Category Archives: Diary

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 7: Tuesday 15 April 2025 – Los ARCOS to LOGROÑO (28 [+2] kilometres) Today saw two milestones. Firstly I have been walking for a week now on the Camino Francés path, with the first seven stages of my planned walk completed, bang on schedule. And second, just this afternoon, on theContinue reading “A Day In The Life”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 6: Monday 14 April 2025 – ESTELLA to LOS ARCOS (22 [+2] kilometres) If yesterday was ‘Social Sunday’ then today, at least for me whilst on the trail, was ‘Mono Monday’. For the most part of this short day’s walk I was alone, though not uncomfortable with my own company asContinue reading “Crooked Tree”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 5: Sunday 13 April 2025 – PUENTE la REINA to ESTELLA (22 [+3] kilometres) This morning dawned grey, although thankfully without the rain that followed last evening’s thunderstorm, and my quiet start to today’s section of the Camino (Stage 5 on my plan), away from Puente la Reina, followed close toContinue reading “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme”

CAMINO FRANCÉS – Day 4: Saturday 12 April 2025 – PAMPLONA to PUENTE la REINA (24 [+2] kilometres) Buoyed by my rest day in Pamplona, and with fresh legs, I was also lucky today in having perfect walking conditions – cool air, good visibility, a light breeze, and some bright sunny spells as the dayContinue reading “The Windmills Of Your Mind”

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”