace to … More Backpack weight loss hacks

Top pilgrim tip: Planning websites

08/04/2022

The second best part of any camino is planning for it. But where do you even start? With a guidebook, is one answer, and I always recommend having a (decent and recent) guidebook available when planning. These days there are also lots of websites offering bits of information, and just deciding on which website to … More Top pilgrim tip: Planning websites

VC5: Last day in Cologne

07/04/2022

My last day in Cologne. I started by leaving my backpack in the luggage storage at the hotel, then went downstairs to the restaurant – first customer of the day – to order a coffee and a salad for late breakfast. While I sat there, B sent me highlights of her day so far: Mine … More VC5: Last day in Cologne

VC4: Rest day in Cologne

06/04/2022

I had come back to Cologne to rest, and that’s all I did: Rested. I got up late, kept my foot up while I considered my options and watched news on the TV (wish I hadn’t), then went downstairs for a coffee, but they weren’t open yet. And there was a huge demo on the … More VC4: Rest day in Cologne

VC3: Back to Cologne

05/04/2022

Another day, another fabulous hotel breakfast buffet. I shall miss that! We treated ourselves to a huge meal and B also made a packed lunch. I decided I didn’t need a lunchbox lunch, as the train would only take an hour. I gave her my tiny salt and pepper shaker as a parting gift, the … More VC3: Back to Cologne

VC2: Stupid little steps

03/04/2022

Remember that little step that B almost tripped on but managed to keep her balance? Well I didn’t. So when I went up to the room after a long, lovely breakfast to put my lunch in my box and finish getting ready while she had another coffee, I didn’t see it at all … and … More VC2: Stupid little steps

VC1: B’s Epic Adventure

03/04/2022

I met my friend B on the camino just after Sarria in 2015, when she was finishing the Camino Francés from St Jean. We stayed in touch, and she has often talked about wanting to take a 6 month sabbatical to do an Epic Walk – from her front door in Germany to Santiago and … More VC1: B’s Epic Adventure

Avoiding Plantar Fasciitis

22/03/2022

After the pressure blisters – or possibly before them – plantar fasciitis is my most common/feared/painful recurring issue/worry/problem on the trail. I first got it on my long camino Francés in 2012, towards the end of the 800 km walk. I was planning on going on to Finisterre, but after arriving in Santiago my heels … More Avoiding Plantar Fasciitis

Nidarosa the hiker, traveller, pilgrim