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ATW80 progress report

I am working my way through Africa: the north coast and some bordering countries from Tunisia to Egypt, then down to the Horn of Africa and across to South Sudan. By the time I reach South Africa I shall have read books from about 20 countries in Africa, roughly half the total. To keep theContinue reading “ATW80 progress report”

Virtual traveller

While travel is impossible, I have started a virtual world tour – reading 80 books. You can see the details on the Goodreads web site here.

Cornish Celtic Way – Highlights

This should really come before the post below, as I was in Cornwall from September 2-8 and in Cumbria from September 16-20. However, I am only just getting round to blogging it. This “new 125 mile route” is a composite of parts of three established paths: the South-West Coast Path and two cross-country routes, theContinue reading “Cornish Celtic Way – Highlights”

Pilgrimage in the footsteps of George Fox

This is the second of two weeks of pilgrimage this September. I have yet to blog the first one, on the Cornish Celtic Way. I arrived at Swarthmoor Hall on Monday, met my fellow-pilgrims, and was introduced to the week by our leaders Bill and Sylvia. Bill has been the Warden here, and reckons heContinue reading “Pilgrimage in the footsteps of George Fox”

Pilgrim Priest Page Completed

Today I finished writing up my time in Spain – as a chaplain to pilgrims in Santiago, and as a pilgrim myself from Toledo to Avila – in a new page on the main menu, Pilgrim Priest. This includes the last few posts – I have now discovered how to show photos the right wayContinue reading “Pilgrim Priest Page Completed”

Avila, the end and the beginning

The day began well. Breakfast, with orange juice and ample coffee. The landlord had put on a DVD showing the sights of Avila, and it was a lovely morning for sightseeing, sunny but cool. We walked over the bridge, along the wall, and through the old town, and found our way to the cathedral, arrivingContinue reading “Avila, the end and the beginning”

The last two days to Avila

Both days have involved walking up steep hills to a named pass where the Camino crosses the road, and walking through a herd of cows. Yesterday in the rain, today in sunshine with the wind at our backs. Last night was the only occasion we stayed in a pilgrim refuge – in this case, aContinue reading “The last two days to Avila”

The old cattle road

After two days of frequent encounters with the main road N403, yesterday was delightful. For much of the time we were following Via Pecuria, which, judging from its logo, was an old drovers’ road, and is still used for taking cattle to summer pastures – we saw the evidence, but not the cows. We walkedContinue reading “The old cattle road”

Toledo

This is where beginneth my Camino of 2018. Toledo was the site of the fifth convent founded by St Teresa, 450 years ago. There will be a special concert in her honour in the cathedral on October 19, but we shall have gone our separate ways by then, Gordon to stay with a friend inContinue reading “Toledo”

Caucasian Reading List

Here are some books I had on my Kindle: The Man in the Panther’s Skin, Shota Rustaveli. Medieval classic, supposedly dedicated to Queen Tamar. Bread and Ashes: a Walk through the Mountains of Georgia, Tony Anderson. Didn’t get very far with this one. The Lion Queen, Christopher Nicole. Historical novel about Queen Tamar, told throughContinue reading “Caucasian Reading List”