In 2013 Gerry and I took a holiday in Northern Spain. We set off in our camper and drove west along the northern coast of Spain from France and then headed further south to Burgos. After a couple of days in Burgos we drove on to Leon, heading to the Atlantic coast at Vigo.
I kept seeing hikers… Gerry called them ‘shellers’ but they were of course pilgrims. I watched through the window as we drove along and by Leon I was very curious. By the time we arrived at the coast I was committed.
I sat on a beach of beautiful soft sand not far from Finisterre, paddling my feet in the clear water. As I put my hand into the sand it rested on a perfect shell… It’s the same shell gerry presented me with when I met him on the steps of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela the following October after my 800km hike across Spain… and I blogged as I walked.
Walking Buddies
In 2019 I started a walking group here in SW France, hoping to meet likeminded people who loved to walk. Also (after many request) I took a group of pilgrims for a walk along the Camino Frances; a taster camino if you like. Both ventures have proved very popular! Which is great news, as I get to walk with more fabulous people on many more fabulous trails! Take a look at my Walking Buddies page to see what’s new and what’s coming up!
My hope is that the love I feel for these ancient paths will become accessible to others and that after a short walk with me, folks will feel inspired to continue on with other adventures!
I Still Blog When I Walk
This started life as a blog and it still is. I have a catagory for each of my solo walks on the menu bar above or use the links here to go to the first page of each of my solo adventures :
- Camino Frances 2014 starts here
- Camino Frances 2015 starts here
- Via de la Plata 2016 starts here
- Camino Frances 2017 starts here
- Rota Vicentina 2017 starts here
- Camino Portuguese Coastal 2017 starts here
- Camino Frances 2018 starts here
- Camino del Norte 2018 starts here
- Camino Primitivo 2019 starts here
- Camino Portuguese Central 2019 starts here
- Camino Lebaniego (ish) 2020 starts here
Any posts and news are always found on the Latest News menu.
When I’m walking I still love to read your thoughts, comments and feedback… as a result, over the years, I’ve connected with new friends from around the world and I am so grateful for the company when I’m walking!
I plan to take the walk, not sure when or with who. My husband doesn’t like to walk nor do many of my travel buddies. I need a walking group and something like this sounds intriguing. Roberta
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Hi Roberta! Once you’ve got it in your head that you want to walk the camino, it kind of never lets go! I now organise group walks but sadly I’ve cancelled them all until June next year… when goodness I do hope that travel will be more easy! I’m planning to walk the Primitivo again in the Future. We may, if we’re able, walk the Camino Portuguese in late spring but I feel it’s best to wait before planning. And of course in 2022 lets hope that we’ll have a full year of adventures! I have a Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/ThenWeWalked) … feel free to follow and you’ll keep up to day with our plans! Equally… stay in touch as I’m always happy to talk about walking the camino! ❤
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Hi Colleen, I’ll be thinking about you and following you step by step. Courage pour cette longue marche. I might join you one day, who knows.. I’m thinking about it. With love Christine Bigonneau
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Much better x
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