Please Mr Postman

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Wednesday 9 April 2025

I have had a remarkable first day’s walk today on the Camino Francés, covering over 32 kilometres and climbing around 1,500 metres, whilst crossing from France into Spain in the process.

I have, perhaps, underestimated slightly the terrain, the effects of the sun (even this early in the year), the limited wifi (for downloading photos and for producing my Blog), as well as the fact that dinner seems unavailable in these parts until 8.00 pm. Suffice to say that it is now just after 11.00 pm here in northern Spain: I am rested, fed and content, but in need of some sleep! So my usual daily Blog, detailing my walk in words and pictures, will likely be stuck in the post for a while. I have another long day’s walk in prospect tomorrow, but then two nights in Pamplona to catch up with all the reading, writing and admin that treks and Blogs such as this demand. So thank you all for bearing with me, and my full report (or reports!) will follow in a day or two.

Originally a hit for the Marvelletes in 1961, the song ‘Please Mr Postman’ was covered by The Beatles on their second studio album ’With The Beatles’ released in 1963, and perhaps most famously by The Carpenters in 1974. I have chosen this song title as a ‘holding Blog heading’ pending a post on an epic first day’s walk at the start of the Camino Francés. The opening lyrics of the song seem apt:

‘Oh, yes, wait a minute, Mr. Postman
(Wait) wait, Mr. Postman . . .”