A few weeks since my last post but that is because I have been away walking and for personal security reasons it is not expedient to announce that I am not at home as my regular readers know.
But to fill you in - I spent a wonderful few days in the north at Ponte de Lima staying with me good friend Isabel and her family at Casa Arrabalde, those who have stayed here know that Isabel is a wonderful host. My remit was to go over some established walks and look at some new trails (part of this has been at the invitation of the Valimar organisation) plus I wanted to find another good quality manor house to extend and improve our Minho - Costa Verde walk. This was all done and the new walk will be launched in the next few weeks under a new name.
From here I went on to lead the group walk to Santiago de Compostela - which once again was a great pleasure - thank you to everyone for the laughter, the sharing of lambs wool for blisters(I cannot begin to tell you how great this product is and is available at Boots chemists in the UK) and the support we gave each other for our aching legs, suspect knees and sore feet! This time there were far more on the Camino than at any time previously (I have now walked this 14 yes 14 times) - I know this is a Holy Year but there was never that many people in Santiago in May when I was last there.
People walk the Camino for a variety of reasons, some spiritual other just because it is a great walking experience. There is just such a sense of achievement once we finally reach our destination - I must just say a big thank you to Olga who made a DVD of her journey along the Camino with me last year - she sent me a copy this August and it brings alive the walk and the fun we shared.