Support already!

Thanks so much to those who already are supporting our efforts even before we have begun! A visit to Decathlon (our first ever!) has furnished Frank with new lightweight  hiking boots and a new backpack, and I, famous for losing coats, replaced my Lidl showerproof with a rainproof jacket and pull-ups - so the heavens can open at will (as they have been doing quite a bit here lately!)  Now all that remain to be purchased are the essential Compeeds for potential blisters, and some painkillers (for when a shot of good Spanish brandy doesn't numb the pain).

Thanks too to my cousin Peter and his lovely wife Maria Jose who brought us sightseeing today, and fed us royally in their home near Valencia.  It was great to catch up and to meet Clara, Anna and Francisco once again and to show them Tango.  Next time we'll make it a fishing trip!

Next post will be from the Camino...

New boots for old!

And so the preparations begin. After 5 years of trusty service and many miles, I had to replace my old worn out Berghaus boots with a new pair from Hillwalkers in Cork.    In 8 day's time Frank and I will leave Tango at a marina north of Valencia and take a couple of trains to Pamplona, stay at the albergue near the great Cathedral there, and next day will progress along the Camino Frances towards Santiago.  After 10 days together I will continue alone to complete the middle section of the walk as far as Mansilla de las Mulas, where I began my last charity walk in 2010 (see map below).  I will be carrying my possessions in my old backpack, and hope to cover the 400km distance within three weeks.  It was so reassuring to have managed the short but tough  four-day section from St Jean Pied de Port over the Pyrenees to Pamplona with Frank last September, as I had never felt capable of the big ascent involved (1,390m), and conditions were not easy in wind and rain.  Heartened by that achievement it's now time to "do" the rest of the French Way before hitting a big birthday next year...

Camino Ingles: arrival at Santiago with Aine and Aussies, May 2013

Once again I will be appealing to you all for support but this time the cause is  for cancer research. My brother's sister-in-law Erica died in August with melanoma, having bravely trialled a new drug, and several other friends have also been felled by cancer during this past year. The donation link is http://www.mycharity.ie/event/barbtravelscamino.    I will keep you intermittently up to date with my progress from various libraries and internet cafes, and hope that you can stay with me for some interesting times on the path ahead.  Thanks for walking with me!  Buen camino to you all!