Last year I wrote a post about the perfect pilgrim present, and this year I thought I might expand on it. The perfect present never needs to be expensive, just thoughtful and fit for purpose, and in a pilgrim’s case – lightweight and practical. Buying the big 3 – pack, shoes, sleeping bag – can … More More perfect pilgrim Christmas presents
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 CF21 Sola camino
What do you do when you wake up in Santiago and have nothing to do, nowhere to go, and can’t seem to get back to sleep after waking up at pilgrim o’clock? Well, if you’re staying in the Pinario, you can go down to the Obradoiro square just to see dawn changing the colour of … More CF21 Day 26 – Santiago
Here’s the thing, when you accept that there are alternative transport options, walking becomes a choice. I know there is a bus going straight into Santiago and where it stops (assuming it is still running), but even though the fog hung heavy and wet outside the windows when I woke up, I wanted to walk. … More CF21 Day 25 – Pedrouzo to Santiago!
When I woke up, there was only me and two other pilgrims left in the room, one of them was fast asleep. The other one and I got ready as quietly as we could in semi darkness until he woke up and we could put the light on. Turns out my fellow awake pilgrim had … More CF21 Day 24 – Arzua to Salceda and Pedrouzo
New day, new walk. I had decided to do my best for myself and the knee, meaning not giving up but also not overdoing it. I know this walk by now and was looking forward to a lovely bimble through forests and tiny villages, with a good few places to stop along the way. Hopefully … More CF21 Day 23 – Palas to Melide and Arzua
I suppose I should have planned for more half days or something, because when I woke up to thick, cold fog over Portomarin and got out of my bed, my knee complained with a loud and crunching noise. Seems the downhills the last couple of days had done more damage than I was aware of. … More CF21 Day 22 – Portomarin to Palas de Rei
And then I woke up in Sarria. The difference from one day to the next is gobsmacking, to put it mildly, though it shouldn’t surprise me anymore. The camino drag was heaving with fresh people on fresh legs, some of them still doing last minute purchases like clicking walking sticks. Many were in groups and … More CF21 Day 21 – Sarria to Portomarin
There are two roads out of Triacastela, and this time I was determined to take the other one, over Samos. But after meeting Art the night before, and with it being shorter… Well, I went for the San Xil option again. When I got to A Balsa and Art’s art gallery, the man himself was … More CF21 Day 20 – Triacastela to Sarria
There was no point in getting up too early the next morning as the temperatures were forecast to drop to single figures until at least an hour after sunrise. When I finally managed to leave my comfy and warm bed and made it downstairs to have breakfast, the Cutest Couple were there, which was a … More CF21 Day 19 – O Cebreiro to Triacastela
Somewhere Slowly 