30th March 2012

20,400 steps omn my stepometer today Villar de Mazariffe to Hospitol de Orbigo. Had a great sleep last night and woke up feeling refreshed from it at 7am, i pack up my things into my backpack and go downstairs and have a coffee at the bar before i head off on the trail.my feet are sore today from the corn i have on my little toe and also from the blisters i had on both heels from yesterdays walk, this was caused by my insoles that i have put in my boots to help my foot condition of plantar fasciitis.I walk a lot slower today but this dosent seem to help too much and this then gives me another huge blister on the other little toe.The road is very flat out of the village and the fields strech out for many miles around and it looks like maize is being grown here,the sun comes up very soon after i set off,a couple of hours into my walk i reach a sleepy village called Villavante and have another coffee at the bar and this is where i meet three fellow pilgrims on the path to Santiago,a couple one who is English the other that is South African that both live live in Barcelona, and also an English lady that lives in Brighton.We all walk together to the next town when i decide that i am done for the day its only 11:30am when i arrive.The albergie here called Karl Leisner in the center of town is very beautiful and also very peaceful it is 17th century with a central courtyard and also a grassed garden out of the back.Theirs not a cloud in the sky and its probably 22 degrees again today.I find the pharmacy and buy some blister plasters and also a couple of mini silicon tubes to put over my little toes to stop the rubbing and hopefully this will sort the problems i have out,i will let you all know!!!

Leon to Villar de Mazarife

29th March 2012, 22k or 32,114 steps on my stepometer Leon to Villar de Mazarife.I spent what felt like forever trying to get to sleep last night I ended up reading and finishing the book I started to read on the train to Leon white fang by Jack London and probably drifted off around 2am I then woke up just after 6:30 when everyone in the albergie was packing their bags to leave, breakfast was bread and jam and coffee,I needed the coffee more than the food and I got out at about 7:30 it was still dark outside as I headed towards the cathedral and then the outskirts of the city I was wearing my jacket as it was 4 degrees about 7k into the walk the path veers off the road and heads into open countryside I stop in a few bars along the way for refreshments and arrive at my destination for the day at 4pm I have a few blisters from today's walk to lance and I have a room to myself tonight and I keep my fingers crossed and prey that I sleep well.

Madrid to Leon

28th March 2012, I didn't sleep very well in the room even though it was a comfortable bed and that I had walked around the beautiful city of Madrid for a few hours before to try to tire myself out, lots of weird traffic and city sounds coming from outside my room in the street below, I almost jump out of the bed after hearing the screeching sounds of a jackhammer as my wake up call from outside, the shower was warm and welcoming the complimentary clean and white hotel towel was also a welcome luxury, getting out of the room at 10:15 i negotiate my way to the main train station via the underground system and a few misdirection's so by the time I get there and then que up to buy my ticket I have only 4 minutes to find the platform and then board the train to Leon!. I make it with literaly seconds to spare, good job I decided to skip the coffee stop on the way. It's so different being back here in Leon now it's Spring, the weather is lovely it's sunny and warm the temp today is 20 degrees. I have decided to stay in the central albergie as opposed to the municipal one further back along the path, more because it's central and because it wasn't open the last time I was here.I'm apprehensive but am looking forward to tomorrows walk now. I decide to follow the big crowd in the reception of the albergie and go with them all and get a blessing from the Nuns at the local Monastery before I head tail and turn into my sleeping bag for the night.

fly to Spain today

27th march 2012, Fly out of bristol airport this afternoon at 17:20 its now 10:30 in the morning jess came and picked up my dog last night (gonna miss him), I tied up all my loose ends for here at home whilst I'm away yesterday, my bag is packed and been checked again last night, I'm about to have a bath in a bit after a shave, then I'm going to get dressed then have a bowl of Museli for breakfast, I still havn't listed my backpack contents for you all but I will get around to it and hopefully take a few snaps to include for on here too. When I arrive in Madrid later this evening after my easyjet flight from Bristol I need to use the underground tube system to get to the city centre, then find myself somewhere nice to stay for the night so tomorrow I can either catch the train or bus to Leon.

5 days till Im back in Spain

In the summer I get invited to many music festivals as help people connect with laughter in the Laughter Yoga sessions I run, last year I went to Sunrise festival here in Somerset, Glastonbury festival, Secret Garden Party, Off Grid festival, Shambala festival, Croissant Neuf festival,and the Healing gathering. In 2010 I was also invited to Boom festival in Portugal, it's a week.long Psy-Trance festival that happens every other year, it's held outside and next to a huge reservoir in a very beautiful setting in the lovely hot sunshine. I have just emailed them with my proposal for the workshop I wish to run for them this year and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will like me to come back there again to run my workshop again. I've been busy also this week tying up loose ends like my road tax/insurance for my car, setting up my rent payments exc for while I'm away. I am also very lucky to have such good friends around me two of them are superstars Jess and Lockie as they look after my beautiful dog for me, he's a Belgium Shepard cross collie and is eleven years young, my life would have been so different these past 11years if he hadn't been with me but the companionship and unconditional love I receive is unparalleled with anything else. Interesting how Dog spelt backwards is God. It was spring exquinox yesterday 21st march and the buds on the trees are appearing and the birds are singing outside too, theres even daisies popping up in amongst the grass, I love the ever changing seasons. Only 5 days till I am in Spain I know they will fly by, I don't know if anyone else gets this feeling before a marathon walk but my body seems to come up with fantom random ailments in the week before I head of, it must be the manifestation of some kind of stage fright, a totally natural reaction when one throws oneself out of ones comfort zone. I love this feeling and can't get enough of it , it's probably Jupiter's influence on me being a Sagittarius and fulfilling my dreams of constant movement and expansion, and ever wishing to expand on my knowledge and experience. I am happiest when I'm traveling or planning to go on an adventure, or even reading about adventure or travel or the World, I love reading books that I can learn something from,I often read many books at the same time, and I am currently reading my Camino guide book, another book on the south west coastal path, and another book about a guy who walks across the UK, their all very interesting too.

Hi everyone just letting you all know that ive boked my flight to Madrid with Easyjet for the third leg of my journey to Santiago for Tuesday week the 27th March i will stay one night in the City before i get the train up to Leon to carry on where i left the trail of yellow arrows equiped with my new karrimor rucksack and newly purchased guide book by a guy named John Brierly called simply a pilgrims guide to Santiago and my newly repacked kit towards my destination??.I will come back on here in few days to list my backpack contents and tell you all my thoughts. I cant wait and im excited now to be on this pilgrimage again so soon.