I’ve learned a lot having talked to my podcast guests over the last number of months. First of all, it has been a pleasure to re-walk their Camino with them during this challenging time. Secondly, it gives me an outlet to give back – something that I have been doing for three years and I look forward to continue doing so when some kind of normality returns. It is encouraging to see people from all over the world listening in and I am grateful for that. I am not sure how long I can continue creating podcasts but if pilgrims wish to share their story with me, I will keep going. I had a great chat with Adam, a English pilgrim I met in 2017. We shared many memories and it was fun to talk after so long. Being part of a Camino family really helps your Camino experience in my opinion and we talked about that.

For me, change has been tiny but noticeable. The most obvious change is the call to give back to the Camino, both in written form on my blog and as a volunteer. I have been writing for years and many other pilgrims have been doing the same for far longer. I started to volunteer three years ago in Dublin. Secondly, I like to think that I have a more positive outlook. Yes, this pandemic is far from ideal but it will go away and we will be walking in Spain again. I am sure of it. And finally, and I suppose this relates to personal items, since 2012/2013 my hoarding days are over. Anything, that I do not need I usually give away. I live by how I walked on the Camino. I walk 2-3 weeks most years with bare essentials in a backpack and I am carrying on that idea.

So how has the Camino de Santiago changed you?

After writing my last post, there has been progress, my good friends. I have managed to get this podcast off the ground and it is online ready for all for listen. I have recorded with Skype and ran with Anchor.fm. Anchor not only publish the podcast but send it to all the main listening platforms, which is very nice of them.

The first episode was a solitary affair where I talked about my first jaunt to Santiago way back in 2011. I am considering a few more episodes where I talk about albergues, and websites to review when preparing for your Camino. The second episode is with Querien, who writes whenawayfarer.com. She is such a positive person and I enjoyed the conversation.

With all highs, there are downsides and the first came on Friday evening when I was talking to Elizabeth, my Mexican peregrina friend. Halfway through a fascinating chat, my laptop crashed. I had been experiencing problems with the hard drive all week so I had managed to back up what I could before hand.

Fast forward to today, I have a new laptop and I can continue with my podcast and with writing. I am now on annual leave from work so I have a little time on my hands.

The offer is open to all pilgrims if you wish to share your experience, please message me.

Podcast link: www.anchor.fm/clearskiescamino

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vOIpQrJvkYuPScThcKyyP

For those on Social media, it’s usual to receive the daily update reminding you what you were doing on this date X number of years ago. Whether it be on Facebook, Instagram or on Google Photos, each day without fail a notification is sent. In that notification is a distraction from what is going on around us and it is a good chance to look back at happier times. Since 2014, September has been my month of choice to walk along the Camino. I know many pilgrims are missing out this year, not just I. I had plans to walk again from Porto toward the end of September but these plans have been pushed back to April 2021. As long as the Camino is there, I will keep aiming to walk it.

Let me take you down memory lane, or should I say, down September lane. I have left a link to each page where you can read about each specific Camino. And sure, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.

• 3rd – 12th September 2014: I walked from St Jean Pied de Port to Belorado on the Camino Francés. My first and only year to walk up and over the Pyrenees. Shout out to Andrea, Dave, Leslie and Bob, my pilgrims buddies. What a way to be introduced to the Napolean route but I enjoyed every second.. I can’t wait to go back. Read about this Camino here.

• 4th -16th September 2017: I returned to the meseta for the third time and walked from Burgos to Astorga. Some pilgrims seem to dislike this part of the French Way but not me, I find it the most sociable. I did in 2017, meeting pilgrims from all parts of the world. Shout out to June, Billy, Aga, Adam, and many others I have left out. Read about this Camino here.

• 11th – 21st September 2018: A short trip across Navarra, but a decision made on the spur of the moment. I walked from Puente la Reina to Burgos and met Carsten, Bruno, Doug, Jim, Kathy and Janet. I haven’t walked the Camino Francés since then. You can read about this Camino here.

• 9th – 19th September 2019: After walking the Camino Inglés in May, I rejoined Carsten and walked from Lisbon on the Camino Portugués. I walked to Agueda due to time constraints however I will be back sometime. I have yet to write a proper blog about this Camino. I found this walk one of the more challenging for a number of reasons.

My previous post was looking forward to a re-arranged Camino in April 2021. With flights booked and nothing much else, I got back to the tasks at hand for the day. With no Camino to walk this year, what else had I to look forward to. A return to normality following the worst pandemic in 100 years? A democratically elected President in the United States? Let’s hope so. Nope, something else.

I dropped by my parents’ house on Sunday week for a socially-distant visit. It was great to see them as I hadn’t seen them since March. My brother was there too and he is no stranger of walking in Spain having walked to Santiago on two occasions. Imagine that, having two compostelas from two walks. But he is very much like me. He doesn’t mind where he walks, he just likes to get away. So he asked could he join me next April.

So we walk from Coimbra for two weeks next April. Until then we will walk in Ireland getting used to our packs and the distances. I hope you will follow us.

It’s been 14 days since isolation kicked in and 2 days since lock-in. With so much negativity, it is unhealthy for the mind. I have been scouring YouTube for Camino-related videos and with the recommendation of Linda at Somewhereslowly, I have signed up to Babbel at a specially reduced rate. These days indoors are the perfect time to learn a new language, and dust down a new one (I’m looking at you, Spanish!). It also has podcasts to tune your ear, so it’s all good.

Ok, back to the subject matter of the post. I can’t believe it’s nearly 6 years since I last walked from St Jean Pied de Port. I had been planning to walk from there ever since I arrived home from Leon in June 2013. I had done quite a bit of research and I actually had planned to meet a few Camino forum members in St Jean when I arrived. For someone who has not walked a Camino, it might seem a bit daunting but if you do the right research, it is quite easy. Once you know the days you are free and you have booked your flights, that is half the battle. You just arrive and then walk! I booked a flight with Ryanair to Biarritz. The next step was to find somewhere to stay in St Jean Pied de Port. Generally, accommodation fills up quick during peak season. I found a great place after looking on Gronze.com, Gite Ultreia. It offered B&B for €15 – practically nothing at today’s prices. I met Jason from South Korea there and we bumped into each other on and off until I finished in Belorado.

September arrived with much anticipation. The weather looked good in the North East of Spain. I got on the flight and before I knew it I had arrived. I met a pilgrim friend, Andrea in Biarritz. We had met on a forum and we were going to walk from the off. After a quick shuttle to Bayonne and a bus to St Jean, we had arrived.

One thing I remember however is how busy the town was. It was full of pilgrims and we arrived in the middle of rush hour. People are dining, viewing the sites and basically wandering around. Oh, do you remember the book “I’m Off Then” by Hape Kerkeling? Well, I am probably the only pilgrim to have not read it yet. BUT…it was made into a film in 2014, and many of the scenes were shot on the Camino. As I was going to my B&B, I was asked to stay put by part of the film crew while a scene was being shot.

The next day proved to be one of the toughest but most rewarding days on the Camino. I was in no hurry. There was no prize. It took nearly 8 hours to reach the monastery in the woods in Roncesvalles but I was glad to see a bunk bed on arrival.

I didn’t have any wine until I had my meal later that evening but it didn’t matter. I was already drunk with the scenery from the day. I was lucky enough to receive a blessing in the chapel beside the monastery after the meal before thinking about the next day.

I keep thinking if I will be walking from St Jean any time soon. I would certainly love to as my love for that part of the world has not gone away. Let’s see when all this madness goes away first.