Blogging from the Camino

AJGuillaume · Mar 31, 2018

We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

Nanc · Mar 31, 2018

I used word press there is a free and paid cersions

peregrina2000 · Mar 31, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

Oh, AJ, I cannot wait to follow your LONG camino! I went to FindPenguins only because blogger.com stopped working. I know that people like wordpress, so that is an option, but whatever you do, make sure to tell us! When are you starting?

trecile · Mar 31, 2018

I don't think that you need to log in to Find Penguins to simply read posts.

Edit: I just checked, and you don't need to log in to read posts or to comment, though if someone comments without an account they will need to add their name to their comment so that you know who it's from. After you create your new trip simply send your friends and family the link.

Kitsambler · Mar 31, 2018

I've used the free version of WordPress for ten years now. Easy as pie, post and photos from iphone app while walking, no need to lug a laptop or tablet.

AJGuillaume · Mar 31, 2018

peregrina2000 said:
Oh, AJ, I cannot wait to follow your LONG camino! I went to FindPenguins only because blogger.com stopped working. I know that people like wordpress, so that is an option, but whatever you do, make sure to tell us! When are you starting?

Hello Laurie,
We leave Australia on 23 May, we start walking on 9 June.
Still lots of stuff to prepare, in particular getting all the GPS tracks for the coastal alternatives that you suggested.
We will definitely tell you how it's going, with a post or two on this forum
Cheers
Andrew

AJGuillaume · Mar 31, 2018

trecile said:
I don't think that you need to log in to Find Penguins to simply read posts.

Edit: I just checked, and you don't need to log in to read posts or to comment, though if someone comments without an account they will need to add their name to their comment so that you know who it's from. After you create your new trip simply send your friends and family the link.

Thank you Trecile! I'll check this out, and see whether some of the older members of our family are happy to follow us on FindPenguins.
Cheers
Andrew

andywild · Mar 31, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

WordPress is idiot proof.. obviously I still struggle with it but I'm sure you'll be fine

Purky · Mar 31, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out.

It could still work: I used FB to make an open page, accessible to everyone (including those without a FB account!) and blogged on that. You just have to make sure family and friends have the webadress, but you have to do that anyway.

Paladina · Mar 31, 2018

Purky said:
It could still work: I used FB to make an open page, accessible to everyone (including those without a FB account!) and blogged on that. You just have to make sure family and friends have the webadress, but you have to do that anyway.

You mean I’m not the only one who doesn’t have or want a FB account?

Purky · Mar 31, 2018

Paladina said:
You mean I’m not the only one who doesn’t have or want a FB account?

Oh, you have no idea how strong some people around me object to FB. Don't get me started...

mvanert · Mar 31, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

WordPress, they offer a free, easy-to-use blog site. You might want to look at Weebly.com too.

mcopeland · Mar 31, 2018

I never could master Word Press. I've used Travelblog.org (formerly Travelpod) for 2 Caminos.

Margaret Butterworth · Mar 31, 2018

I use the app Blogger for Blogspot by An Tu on my IPhone. Very easy to use. See my blog from the Via de la Plata, address below.

Margaret Butterworth · Mar 31, 2018

Caminoconfidential.blogspot.com.au

JeanB · Apr 1, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

I'm using Wordpress too. I think you have to login but it is straightforward. You just need to spend a bit of time getting the hang of it - at least I had to.

Rhysmike · Apr 4, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
We are looking at how we could keep the family and friends informed about our progress on the Camino. Not everyone has a Facebook account, so we ruled that out. We looked at FindPenguins, but that also requires a login. So we thought we would just create a blog, with a website address that anyone can type in and follow without requiring a login.
The question therefore is: what do people use?
We want something simple, easy to use, and not time consuming to set up.
Any advice/opinion/suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you in advance
Happy Easter!

I’ve used wordpress and polarsteps ... noth great. Polarsteps gives a gps map.

AJGuillaume · Apr 4, 2018

Rhysmike said:
I’ve used wordpress and polarsteps ... noth great. Polarsteps gives a gps map.

Thank you Rhysmike, does Polarsteps require a login? Is the infor on Polarsteps visible to anyone with a link?

NualaOC · Apr 4, 2018

Hi Andrew, as @trecile mentioned, you don't need a login to view Find Penguins posts. However it it can seem a bit complicated to people who aren't used to social media (some of my older relatives found it difficult to see my posts). Despite that, I'll probably continue to use it on the Camino as it's a really quick way to post daily updates and photographs

I've also used wordpress and weebly. I've found weebly to be simpler and more intuitive than wordpress. I'm using it for a blog at the moment and am very happy with it.

AJGuillaume · Apr 4, 2018

NualaOC said:
Hi Andrew, as @trecile mentioned, you don't need a login to view Find Penguins posts. However it it can seem a bit complicated to people who aren't used to social media (some of my older relatives found it difficult to see my posts). Despite that, I'll probably continue to use it on the Camino as it's a really quick way to post daily updates and photographs

I've also used wordpress and weebly. I've found weebly to be simpler and more intuitive than wordpress. I'm using it for a blog at the moment and am very happy with it.

Thank you Nuala! It is precisely because I have older relatives who are not used to social media that I am looking for something else. I'll check out weebly too.

Rhysmike · Apr 5, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
Thank you Rhysmike, does Polarsteps require a login? Is the infor on Polarsteps visible to anyone with a link?

You can join for free as the owner, and then you can share the blog via a link (here is mine as an example: https://www.polarsteps.com/MichaelMatthias ). The followers don't have to join Polarsteps.

trecile · Apr 5, 2018

AJGuillaume said:
Thank you Nuala! It is precisely because I have older relatives who are not used to social media that I am looking for something else. I'll check out weebly too.

My 87 year old mother hasn't had a problem following me on Find Penguins.

AJGuillaume · Apr 5, 2018

trecile said:
My 87 year old mother hasn't had a problem following me on Find Penguins.

@trecile, my mum is 86 years old, so I guess it is a question of giving her a tutorial...

AJGuillaume · Apr 5, 2018

Rhysmike said:
You can join for free as the owner, and then you can share the blog via a link (here is mine as an example: https://www.polarsteps.com/MichaelMatthias ). The followers don't have to join Polarsteps.

@Rhysmike that looks good! Thank you for sharing!

Long Hiker · Feb 10, 2019

trecile said:
My 87 year old mother hasn't had a problem following me on Find Penguins.

I just took a look at Find Penguins. I was able to download the app for free but it says there is a cost of $20 for a premium membership and a monthly fee if you would rather pay that way. I'm not sure what that if for. Do you know anything about that? I'm also looking for a pretty easy, straight forward blog site and like the way this one has a map feature people can see where you are.

AJGuillaume · Feb 10, 2019

@Long Hiker , I used Polarsteps. The app is free. The only issue I had was that I had way too many photos, and loading the blog on a desktop was slow. Polarsteps has a map feature, and posting photos and text is straightforward on the app.
Buen Camino
Andrew

trecile · Feb 10, 2019

Long Hiker said:
I just took a look at Find Penguins. I was able to download the app for free but it says there is a cost of $20 for a premium membership and a monthly fee if you would rather pay that way. I'm not sure what that if for. Do you know anything about that? I'm also looking for a pretty easy, straight forward blog site and like the way this one has a map feature people can see where you are.

If you pay for the upgraded membership you can upload more photos with each entry - 10 vs 6, and you can also upload short videos. There are some other features detailed here https://findpenguins.com
/premium?hl=en
I used the free version on my first Camino and it was definitely adequate.

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