(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) Oh hello, new day! Our window faced straight into the sunrise. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the Candela before we headed out, appropriately dressed for the expected summery temperatures. We were just talking about the narrow and uneven trail leading up towards Foncebadón and … More Winter walk to Acebo
(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) We woke up to splendid sunshine, though there was a definite chill in the air. Packing took longer than it should, as it always does the first couple of days, but we finally managed to get ourselves organised and dressed in layers. Then we bimbled … More Winter walk to Rabanal
(From our winter camino, late February to early March 2020) As usual we stayed over in Liverpool the night before so we could wake up, roll out to the bus and go straight to the airport in the morning. We both had hand luggage only – my poles were shipped to our hotel in Astorga … More Back to Astorga
You know how you think about the camino, and read and watch and listen to anything camino, and ponder and prepare and start getting the gear together, and then you book your tickets? Yeah, that’s exactly not what we did. When I came back from my (until covid) usual walk in September, I started planning … More CF winter walk 2020
Please note this was published in August 2020; for recent info and advice regarding travel, please seek out updated information from the Spanish government on Spain Travel Health website (with travel locator form for travellers). News just in, fresh from the Camino! Mark McCarthy, seasoned pilgrim and guidebook author, has just returned from his pilgrimage … More Walking the Camino in the time of Covid
This week I bit the bullet, grit my teeth and cancelled my beds on the Camino Francés in September. Not because I wanted to, but for the simple reason that I am waiting to hear about a rather lucrative contract – if I get it, I won’t have time to go, and if I don’t, … More Postponing a postponed walk
Written during covid lockdown in 2020, when my camino was cancelled Finally, no rain! And no rush either – it’s a pleasant enough walk into León from here, and I want to really enjoy my last day of walking. Communal walking. Most of the pilgrims from last night have already left, some of them planning … More Not Going to León
Written during covid lockdown in 2020, when my camino was cancelled The last day of walking, according to plan. I was supposed to fly back on the 17th, after a whole day in León – or not, if I decided to dawdle – and with my extra efforts yesterday I am now ahead of schedule. … More Not Not Going to León
Written during covid lockdown in 2020, when my camino was cancelled I wake up to the now familiar sound of rain against the window in my room. It is dark, so I have to check my Fitbit to see what time it is, and luckily it is still early – too early to start, when … More Not Going to Reliegos
Written during covid lockdown in 2020, when my camino was cancelled Aaargh, another rainy morning. I have slept well, the bed was lovely!, but still, I wake up feeling bone tired. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the long day yesterday, maybe it’s the many days of walking catching up with me – it’ll pass. … More Not Going to Sahagún
Somewhere Slowly 