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Where do ( did ) you walk ( locally ) in 2023?

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..walking in the fields about Stewkley, Buckinghamshire (UK). Great clods in freshly ploughed fields, autumnal hedges berry-laden. Half timbered houses . A very fine Norman church c. 1160, with unknown pilgrim saint...

Greetings to all!

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Dove House, Stewkley

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St Michael's parish church (c.1160), Stewkley

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Unknown pilgrim saint.
 
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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
A selection of Camino Jewellery
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
A walk to Aysgill waterfall yesterday in the Yorkshire Dales
soon after starting the walk, the rain started and got progressively worse
The wind was ferocious
Normally we were told, it’s a busy path but we didn’t meet anyone, I wonder why!
ankle deep in mud and water, we eventually got there and what an amazing torrent.
Definitely worth the effort and we even forgot that there’s a heatwave in the South!
Slipping and sliding back through a field of beet
Lit the fire and the rain and wind forgotten

Today, more rivers, fields and waterfalls but the mud had dried and now for the washing IMG_6718.jpegIMG_6714.jpegIMG_6739.jpegIMG_6734.jpegIMG_6732.jpegIMG_6730.jpegIMG_6729.jpegIMG_6727.jpeg
 
After a duty day in the Camino information Society centre, we had a guided tour of this church, followed by a celebration for members. This more or less followed the recent inauguration of the mouteira (distance marker) in the Bray to Dublin section of the Celtic Camino.
After the tour we repaired across the road to a former Guildhall, now a pub, for chat and refreshments and food.
Here are a couple of photos from the church.The first one shows the lucky stone. It dates from the ninth century and local people still come in to touch it and make their wish... the baptismal font is a little younger, I think. The stone is recognised as having been brought over from England. The gourd and staff and camino shell are there also, and this is one of four clear stopping points for modern pilgrims to obtain lovely stamps on their way to Santiago..
I did not know this till today. It will not be long before I call back in and get one of my credentials stamped!


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Black mountains yesterday. Incredible weather. I thought there'd be more people about, enjoying the final gasp of summer, but no. As usual some people around at the top end where the trippers come up from the valley. But otherwise practically alone, apart from the horses..
If the pics look odd, it's a very old camera that I've obviously forgotten how to operate!
 

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The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
As Ronald Reagan once said”Hard work never killed anyone but why take the chance”
Growing up, I heard this quote so many times , but without the “why take the chance bit”
Certainly not many who quoted it ever had to work down the mines or dig for lead ore which most probably killed so many
It was a hard life for those miners in the 18th century

These were some of my thoughts as we walked this very scenic walk from Gunnerside in the Swaledale Dales, with many abandoned buildings dotted all over the valley sides
It was a hard enough walk and 12 km over 5 hours but worth it for the wonderful scenery
A beautiful church at the end IMG_6879.pngIMG_6880.pngIMG_6881.pngIMG_6882.png
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I still have two Ireland walks of ours to post but I'm going to switch to something closer in time and distance; we spent a few days camping and hiking north in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As you can see, in the autumn the color white isn't the best color to describe the mountains.

These pictures show two short walks we took on our first and last days of the trip. This was along the river that was a stone's throw away from our campsite (if there weren't trees between us anyway).

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Day 2 of our camping trip we hiked one of our favorites, a good warmup hike to two ponds.

On our way back we got passed by an 80 year old man coming down from a couple of peaks accessed by a side trail. New Hampshire has 48 mountains with an elevation greater than 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) and many want to hike all of them. He had decades ago (so did we) and many times since but for his 80th year he wanted to do them all again.


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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
So many beautiful locations to walk in preparation. The photos of your locations are breathtaking. Being in S. Florida we do have some beauty but it is either in the Everglades, a very flat marsh or underwater.

Husband and I are planning to walk our very flat area during the week, and continue preparing our shoulders for the weigh of the backpack on weekends.

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Of course it isn't the same but the closest trail with any elevation change (maybe 50 meters or so) requires 8 to 10 hour drive.
For now the plan is to walk longer and heavier each day with a backpack until we can do 35-40 km days without ending the day like we need to just die. The plan also includes to learn to use the trekking sticks correctly.
After that we'll figure a practical mountainous location to travel with facilities close by (no camping for us) to practice the ups and downs. Mostly the down hill portion, seems to be going up may be hard but always controlled, if one has difficulty climbing just stop for a moment, until you can make a few more steps up, repeat as necessary. I'm concerned about losing control going down, when I was young my reflexes were very good and knew how to roll when falling, not sure I can relay on that anymore.
That first portion crossing the Pyrenees, feels very scary to this flat lander.
 
A beautiful clear day so it had to be Whernside, the highest of the Yorkshire 3 peaks at 2415 ft
Saying that however it is the easiest one to walk with a gentle up and down

The 3 peaks in Yorkshire is undertaken quite frequently by many walkers and the challenge is to walk all 3 within 12 hours with a total ascent of 9843 feet and an equivalent amount of decent over 26 miles

We have walked all 3 but at different times.
Starting at Ribbleshead viaduct and passing rivers and waterfalls we reached the top and had a wonderful view, returning by the fields and tracks
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The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Walking in Rose Garden across street from University of Southern California, (USC), my crosstown rival.

And, a Fan Fest event on other side of Rose Garden and museum.
 

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The day after our warmup hike to Greeley Ponds we decided to hike to the open ledge of Mt. Pemigewasset. This is a nice autumn hike with normally colorful views. It has been very wet through the summer though and that diminishes leaf color. The pictures of Peg show her hiking down. Some sections near the top were steep enough that she felt safer going backwards.

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Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
This walk made me quite serious. We have not learned too much about the history, have we? My walk followed the St James Way near Ulm Germany and went by an old fortress (built in the 19th century) and it was used as a concentration camp for political prisoners in the 1930s. The foggy weather and the constant stream of terribly news made my steps rather heavy and the prayers in my heart loud. This was yesterday and I did think of this forum and posting the picture here but forgot. IMG_3694.jpg
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
We and a friend took a trip to visit another friend and ended up with some time to kill so we took a walk in the town forest. The trails were marked with colored blazes but also with something we've never seen before, miniature birdhouses with roofs in the same color. I used the OSMand app to navigate the trails leading us to a swamp where I expected to see colorful foliage. I include some pics of poison ivy. I, for some reason, take a good amount of pictures of it. It looks great this time of year but don't pick any to bring home for decoration.

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€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Finally, I'm back to Ireland, Northern Ireland this time. Actually this walk was done on day 5 of our visit. The previous walks I posted about earlier were taken later (Croagh Patrick and Cliffs of Mohar).

We went to see (but not cross) the famous Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. We used its parking lot to access the Causeway Coast Way's trail heading in the opposite direction. That is a subsection of the Ulster Way. Peg rates this walk very high on list of hikes she has taken.

We walked along cliffs for a bit (in the first picture you may be able to see Carrick-a-rede if you zoom in). We then walked down a road to visit a beach we had seen from above coming to a small harbor first. This was used to ship limestone from the quarries along the cliffs. Some of the bollards along the quay served double duty as memorials. We followed the trail below the cliffs for a bit before heading back. There was only sporadic light rain.

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Since mid-October we have plenty of snow – 30 to 40 cm / 10 to 16 inches. Even the larger lakes start to freeze over.
For a couple of days I was at our little homestead in the wild to get some work done. After all the plan is to move there permanently soon ... as I mentioned (too often?) in earlier posts 😉
As I took two of the dogs with me, I had several walks with them when I was not working. Very nice crisp air, -5 to -15°C (23 to 5 F) and some beautiful light.
Picture #4 by the way shows an old cabin and the plan is to disassemble it in coming spring and rebuild it closer to the main house – all part of the big relocation project going on.
And of course, every walk in the snow should end at a warming fire 🔥
 

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Since mid-October we have plenty of snow – 30 to 40 cm / 10 to 16 inches. Even the larger lakes start to freeze over.
For a couple of days I was at our little homestead in the wild to get some work done. After all the plan is to move there permanently soon ... as I mentioned (too often?) in earlier posts 😉
As I took two of the dogs with me, I had several walks with them when I was not working. Very nice crisp air, -5 to -15°C (23 to 5 F) and some beautiful light.
Picture #4 by the way shows an old cabin and the plan is to disassemble it in coming spring and rebuild it closer to the main house – all part of the big relocation project going on.
And of course, every walk in the snow should end at a warming fire 🔥
You are very fortunate, even if sometimes it may feel very ccoolldd! Thanks for beauty in your photos.
 
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You are very fortunate, even if sometimes it may feel very ccoolldd! Thanks for beauty in your photos.
Thank you, yes, it feels fortunate. But I am not sure if you are referring to the snow or the general life-situation 😉
 
First, to respond to previous post: reference to the temperature!
Today, bright sunshine. Defying the numbers, I chose to wear my sandals.
I had intended to take another route but on the spur of the moment headed to the port. New path still not open.Never mind. Blissfully peaceful walk. Bus ( infrequent) arrived as I was about to walk home, so took it for two stops and now need 500 steps to reach my daily goal!
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First, to respond to previous post: reference to the temperature!
Today, bright sunshine. Defying the numbers, I chose to wear my sandals.
I had intended to take another route but on the spur of the moment headed to the port. New path still not open.Never mind. Blissfully peaceful walk. Bus ( infrequent) arrived as I was about to walk home, so took it for two stops and now need 500 steps to reach my daily goal!
OK, the temperature, then I do not have to respond in a more wider sense of life-choices and and goals 🤣

At the end of the winter, when it gets up to -10°C then that actually feels so warm that one is tempted wearing sandals 😉

I remember one sunny late winter day when it was -33°C and I came out of the local supermarket eating some ice cream to go. I had to hurry finishing it before the ice cream would get too cold and hard 🤣
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I'm slowly editing photos of a top five ever hike on Peg's list (Ireland) but in the meantime it is autumn in New England so there is color to show. Here's pictures of yesterday's once-in-a-while hike over meadows and fields to a hill in the woods before a return over the same stretch.

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I didn't do something right. The last of the photos are in a different format. For the last two: I've mentioned previously that I like taking pictures of poison ivy; el gallo was at a farm stand where we tried to buy some sweet corn but the season is over.
 

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Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
A bit of a sad walk today with the only two dogs remaining. Had to help Umiak yesterday to leave this world.
Unlike with Ölina earlier this year, Umiak's death was long expected. More than 14 years of age is a good age to reach for a hard working sled dog. We owed him a calm ending, at a place he knew well and among people he liked.
 

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Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
A walk along Boundary Bay and on the lookout for a reported rare bird - a Tropical Kingbird (success!). A beautiful morning, with frost on the ground leaves and fence rails. The bird is much farther north than it should be and was puffed up against the cold and very busy catching insects. Beautiful to watch as it darted out to catch, always returning to the same branch.

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€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Saturday we were out for a bit longer walk. It was the last day of a near record warm spell. Besides the excellent weather the best part was there were now enough fallen leaves on the trail to kick them up and make them sing. We have now shifted over to late autumn weather, rain and cold. The tomatoes in our garden aren't going to be around much longer.

No pictures. A nasty software bug has arisen in my mobile and it has affected file storage so I can't file any picture taken and can't get to any already taken without doing a lot of work. Google's working on a fix. My photos of our best walk in Ireland will have to wait.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Yesterday, I finally got to walk a stretch of forest that I’ve long wanted to walk. It could not have been accomplished if it weren’t for two fellow slow hiker/companions - each with a set of wheels - who provided the necessary transportation to and from each end of the trail.

The first picture below, I took. The three pictures of the mushrooms were taken by one of my companions. A different calibre of photography, wouldn’t you say? 🤣
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The first picture below, I took. The three pictures of the mushrooms were taken by one of my companions. A different calibre of photography, wouldn’t you say?
Personally I like your photo best. I think it's difficult to get a good picture of a forest and you did a good job of it.
 
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Every year since 2016 I roll a part of the route from The Netherlands to Santiago by wheelchair.
2023 was the year for me that things went wrong... because my back hernia gave me a lot of trouble just a few days before I should leave for the stage from Rocamadour (where I finished in 2022) to the Spanish border. Instead if being in France doing my camino I ended up in hospital, had surgery en after that a long rehabilitation. But end of September I was feeling finally a bit better (but nog my old self yet) but I was able to do a pilgrimage in the Netherlands. I rolled most of the road next to the sea and I even could camp again.
I had a great time. But now I look forward to go back te France next spring.

www.rolstoelpelgrim.nl
 

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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
A new year. Looking forward seeing your gorgeous pictures from all over the world.

Thumbnails and resizing the pictures is always nice as not to overload the system here.
Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England (no, I didn't see him 😀)
 

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The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Very muddy 8k. Planted forest.
Did not take many pics seeing we had to watch our steps. Branches everywhere after the storm from last week.

Part of a castledomain. We hopped over the languageborder with Wallonia time to time.


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May we never forget.jpg

November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
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November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.
 
View attachment 159980

November 11 is a public holiday in France commemorating the end of WW1.

Here on the Marne River I attended la cérémonie de commémoration du 105e anniversaire de l'Armistice de 1918 the morning service of commemoration when the Mayor and veterans laid gerbes of flowers at the foot of our local war memorial.

Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.
Thank you. I have just completed a complex task and will go now to walk, not too far, not too long, but with your message in my consciousness. Merci. When will we ever learn?
 
An old distance marker. Not metric, imperial. Distances from the GPO were standard in those days...I pass this often, and cover just over 6.6km from my house to a nursing home I visit, and back home again.
It might add a cubit to someone's span of life to follow up on the Irish Mile. 😈
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GPO: General Post Office in Dublin
 
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3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Peg and I were in Ireland in September (hi again @Kirkie). We took four hikes that are worth posting about here. I've already posted about our hikes at Croagh Patrick, Cliffs of Mohar and a coastal one near that famous rope bridge, Carrick-a-rede. Two months late it's now time to report on our first hike in Ireland.

A tourist bureau arranged a couple days stay in Bushmill, known for its whiskey distillery. It's a short walk away from the Giant's Causeway, a world heritage site and a place we were going to visit anyway. So we walked there.

Peg inserted this hike into the top five we've ever done (she's got NZ's Milford Track at number one). I've had a difficult time editing my photos as a result. Since this was spectacular and at a place that many of you may visit I'm going to break the hike into three parts, to there, at there, and back.

From the town it was a short walk to a tourist train rail line with a wide trail that paralleled it. This was well used by the locals, especially the ones with dogs. The tracks and trail crossed through a golf course and then over a bridge. We then took a side trail following the river and crossing dunes came upon a lovely beach. We walked that in the same direction as the railway and at the end of the beach joined it again.

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The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Nearby at Belleau Wood 2,289 American war dead are buried, who fought here and elsewhere along the Marne River during the summer of 1918....May we never forget.
Your post triggered a significant memory for me. Nearly 30 years ago, I took my two sons on a trip to Europe, and we visited the battlegrounds, stopping at the extraordinary British memorial at Thiepval, not far from Belleau. The huge arch was inscribed with the names of thousands. Among them, my elder son found his namesake, Fee J. I must ask him if he remembers.
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I needed to use up some Airpoints before they expired and so I decided to take two weeks on the GC.

I stayed with my brother in far north NSW for a couple of nights from Tuesday. He lives in the bush. We were sitting in the dining room looking out across the lawn when a medium sized goanna walked past. It was about the size of my thigh. This reminded him to mention that if I heard any noises in the ceiling at night to not worry as it was just the goanna bumping into things as it moved about 🪃🦘

I didn't get any photos of the goanna. I am now in Southport and today I walked up to Runaway bay and then turned south and walked to Main beach ⛱️. A total of 25klms by the time I did a bit of exploring and shopping.

It seems that even in Paradise it does rain sometimes and it did today briefly (but strongly) and I learnt something. It seems that when it rains, pelicans turn into the rain and open their beaks so that they can get fresh water.
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Runaway bay
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Further along the foreshore, including the shark-proof swimming area for the nervous swimmers.
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Finally, a bit of Ozzy art.
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I am going to see if I have time to walk down to Coolangatta via the beach while I am here. The intention is to walk around 20-25klm a day and then bus back and forward as needed to connect each day's walk.
 
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While visiting my brother he happened to mention that he avoids Nimbin, which is just up the road a bit.

If you have not heard of Nimbin (which included me before this week) then you won't know that it has been declared (for some time) as Australia's illicit drug capital.

Of course, once I heard of it, I just had to go and have a look 😉

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Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.

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Edit: BTW, we saw this sweet short fictional movie with the Causeway's car park and visitors center featured way before even planning our trip to Ireland.

Husband of visitor center worker has been unemployed for six months. They are going to lose house. Attendent retires. He is actually the lot's owner. Lot gets a new attendent.

 
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Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.

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Just to pad out the background...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant's_Causeway
 
Giant's Causeway, part 2

The admission charge you may be bamboozled into paying is for the visitors center, not the Giant's Causeway itself so we took a left and walked around the hotel instead of entering through center. A trail follows the edge of a cliff. We took another left to postpone our trip down to the causeway. This gave us some nice views and a picnic area near a cow pasture for our lunch.

Our walk was on a Sunday so there may have been more people visiting than normal. A bus can take you up and down. I expect the uphill trip gets more riders. We walked up along a trail approached by walking a bit further away from the road. That's part 3.

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Edit: BTW, we saw this sweet short fictional movie with the Causeway's car park and visitors center featured way before even planning our trip to Ireland.

After the edit: Rick and Peg, it is Friday and almost evening. What's the secret story? 😬 Too complex for this innocnt.😇
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I bussed back to Main beach today, had a coffee at the surf club and walked the next stage, down to Miami beach. Only 17klms today but the first 8klms were on the sand with the tide coming in and the wind in my face and so those 8klms needed a lot more effort than walking on the grass or walkway.

First photo is the life guard tower outside the surf club, complete with Christmas decorations.
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On Main beach looking south towards Surfers Paradise
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Looking northward towards the Spit
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A few people were in the water, swimming and enjoying themselves despite the constant strongish wind but no rain today and I got a tinge burnt on my arms and neck.
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Looking back north towards Surfers Paradise after I had walked past. I stopped for a lunch break at Broadbeach, enjoyed a couple of very nice coffees and practised my sketching as I am in the process of teaching myself to sketch.
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At Broadbeach there were a number of people playing beach volleyball. I think that there was a competition. Here is one game.
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I didn't take any further photos.

Tomorrow I will bus just past Miami beach as there is a rock outcrop at the end of Miami beach that prevents me walking the beach.
 
My two Caminobuddies from the most recent Camino and I went for a walk of 9 k through the orchards. Now a rather " bland " walk seeing there are no blossoms and harvest is done. Quite some rain so I kept my phone in my pocket.


Afterwards sharing plates and a very decent white wine from Campo de Borja.

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Giant's Causeway walk, part 3

We decided to continue walking along the coast from the causeway to the point in the distance. The trail ended early due to a washout.

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Once we got back up to the top we had these views.

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Peg decided to take the train back and had me hand her the keys to the apartment. I did but said I would beat her back to the end of the track anyway. I think you can figure out who won the race (I was given a bit of a head start).

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Yesterday when I was searching for the video I shared I came upon this six second video showing most of the trail along the cliff.

 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Today I did an urban hike, up and over my favourite hill, and then stopped for an iced chai latte (yes, iced!) before heading home. When I was exiting the parking lot I happened upon this lone, bright and cheerful rose bravely hanging in there so late in the season. It lifted my spirits and cheered my soul. 😊
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A more restful day today, caught the bus back to just past Miami beach and walked Burleigh beach
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to Burleigh heads.
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Visited the Sunday market in Burleigh where I found a delightful plaster scallop shell for $7
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Had fish and chips for lunch on Burleigh beach then walked back north on Burleigh beach for my first swim of the Southern summer.
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I am still a bit lilly white except for the slightly burnt bit around my neck but the rest of our summer should see that fixed 😁🥝⛱️🏊🌊🌞
 
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Workout in the gym this morning and lots of energy so local round also.
Dry for a change but you can see how wet the fields are.
Met a driver who trusted her gps too much for visiting a local artwork. Luckily she saw the tractorlock on time. Then to say there is a parkingspace so close by.

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A selection of Camino Jewellery
Arrived in Haria in the valley of palm trees in Lanzarote
It’s been said that many years ago, that when A baby was born, a palm tree was planted
Arrived to the sound of deafening music and clapping for the annual race of 14km and the Haria Titans were off and running

This walk had not been the intended one but once we saw the runners arriving from a different direction and hot footing up a steep hill, what could we do but follow them to see what was at the top
A steep climb and decent with lovely views and we ended up in the village of Maguez about 12 km and the bus back to where we are staying
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Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
A few days walking by the coast, mostly through volcanic rock but with some nice sandy paths too as well as some ankle twisters
Walked by the Los Jamos del agua but did not go in this year as too busy.
Its an amazing natural space created inside a volcanic tunnel
It contains a natural auditorium with extraordinary acoustics and formed when the sea level was 300ft lower
33 species of animals are exclusive to this tunnel and not found anywhere else in the world
Also spotted a little dog keeping the door open with his nose!IMG_7026.jpegIMG_7027.jpegIMG_7061.jpegIMG_7063.jpegIMG_7065.jpegIMG_7069.jpegIMG_7071.jpeg
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
A short walk reconnoitring in case we take a boat over to Inis Boffin. A boreen features in one of the photos. It is actually quite a posh boreen!😁
Public water pumps preceded running water at home. A panel detailing part of the past of this country.A seal, basking, but on a tiny rock, and not a glimmer of sun.A monument to another feature of life and death in this type of locality.
The Irish coffee and hot whiskey (Irish, with an e) had people attached so won't post!
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...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
Bus to Soo to explore “little and large“ calderas IMG_7130.jpegIMG_7131.jpegIMG_7132.jpegIMG_7135.jpegIMG_7137.jpegIMG_7139.jpegIMG_7140.jpegIMG_7141.jpegIMG_7145.jpeg
Tried to see the smaller one first but the path was too vertiginous so it was back down and onto the larger one which was much larger and higher but easier to get to the top
The view made it all worthwhile with the sea on one side and numerous volcanoes in the distance on the other side
The scree path made it more difficult to get down though
 
After a diversion up to Brisbane and then Tin Can Bay I returned to the GC last night and finished my walk from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads along the coast today (inbetween the rain showers) and so I have completed my planned walk and I can fly home tomorrow morning.
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Today the sea was smooth enough so we took a boat trip to Inisbofin and did one of the loop walks. I took many more photos but limit them to save space!
A panoramic view from a beach; a derelict heap of stones, a sign of lives once buoyant; a pretty house with a bench outside - could be on a Camino! The last image as we left the island. Sunset was at 16.27 this evening.
We ate in a hostelry run by a family we knew of, and my companion sampled a small glass of a clear liquid that is called Poitín. It has a history... I was driving later so no sampling for me!



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Perfect memento/gift in a presentation box. Engraving available, 25 character max.
A brief walk today, following a look at an exhibition in the Visitor Centre in Connemara National Park. just one photo from there, and one from the walk, trying out a panorama shot.
Panorama shot is too big. Pity, but anyway, it was beautiful!
Edit: a screenshot sorted the problem...

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I'm in Epen South Limburg while Marianne is on a Rhine cruise with her Niece.
Did a 10km. walk around Vaals yesterday.
It was a slow and wet walk.
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And I visited the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. 🙏🕯🕯


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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
All good things come to an end... here are my final photos from this part of the world.
A striking contrast with the calves. The poor sheep was limping! The Wild Atlantic, seen in the third photo, has been far from wild the entire week.
Farewell peace, quiet, restoration, and welcome the daily round, the common task.



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