Camino kit list

All packed into an Inov8 Race Pro 30 running rucksack which was very comfortable. I didn't fit the hydration bladder but used that space to keep any wet clothing out of the main bag. Trekmates rucksack cover
3 Lifeventure dry sacs (15,10,5 L) kept everything nice and dry and compressed. Lifeventure Silk Mummy bag liner and Trekmates Fleece Mummy bag liner (opted not to take sleeping bag but wore more clothes if no blanket available or some nights just silk liner needed).
Inov8 Roclite 315 trail shoes. Heels worn out at the end but uppers held out though got very smelly until the rain came. (see comparison to pair of 318s left at home). Clarks light weight croc style sandals for recovery and general wear.
Beanie and gloves, 3 buffs. 2 decathlon merino wool trek t shirts, 1 merino wool T shirt. OMM Rapid Zip top designed to be worn under a pack.
OMM Cypher Smock. Montane Featherlite Marathon jacket. 2 base layers/jumpers with high merino wool fabric - Montane Bionic Long Sleeve Zip Neck and Helly Hansen Warm Ice Zip Top. Ron Hill Trek Pants. Ron Hill -Trail Contour tights, Trail Cargo shorts, Trail Twin shorts. HH Lifa Dry tights.
2 pairs of More Mile Running socks. 1 pair of Balega Merino wool running socks. 2 pairs of running briefs and 1 pair of boxers. Running bear Pertex running pants. Lifeventure Trek Towel. Pegless washing line. Basic toiletries in bag and lotions and potions in bag. Lightweight head torch and small wind up torch, compass. Spanish phrase book and John Brierley's Guide book. HTC phone and IPod. Waist belt for wallet passport and credential. 2  X 500 ml water bottles. Emergency energy gel/carb tablets. Weight carried 7 kg plus water and a couple of bananas. Compostela shell.

Some videos of the Censer swinging in Santiago!

Sorry may be no sound in this format. To view either lie on your side or tip your lap top/smart phone!

Hey it's good to be back home again

Enjoyed my flights thanks to Ryanair. Managed to get window seats on both flights and took a few photos. Even cloud structures at 30 000 plus feet change shape and form such strange beauty. Mountain peaks that look dusted with icing sugar came to be revealed in bright sunlight patches. I have never flown into Liverpool before. 10 minutes out we were over Welsh moorland then swooping over Deeside, all familiar ground to me. Then following the M56 and banking to descend across the Mersey. Exciting for me and I would have loved it even more if we had flown under the bridge! The best taxi drivers were there to pick me up and even let me drive the carriage.

Early bus to Santiago

Now the journey home is about to begin. Had it not been raining I may have spent longer in Muxia, but 7.30 am and the bus or rather the coach arrives and in the dark the luggage bay doors open and the happy band of pilgrims unburden themselves of their rucksacks. A cold breeze awaited us at Santiago before at last at six o clock the sun began to shine. Another early morning bus will take me to the airport and then via Barcelona to Liverpool. When I lived in Widnes the planes used to fly down our street before banking right to land at Speke Airport as it was then called, so I will wave to the family below and wait for the family taxi to arrive.

Let's go surfin' now

Saturday 13 October 2012. Another detour at the start of the day saw me on the wrong path but what a beautiful detour closer to wild beach surf and golden sand, but then a difficult strenuous climb. That is probably why this isn't part of the official Camino route but a separate local route. Foam and rolling waves abound but no one is surfing - amazing! Eventually found the right way back in the Camino to woodland tracks through occasional small hamlets. The sea never far away but less visible in the afternoon until the approach to Muxia. Legend has it that here The Blessed Virgin Mary landed on a visit to encourage St James in preaching the Gospel to the folk of the Iberian Peninsula. What a coastline and the sight and sound of the sea add to the sacredness of this place. I didn't want to leave the rocks as I watched the sea crash and burst upon the land. For me this is the end of running and walking for my time in Spain. Another Camino completed, but no certificates because the tourist information offices are shut. Yet what matters more a piece of paper that marks an achievement, or the experience of dust from the road and the mist of sea spray in the place where once there were curls and the pain in the knee and the tendon that cry give us a break. Did the BVM set shore here, who knows? But I have landed here at the end of my road. The gospel St James preached is the same as the one I preach...oh what refreshment and the reality of life in all it's fullness that message holds and what encouragement is here ironically in what is known as the Coast of Death, presumably because of the treacherous seas and beaches. For me it is The Coast of Life. Tomorrow I return to Santiago. Good experiences return with us and life is richer for them.