On the Camino

I'd been checking the weather reports for several days before we set off and they had promised rain and a lot of it and yet all day it stayed clear and bright.

'Not all who wander are lost' J.R.R. Tolkein

Some Caminos are years in the planning but this one started in April when my whole family had finished walking the Camino Frances (me and my sister from Astorga and Mum and Dad from Triacastella) and I jokingly said to Dad that we should walk the Camino Ingles before school re-started. The only thing is that he took me seriously so today found us getting up at 5, changing into our walking clothes, bidding goodbye to Mum and our five month old kittens and heading out of the door on another Camino.

My dearest Lord, Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today, tonight, and for ever more. Prayer of St. Columba Saint Columba was an Irish Abbot who lived from 521-597. He was a missionary who has been credited with spreading Christianity in Scotland and founded the Abbey on Iona. He is the Patron Saint of Derry.

You may have been wondering about the several day long silence on my blog which happened because I was in Spain from the 1st-10th September walking the Camino Ingles. Image taken from http://www.pilgrimagetraveler.com/camino-ingles.html

Very sad news about Denise - my thoughts are with her family: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/13/denise-thiem-american-pilgrim-missing-spain-found