Author Archives: nickletjog

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 3: Friday 11 April 2025 – REST DAY in PAMPLONA It has been a pleasure to have 36 hours here in Pamplona: to explore and learn, to stock up with consumables, and to complete some purchases of kit that I had neglected from home (not least sunglasses), and of course toContinue reading “Like A Prayer”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 2: Thursday 10 April 2025 – ESPINAL to PAMPLONA (36 [+6] kilometres) What better way to follow yesterday’s long first day on the Camino Francés than with another marathon! Having walked on last afternoon to Espinal (about 7 kilometres past the usual Day 1 resting place in Roncesvalles), I figured thisContinue reading “Stumblin’ In”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 1: Wednesday 9 April 2025 – ST JEAN PIED de PORT to ESPINAL (32 [+3] kilometres)* It is a wonderful feeling to be stepping out of my B&B, early morning in the half light, to a clear sky and mist in the hollows, to the smell of damp grass and absoluteContinue reading “Move On Up”

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 theContinue reading “Please Mr Postman”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Tuesday 8 April 2025 Well, I said yesterday that Bayonne is known as the ‘City of Art & History’ but there is actually a whole lot more than these two facets to this medieval commune.  My guide book boasts of the UNESCO-listed twin-spired 13th Century Cathedral, the Botanical Gardens, the Museum ofContinue reading “Southbound Train”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Monday 7 April 2025 To shoot for the moon, or to reach for the stars; either way, today marks the culmination of several weeks and months of planning for my Camino experience that has been an ambition of mine for a fair few years. The traditional Camino Francés route that I haveContinue reading “Reach For The Stars”

Saturday 5 April 2025 I have just two days now before I set off, initially to Stanstead Airport for my flight to Biarritz, ahead of my Camino trek. The path I will be taking is the Camino Francés, one of the many ancient pilgrimage routes that leads to Santiago de Compostela, in the Spanish regionContinue reading “Holiday In Spain”

Thursday 3 April 2025 For centuries immemorial pilgrims from all over Western Europe have made their way on foot across hills and hollows, over rivers and ranges, and through forests and fields, on the paths that lead to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Their mission, traditionally, has been to reach the Galician capital andContinue reading “Eviva España”

Wednesday 19 March 2025 Today I took a ramble with a difference: a walking tour of Soho in central London alongside six close friends and under the guidance of West End actor and musician Al, from Experience Local Tours. Our walk was loosely described as a ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour’, though personalised by the companyContinue reading “London Town”

Friday 28 February to Saturday 8 March 2025 Since my last post the season has changed meteorologically and, as if on cue, we have enjoyed a few warm days of early spring here. A blip perhaps, as the cold has now seemingly returned, but these few fine days have certainly been no less welcome. OurContinue reading “Looking East”