• Ann Gray
  • Andrew Gray
  • Claire Pedrick
  • Ann Gray
  • Andrew Gray
  • Claire Pedrick
  • Margaret Gray

Camino 2022

Claire, Margaret, Andrew and I are walking 600k on the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela in memory of John Gray who died from MND in 2019 aged just 57. Weiterlesen
  • Castro

    24. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Today was the first day that I’ve felt less than enthusiastic about walking. Not sure why but when we set off in the drizzle I quite enjoyed it even though it was raining and my poncho isn’t 100% waterproof. Stopped for a coffee and cash point then walked on through some pretty wooded bits to arrive at our Albergue in time for lunch. The food here is fabulous and very cheap. We played Spanish monopoly for 1000s of pesetas then felt so cold we went in bed in our clothes trying to warm up!!Weiterlesen

  • Fonsagrada

    25. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We enjoyed our stay in Castro especially the home cooked food and the sociable evening with a Dutch mother and daughter, an Italian and a Spaniard. We were very cold when we arrived but warmed up when we’d eaten. It was much colder walking today too and we had some more rain. We are finally in Galicia, the last region of Spain that we’ll visit. It was quite a long day today but mostly forest trails and some very steep uphill sections. The last kilometre up to Fonsagrada was practically vertical!!Weiterlesen

  • O Cadavo

    26. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    25km and equivalent of 230 floors.
    We were warned that today would be a hard day for going downhill but no one warned us about the uphill bits!! There were parts where the path was practically vertical and went on forever. We kept thinking we were at the top then would go round a corner and there’d be another steep section. It was quite reassuring to see other, younger, walkers struggling too. We ploughed on buoyed up by the promise of a drink in Fontaneira only to find the bar closed. 😧.
    After about 9hours of walking we have made it to our Albergue which is wonderful. A 4 bedded room with our own bathroom. We must have looked tired when we arrived because the owner carried our bags upstairs!
    Weiterlesen

  • Vilar de Cas

    27. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After yesterday’s exertions today was a walk-in the park. Not too many ups and downs and easy trails through oak and chestnut woods. We are staying in a beautiful Albergue which is decorated like a 5* hotel. The bunks even have curtains and there is a sitting area in the dormitory. Before dinner we sat in the sunshine and drank red wine from cuncas which are a traditional Galician drinking vessel. The communal dinner was one of the best we’ve had and the owners homemade wine fantastic.Weiterlesen

  • Lugo

    28. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Only 100km to go! We have reached Lugo and are feeling tired despite it being a fairly easy day (17km) looking forward to a rest day tomorrow in a rather swanky apartment with a washing machine!

  • Lugo

    29. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Staying in a 3 bed apartment in the centre of the old town. With a washing machine so we’ve washed pretty much everything we own. We got up late then visited the incredibly ornate cathedral and walked around the city walls. It poured with rain so we stopped for a drink and were offered tapas. Feeling brave so ordered pigs ears. Probably won’t do that again!!This evening we met up again with April and her new friend Dutch Peter for dinner and an enormous bottle of wine.Weiterlesen

  • Castrello

    30. September 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    There were lots of people setting off from Lugo today, most of them on their first day so very enthusiastic. This included a small group of nuns who passed us chanting prayers as they walked. We stopped briefly for hot chocolate at a place with vending machines , chairs and tables and toilets. Unfortunately I seem to have developed shin splints so it was a long slow walk to our Albergue.Weiterlesen

  • As Seixas

    1. Oktober 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    I think I’ve got shin splints but with Margaret’s wonderful taping and bandaging skills still hobbling on. As we have to time our arrival into Santiago for 6th October we are having to do quite short days which is just as well as Claire and I are both very slow now. Last night we stayed at a slightly strange Albergue. There were 2 other groups of people there who were quite noisy but it was cosy with a wood fire and the food was ok. although we don’t want to ever see egg and chips again!! We are realising now how lucky we have been with the weather as people catching us up have had a lot of rain and fog over the mountains. The forecast for the next week is good and we are relaxing in the sunshine with various different beverages.Weiterlesen

  • Melide

    2. Oktober 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Not a lot to say today. It was beautiful weather for the walk through gentle countryside, cool and misty to start with the sun then coming through. We were accompanied for several kilometres by a dog. She didn’t seem distressed or even that interested in us but she just walked alongside us, moving out of the way whenever a car came along. We are in Melide now which is very busy with pilgrims as it is where we join the Camino Frances which is the most popular route. We met up with April again and after a couple of abortive attempts to get beds in an Albergue we have rooms in the same pension as her. It is lovely and quiet and has a freezing cold outdoor pool which is perfect for icing my leg in.Weiterlesen

  • Pregontoño

    3. Oktober 2022 in Spanien ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Another pleasant day’s walking through the Galician countryside. Since Melide the way has been more touristy and a bit manicured. Lots of people and lots of bars but a good atmosphere. Walkers here are still excited about their Camino.😅
    We met some lovely people today. David from Chicago that we walked with and shared a long late lunch, and Mary-Beth and Jace , also American but living in Iraq, that we met this evening. Our Albergue is off the beaten track so very quiet but it was worth the extra couple of km in the heat to get to it.
    Weiterlesen

  • O Pedrouzo

    4. Oktober 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Another pleasant day but much busier than yesterday. A steady stream of pilgrims all the way including two elderly Spanish men playing their radio and singing loudly who disturbed our early morning peace! We are now only 20 km from Santiago!!Weiterlesen

  • Monte do Gozo

    5. Oktober 2022 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Just 5km to do tomorrow.
    It was very busy on the trail today with a mixture of excited groups and others who were clearly more introspective as we approach the end.
    We are staying at the municipal Albergue 5 km outside Santiago from where we can just see the towers of the cathedral. It is a purpose built 400 bed Albergue with almost no one staying in it. The receptionist made us line up to book in and I half expected her to frisk us before we went to the cells. It has to be the most utilitarian place we’ve stayed in but at least it’s clean.Weiterlesen

  • Ende der Reise
    6. Oktober 2022