For Margaret.  Granny, wife, daughter, friend, registrar of births, deaths and marriages, generous host, natural comedienne, two time cancer survivor, youngest 70 year old I know. My Mum. Annie, Nellie, Mary, Peggy, Jeannie, Anna, Margaret, Nicola.  Although this may read like the line up for a new girl band it is in fact my direct…

Since we arrived in St Jean Pied de Port to start our Camino over a month ago, we’ve had many people ask us the common pilgrim question ‘so why are you doing the Camino?’.  I can’t speak for Exploradora but I’m not sure I’ve yet given an answer that I’m totally satisfied with.  Besides the…

In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die young. In order to prevent his death, his mother took Achilles to the River Styx, which was supposed to offer powers of invulnerability, and dipped his body into the water; however, as she held Achilles by the heel, his heel…

I got your attention there, didn’t I Mum? I’m disappointed to say that I’ve yet to encounter any WiFi on the Camino that is happy uploading photos via my ancient iPad to this blog platform; so even if I had have been brazen enough to take a photo of said Shirtless Belgian I couldn’t share…

There are many things to consider before starting your Camino. For us it went something like this: 34 days walking or even longer hikes and cut the duration? Book ahead or go with the flow and risk no available beds at the next location? Communal albergues or hostales with twin rooms? Carry all our belongings…

I spoke in my last post about simplicity.  On a loosely related note, just over a week into my walking adventure I’ve begun to notice something about the changes in my thoughts when I’m walking long distances, exacerbated on the Camino I believe by how interested I am in the people I’m walking with and…

There are blog posts waiting in the wings! The Camino it seems isn’t a fan of the combination of my ancient iPad and wobbly internet connection so at present is throwing me in and out of WiFi before I can save a draft post. Apologies, this is perhaps one of my first Camino lessons, patience!…

I should be more organised.  I should have trained more.  I should be packing rather than using the gasman’s presence in my home as an excuse to message friends instead.  I should be slimmer, fitter and with flawless skin for the inevitable photos along the Camino.  My legs are pearly white, should I pack fake…

“I love it when a plan comes together” Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith, enigma from 80’s favourite “The A-Team” Not quite as dynamic as The A-Team perhaps but this type of plan excites me.  Colour coded, symmetrical, displayed on the kitchen wall and able to be ticked off smugly, appeasing the OCD demon that resides inside my…