I have been very lucky to have an employer who allows me to traipse across Spain or Portugal for two or three weeks at a time. It is not a full Camino, I get that, but I am quite happy to wait for a few more years. However, given the current climate, I am happy to be in this position. In Summer, on learning I was not walking to Santiago this year, I had quite the decision to make with what to do with my annual leave. Do I find a trail in Ireland to walk? Do I visit a long lost cousin? or do I just re-watch all the episodes of Beyond the Way and Don’t stop Walking with vino and tapas?

Well, due to current restrictions, I can’t do A or B (no matter how much I would like to find a long lost cousin), so C is a pretty good start! And there are plenty of opportunities to walk close to me. But most of all, I just want the time to let the mind rest and catch up on a few things I had let slip.

Monthly updates

You can now receive monthly updates to your email by signing up to my mailing list. So if you want to keep in touch without visiting the site regularly, that might be a good option for you? An email will be sent at the end of the month.

Clearskies Camino Podcast

I have 11 episodes recorded – the last episode was recorded yesterday. I have no further interviews due to record. Now would be an ideal time to record a podcast or two, now that I am free. If you are in anyway interested in sharing your Camino story, please let me know. I will record a few solo podcasts during this time off but having guests on really adds to it. See below my last episode:

Continuing to give back…

I have renewed my membership with Camino Society Ireland. At present, we cannot meet until it is safe to do so. The Information Centre in Dublin is closed and has been since March. I look forward to return once it opens and when events are planned.

Camino Plans

My 2021 Camino is still on track as I plan to walk in Portugal in April. I fly to Lisbon on the 10th of April and leave from Porto two weeks later. Where I take my first step, is one question I will leave closer to the starting date. I had hoped to walk from Porto, along the coast to Santiago, but I’m not sure about walking in Spain. Plan B would be to start in Tomar or Coimbra (my original plan) and walk to the border (Caminha) before turning back to Porto.

I’m sure it will be easier to call closer to the date.

So, how has your weekend been?

Yesterday was my 3rd walk of the year. I took a trip to Kilmeadan, Co. Waterford to walk some of the Waterford Greenway with Camino Society Ireland. The weather forecast wasn’t great but the skies were clear when we left Dublin and we had a pleasant walk. It was 11 km in total from Kilmeadan back to Waterford City, and to honest, it is a very easy walk. If you cycle, it is possible to hire a bike a cycle from Dungarvan to Waterford which is 46 kms in length. This greenway rests along the River Suir and is a former railway. It is a flat right walk into Waterford.

It is primarily a cycle route and can be used as a good starting point for Camino preparation. But if you are looking for something more challenging, you might need to look elsewhere. It was nice to be in that part of the world all the same and away from “the big smoke”. I brought along my Osmo Pocket and recorded a little video of the day, before the heavens opened.

It’s February and as I settle back to my new home (long story!), I begin to look ahead on the next few months. 2019 brought a record number of pilgrims to Santiago and the expectation is that this year, the numbers of visitors to Santiago will be higher. But I am here to write about my own walks and how I enjoy them. And I do enjoy them. The fact that I return each year shows you that I get great love from my time in Spain or Portugal. If I could spend longer, I would, but that’s for another blog post. I will make do with two weeks and a few days in Santiago once I arrive there.

I suppose I have an affinity with the coast. I was born and bred along the coast. I have lived with the sea breeze. Walking the Portuguese Coastal Route is somewhat special to me. It may not be the “true” Camino but having walked from A Guarda in 2018, I knew I would be back again. Am I even going as far as saying that the Portuguese Camino is more enjoyable than the Camino Frances? I will leave that for you to decide but it can have it’s benefits. The French Way will always have much more infrastructure – because more people walk it. On the Portuguese Camino, especially in September/ October when I do walk it, there will be less pilgrims but some albergues will be open.

I’m still conflicted, however, as the French Way has a small place in my heart. All those years on the meseta have had an effect on me!

My packing list has been reviewed and I suppose the only item I need to buy is a few pairs of socks. I might do that tomorrow. Everything else is ready for the Kerry Camino in May.

Speaking of tomorrow, I will help with our local Camino association at their annual information event in Dublin. I think this is the 3rd one I have attended in St James Church and each one has been packed! It just shows that each year interest in the Camino is growing and people are always curious looking for the right information. I will be there on deck helping future pilgrims. We seem to get a great response each year. I will post some photos in my next post. Talk to you later.

I have mentioned before that I edit a digital magazine for Camino Society Ireland, Shamrocks and Shells. It gives me great joy giving back to the Camino and it keeps me out trouble! It is published every quarter and the whole aim is to showcase the Society’s events throughout that quarter. We also look to publish pilgrim experiences, book and film reviews and practical information. Anything that a future pilgrim might find useful.

At present, we have the start of growing list of pilgrim stories dating back to 2018 but we are always looking for more. Every pilgrim has a story to tell, no matter where you have walked. If you do plan on writing, your submission will not be published on this blog but on Shamrocks and Shells. If interested, you might send me an email here. Looking forward to hearing from you and Buen Camino!

I assume most of you reading this blog have experienced the Camino de Santiago in some shape or form. I have been lucky enough to have walked a number of Caminos since my first steps in 2011. I still have fond memories of that week’s walk from Sarria. Besides the blisters, no one forgets seeing the Cathedral for the first time. That said, I don’t claim to be the most knowledgable person on the Camino nor do I have time to walk all the Caminos available. But, I’m always happy to find myself on the road to Santiago and forever grateful to the people I meet.

Volunteering with Camino Society Ireland

Over the five or so years, I discovered the Camino Society of Ireland. I don’t know the exact date but it was at an information event. I became a member and I was quite happy with that. I had been keeping this blog for quite some time. On returning from a 2-week walk along the Camino Frances, I decided to volunteer in their information centre in Dublin. That was 2017. Two years have flown by. Now I am involved in Social media and edit the society’s quarterly magazine.

Shamrocks and Shells – a digital magazine

At the end of April 2020, Shamrocks and Shells will be 2 years old. All back issues are stored online. I have just finished the latest issue here and I’d really appreciate it if you could check it out.