Goodbye left little toenail!!

Goodbye left little toenail!!

(All the way to) Santiago

Not the same Santiago as I walked to. If I could walk on water I'd still be going!

Jerusalem Tomorrow ?

A rather insipid version of Emmylou Harris' performance of David Olney's song but since hers isn't available on youtube I'm posting this one. Listen to Emmylou's when you get the chance. It's on her album Cowgirl's Prayer.

And did those feet ... ?

Yes they did! Well done chaps!

To Infinity ... and beyond!

Well, Finisterre (or Fisterra as they say in Galicia), The End of the World, actually. And by bus rather than walking. Ruth and I took the easy way yesterday and after three and a half hours from Santiago finally reached the town. Rain was torrential so we decided that the final 3km walk to the most westerly point to collect our shell was not on, and settled for a lunch of pulpo and navajas with a drop of red wine washed down with orujo to complete the job. Then another two and a half hours back to Santiago and shopping for souvenirs before a few montaditos in a nice bar and then settling down for the evening.

Dedications

I dedicate this walk from Granada to Santiago de Compostela to the following people.

Firstly, my Mum and Dad, who didn´t know what they had started when they named me Peregrine nearly 63 years ago.

Secondly, my partner, Ruth, who, after a tough last 12 months, has provided me with all the love and support I needed to carry this through to the end.

Thirdly, all my family, friends and colleagues who have generously donated to Cancer Research UK and in so doing have given me the encouragement I needed to fulfill the promise I made that I would reach my goal.

And last, but not least, all those who suffer from cancer. I hope that the money donated to this walk will make some difference to their future recovery and quality of life.

Previously ... on LOST ..

So far I have LOST:

1. My way 4 or 5 times.
2. My microfibre towel which was drying on the back of my rucksack - somewhere in a cork forest in Extremadura.
3. My prescription sunglasses on entering Bañeza on a wet afternoon.
4. Two little toenails.
5. My digital camera battery charger in the albergue in Palas Do Rei.
6. My Camino Virginity.
7.A ballpoint pen and two propelling pencils.
8. 10kg since I left Granada and 5 while I was training. Am now a v slim 90kg!

Not bad really for 50 days on the road.

Wet Wet Wet

Not much more to say really except that´s what Galicia is at the moment. It´s a shame as these are my last 2 or 3 days on the Camino and it´s too wet to get the camera out to take any pictures. Hopefully the weather will clear tomorrow but I´m not holding my breath!

Currently in Arzua with only 31.5km to go.

My feet now fit my boots

Bye bye right little toenail. At last the accommodation of Peregrine Rees and Made in China is accomplished. However the shinsplints seem to have made a reappearance. As I have only 5 sleeps to go I will take whatever medication it needs to relieve the pain and get to Santiago on schedule. I doubt The Pope has such a problem and is probably going to have a slap up do in Santiago today with all his bishop pals. Probably hasn´t done much walking since he was in the Hitler Youth.

I had a great lunch today - Octopus, Wine, Aguardiente at a local maket here in Sarria (115km to go). Tomorrow Portomarin which is about 20km so will be down to double figures

Go West Young Man

Did 20.5km today from Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo. The Camino Frances is much more commercial than the Via de la Plata with even the smallest villages with virtually no permanent inhabitants having at least a couple of bars and albergues to relieve the pilgrims of their money. I was stopped twice on the road today by drivers in their 4x4s handing out fliers advertising their facilities. These are the modern day versions of the footpads and cutpurses that plagued the pilgrims in the middle ages.
Tomorrow another 20km or so before the big climb up O Cebreiro the following day.

Hi I´m Gloria, I´m from N. Carolina.

I am on the Camino Frances now and life for the peregrino is very different. I now have to share the dorm with at least 18 other people and there are all sorts from all over the world. Kind of nice in a way having been alone for most of the walk so far but I had been getting used to my solitude.

Gloria, is from N. Carolina and this is her 2nd Camino Frances. She has also walked The Appalachian Trail (2000 miles) in 2002 which took her 7 months.

There are also a surprising number of S. Koreans too and last night in the albergue in Foncebadon they treated us to a little cabaret singing old John Denver songs in that high-pitched, squeaky voice that Koreans do so well.

Tomorrow only 20km to Villafranco del Bierzo and then the day after that we tackle O Cebreiro which is a pretty steep climb of 700m in about 7km.

Over and out.