Monday 9 July 2012
Walking Around
Having walked the Camino Primitivo we are considering where we walk next. We may return to walk some of the Picos de Europa, or parts of the Camino again. We certainly hope to walk in the UK. So we will keep in training but this blog is coming to an end and you can follow our further walks on the Walking Around blog at http://peripatio.blogspot.co.uk
Saturday 9 June 2012
Camino Primitivo -April-May 2012
Our training over we left for Spain on the 22nd of April and walked the Camino Primitivo as planned. We have finally arrived back home and are sorting out our photos and memories of the Camino, our time in Santiago and the return across Spain.
Our new blog for this Camino is at Camino Primitivo 2012
Friday 20 April 2012
Other preparations
Apart from checking our packs and walking there are other things to think about.
To stay in the pilgrim hostels (albergues) we need a Pilgrim's Passport (credencial). Ours come from the CSJ in England and have good large spaces for the stamps (sellos) we will collect as we walk. Sellos can be had from churches, town halls, hotels, cafes etc as well as the albergues themselves. Some places just leave the rubber stamp and ink pad for pilgrims, others do it for you. Some are very picturesque, others simple. We need at least one a day to start with, and then at least two a day for the last 100kms, to show that we have walked the Camino.
Also from CSJ we have the selection of Bible verses and meditations called 'Forty Days'.
The guide to the Camino is also important, giving directions, distances and some places to stay as well as the albergues. We will probably use a mix of albergues, both municipal (not bookable) and private (bookable), hostals and maybe some hotels.
That means we need a PAYG mobile phone to call ahead, or for emergencies. Next on the list is money, in a secure form and our tickets for the journey.
So much to think about as the time gets nearer; and still the need for that all important walking practise. To quote a Stanley Holloway monologue "the sky's took a turn since this morning; I think it'll brighten up yet", although so far the forecast for the next few weeks round here doesn't look too good.
Last year's sellos:-
from our journey and the Camino Inglés
To stay in the pilgrim hostels (albergues) we need a Pilgrim's Passport (credencial). Ours come from the CSJ in England and have good large spaces for the stamps (sellos) we will collect as we walk. Sellos can be had from churches, town halls, hotels, cafes etc as well as the albergues themselves. Some places just leave the rubber stamp and ink pad for pilgrims, others do it for you. Some are very picturesque, others simple. We need at least one a day to start with, and then at least two a day for the last 100kms, to show that we have walked the Camino.
Also from CSJ we have the selection of Bible verses and meditations called 'Forty Days'.
The guide to the Camino is also important, giving directions, distances and some places to stay as well as the albergues. We will probably use a mix of albergues, both municipal (not bookable) and private (bookable), hostals and maybe some hotels.
That means we need a PAYG mobile phone to call ahead, or for emergencies. Next on the list is money, in a secure form and our tickets for the journey.
So much to think about as the time gets nearer; and still the need for that all important walking practise. To quote a Stanley Holloway monologue "the sky's took a turn since this morning; I think it'll brighten up yet", although so far the forecast for the next few weeks round here doesn't look too good.
Last year's sellos:-
from our journey and the Camino Inglés
Thursday 19 April 2012
April showers
After some lovely walking weather in March and early April the weather lately has not been good. Rain and cold winds have been the usual weather pattern. However we have managed some long walks and some short.
We were back on the ancient track again this week, so a view looking up the hill this time as that is the direction we were walking.
Hopefully the weather will now improve so that we can keep walking.
Also we are now carrying our full weight packs on the longer walks; packed as though on a hot day on the Camino. This has its difficulties when we are needing to wear the layers we want to carry!
It's uphill all the way!
We were back on the ancient track again this week, so a view looking up the hill this time as that is the direction we were walking.
Hopefully the weather will now improve so that we can keep walking.
Also we are now carrying our full weight packs on the longer walks; packed as though on a hot day on the Camino. This has its difficulties when we are needing to wear the layers we want to carry!
It's uphill all the way!
Monday 26 March 2012
The Ancient Trackway
Across the field and down between steep banks
This ancient trackway runs. A way worn deep
Into the very bedrock of the land
By many iron shod hoofs and wheels and feet.
Who knows but what there may have passed this way,
The Celtic warrior armed with shield and spear,
Leaving behind his loved ones safe at home
Within the castle dike on hilltop near.
Who knows how many of the folk of old
Briton and Roman, Angle, Saxon, Dane:
With horse and hound, chariot, cart and sledge
Helped form this treasure of a country lane.
The ruined longhouse, roofless now, lies near
Above the river, in its valley green.
Once men and women, children, all lived here
Made tears and laughter part of this dear scene.
All, all are gone now, silence reigns within
The woodland copse and by the riverside.
Here can I stand and listen for the past
To speak to me with voices time can't hide.
The track worn down with countless wheels and feet,
The fallen walls, the ford across the stream.
The life once lived here lives again for me,
And modern life becomes the unreal dream.
©Tio Tel 2012
With thanks to ksam for the comment at Feb 7th which inspired me
This ancient trackway runs. A way worn deep
Into the very bedrock of the land
By many iron shod hoofs and wheels and feet.
Who knows but what there may have passed this way,
The Celtic warrior armed with shield and spear,
Leaving behind his loved ones safe at home
Within the castle dike on hilltop near.
Who knows how many of the folk of old
Briton and Roman, Angle, Saxon, Dane:
With horse and hound, chariot, cart and sledge
Helped form this treasure of a country lane.
The ruined longhouse, roofless now, lies near
Above the river, in its valley green.
Once men and women, children, all lived here
Made tears and laughter part of this dear scene.
All, all are gone now, silence reigns within
The woodland copse and by the riverside.
Here can I stand and listen for the past
To speak to me with voices time can't hide.
The track worn down with countless wheels and feet,
The fallen walls, the ford across the stream.
The life once lived here lives again for me,
And modern life becomes the unreal dream.
©Tio Tel 2012
With thanks to ksam for the comment at Feb 7th which inspired me
March walks
We are enjoying the warm, dry weather and continue to walk 10km - 15km with at least part packs. The various sights include an old railway bridge with its makers plate and the early daffodils by the stream.
School holidays will soon be with us, so less walking while looking after grandchildren. Then it will be back to training walks again.
School holidays will soon be with us, so less walking while looking after grandchildren. Then it will be back to training walks again.
Friday 2 March 2012
Spring is coming
We have managed a good number of walks over the past few weeks, with a 15km one today and full packs again. It was warm enough to walk in shirts, without fleeces and the snowdrops are out. Spring is coming, or it was until about mid afternoon when the mist rolled in and the temperature dropped. At least we were home by then as we couldn't see the hills behind our house.
Cromwell's Arch:
gateway to the old Priory
Hens enjoying the sunshine
A beautiful double rainbow
and now the snowdrops
Cromwell's Arch:
gateway to the old Priory
Hens enjoying the sunshine
A beautiful double rainbow
and now the snowdrops
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Winter walking
We have been very busy walking, trying pack weights (again!!!!) and testing our cold weather layers. January was fairly good for walking so we had a mix of 8km and 15km walks.
The past week has been bitterly cold and with some snow so the 'great log fire' was more attractive. The one advantage of the freezing weather was that the tracks were passable as the mud was frozen.
However this morning we were back on the road again although it is still quite cold.
One of our late January walks gave us some interesting photos:-
The church on the hill top
A sunken ancient trackway
An unusual view of thatch from underneath
Thatched tithe barn
The past week has been bitterly cold and with some snow so the 'great log fire' was more attractive. The one advantage of the freezing weather was that the tracks were passable as the mud was frozen.
However this morning we were back on the road again although it is still quite cold.
One of our late January walks gave us some interesting photos:-
The church on the hill top
A sunken ancient trackway
An unusual view of thatch from underneath
Thatched tithe barn
Sunday 1 January 2012
New Year 2012
A happy new year to you all.
At last we can say 'This year we will walk the Camino Primitivo again (DV).' Walking practise continues, although not today as it was raining. Packs are being checked, what to take is being considered and weighed (yet again!!). Basically we expect to use the same kit as last year but we'll list it later once we have decided. All we hope and pray for is better weather than in 2010, especially as we feel that this will be our last time on the Camino as pilgrims (although not our last visit to Spain).
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