A week today ...

... at this time we'll be in Logroño, excitedly waiting to start our Camino -my fifth and Janey's fourth. 

Next Sunday at 06:19 we will be catching a train to Barcelona where we catch the fast train (at 07:30) to Logroño. We are planning to make sandwiches for the journey, and are going to enjoy this journey as much as the walking one, just like we did back in 2010, when the train journey was Barcelona to Pamplona. 

Arriving in Logroño at around 11:30 we will be cheking into the new albergue there - The 'Check-in Rioja' which I found on the net recently and was really impressed with how it looked. The albergue we stayed in in 2010 didn't greatly impress us, but I'm sure this one will hit the spot. http://www.checkinrioja.com

We'll then have the afternoon and evening to play the tourist and have a good look around, have a siesta, and get to bed early for our very early start the next day. 

Back in Training

The only time I've done a load of training for the Camino was when we did our first, back in 2010 when I walked quite a bit beforehand in the mountains around us, here in Catalunya. This year, what with our late decision to go on another Camino and other constraints training will be minimal again. A few walks along the coast should up my fitness level a little, then the first day back on the Way will sort us out. 

This morning I set out on a walk along the coastal path to Sitges with Karen, also on hols from Supernova. We met at the monument at the bottom of the Rambla, and after sorting out Karen's parking we were on our way.

The weather wasn't too hot, enough to make us sweat a little when climbing the slopes, but cloudy enough for protection. 

 It was great to walk, chat and think, with a like-minded person. IN no time we were in Sitges, where we had a light lunch of tapas. 

I left the decision about our mode of transport back to VnG down to Karen. She bravely chose walking, so back along the coast we walked. I'm pretty sure Karen enjoyed the walk and the chat, but I'm guessing she may be aching a bit in the morrow! Well it is around 20kms there and back, mas o menos, almost a full Camino's day walking. 

Cuatro cantones, Belorado

During our five day walk this year we will pass through Belorado, the town of our favourite Albergue - The Cuatro Cantones, where we spend a wonderful Sunday four years ago. The place is peaceful, the hospitaleros/owners friendly and super-helpful, and the food was delicious- we ordered and partook in the communal dinner, and the chef made me a special vegetarian meal, which was much appreciated. 

As well as taking a look around Belorado during the afternoon we also spent time relaxing by the pool. The beds were comfy and the whole place clean and tidy -just the way we like it.  All of this is of course described in my 'bestselling book' - The Magic of The Camino.  (click link for details)

Anyway excuse my rambling - the reason I'm going on about this albergue is because we thought we'd try and see if we could book ahead for a bed there this year, so I sent them an e-mail and have just had  a lovely reply confirming our stay.  Woo-hoo. It looks like this is going to be a rather cushy little walk! 

Interestingly we stayed there on the 4th July last year, this year we will be there on the 2nd. 

More details about the Cuatro Cantones can be found by clicking the link to their website HERE

Credentials / Credenciales

In my last post I said that our credentials had arrived, and as there was a bit of interest in just what they were and why we need them as we walk the Camino I thought I'd elaborate a little. 

Credentials, or pilgrim passports are documents provided by Organisations authorised by the Pilgrim Office in Santiago that provide a means of recording the Way walked by a pilgrim, by the collection of stamps (sellos) along the Way. There are usually issuing offices in your country of Origin, or you can pick one up at the start of your walk -In St Jean Pied de Port, at the Pilgrim office there, and often in albergues along the various Caminos. 

They are also necessary if you want to stay in the Albergues along the way as the proof you are a pilgrim walking the Camino (whichever Camino you may have chosen). 

The photo at the top of this blog is the Credential provided by the Confraternity of Saint James, in the UK. It was with this one that I walked in 2010 along the French Way from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, although there wasn't enough space for all the stamps collected so along the way I picked up another from one of the Albergues: 

In 2011, when we walked the Camino Portuguese we obtained another of the same design from the confraternity once more. 

In 2012 when I walked the Camino Primitivo I obtained a free (donation) credential from the Peterborough Pilgrims who were, at the time authorised to provide them (sadly this is no longer the case). 

In 2013 we also obtained our credentials from the Peterborough Pilgrims office with which we walked the Camino Ingles. 

After arriving in Santiago last year, instead of stopping we continued to Finisterre, and for this walk we were given a credential by the local tourist office (for free) along with a whole load more information. 

And this year another style, which I obtained from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago, minimum donation 2.50. 

And once the walk is done you can take your stamped, and often rather grubby credential to the Pilgrim office and get a compostella - a certificate of acheivement, by any other name! 

Moving along ...

That's just what our plans are doing ... moving along. 

Today Janey and I have spent a while chatting and booking flights for the Camino which we will be starting in just 20 days. And for my subsequent trip to the UK. 

Janey will fly to Barcelona and spend the night with us at Casa TulStig on the 28th June. The next day (29/06/2014) we will catch an early train (unless some kind person out there has a car and is willing to drop us??)  to Barcelona Sants to catch a slightly later (but still early) train to Logroño, where we will spend the afternoon preparing for our first steps back on the Camino Frances the following day. 

I then tried to book the trains, but came up with a couple of problems in understanding how the RENFE site works. I shall this evening discuss this with my dear friend, Irene, and tomorrow get on and book the train tickets too. 

All this aside our credentials arrived today in the mail from Santiago. They are different to ones we've had before - more compact: 

There is still plenty of space for sellos (stamps) but they'll fit in our small bags much easier, for easy access. In previous years I also got them free from a site called 'Peterborough Pilgrims', but following a change in policy by the the powers that be in Santiago this site is no longer able to distribute them for free. Instead they have to be ordered direct for a small fee. IS this another sign of the commercialisation of the camino I worry? 

Camino 2014 Fashion

Every year I have walked one of the Caminos I have created a t-shirt specially for the occasion. You can see the previous designs on a previous blog entry: Camino Fashion.

Well this year is no different. I have designed another t-shirt to wear on this year's adventure: 

As these are the only t-shirts I take whilst walking I sometimes wonder if people think I'm wearing the same one day in day out, as well as well as to bed at night. BUt they are swapped daily. Walk wearing one, wash and dry it while wearing the other.

And of course my Camino outfit wouldn't be complete without a matching cap to protect my delicate head (delicate cos of lack of hair that is!).

So, there you go, now you know what the best-dressed pilgrim will be wearing on this year's Camino.

It's time...

to dust off this blog a little and get ready for this year's adventure....

For the past few month's Jane and I had said we wouldn't do a Camino this year because of other commitments, but then I was browsing on the internet and a Camino site popped up, as they do, and I thought: 'Why can't we go?' another thought followed swiftly on 'Those who do do, those who don't want to make excuses.' I immediately messaged Janey and asked if she wanted to walk. She did, I did, and we're going -it's as easy as that. 

These feet were made for walking, and that's just what they'll do...

Camino 2014 

So at this point I need to say something. *stands up* "My name is Mark, and I am a Camino junkie!* There I've said it. The thought of not walking this year was bringing me down. Now we've hatched our plan, and are setting it in motion I am happy. Part of that is because I have walked the coastal route from VnG to Sitges this morning and connected with the wonderful nature that is around here too. 

Over the past couple of days we've decided on a route- we're going to walk our favourite part of the Camino Frances -Five days walking from Logroño to Burgos. It's between 125 and 130 kms- averaging at about 25kms a day - should be easy enough. We now have to decided and set dates, but we're planning on going sooner rather than later, so probably the end of this month... Interested in our upcoming journey? From here on in I shall post daily updates on where we're at, both before we set off and during our walk, simply sign up and see what we're up to ... Buen Camino Janey, as we say on The Way.