Camino de Santiago 2023
Pints and Prep and Pints
My Camino……..as I wrote those first two words I wondered how many stories, tales, anecdotes have started with these two words over the last 1000 plus years. Countless I image and yet I believe, though I may be wrong here, but I would say that the majority of people who have walked the Camino never wrote about it. But of those that did share their story so many would have started with the words My Camino and yet I do not feel the need to start my story of my walk on the Camino any differently……...it will not matter what words I use to tell of my time on this walk because no words can truly describe what you feel or experience as you become a part of something so unique, at least it feels so from my perspective….. I have been in part hypnotised, but in truth the words to best describe what I feel do not exist, at least not in my head anyways.
So why write it then: Well I’m gonna be optimistic and think that someday I’ll be a fair bit older, greyer again than I already am ( see I’m optimistic about still having hair at all ) and maybe the memory will be fading a little as time passing so then perhaps someday I come across this bit of writing and think: whoever wrote that didn’t do so bad.
So where did my journey on this path begin. My younger sister Jennie got into a spot of bother, or at least her body did ( I don’t think there is any need for details here ) back at the end of 2021, as I write this in 2023 she is still here annoying the hell out of me ( humour ) and is threatening to do so for as long a possible ( less humour ). Good on her. So I believe it was early in 2022 Jennie asked me if, when she was feeling up to it, I would walk part of The Way of St. James with her…..and as any big brother would answer I of course said no as I was planning on going to Uzbekistan to study the mating habits of their native sheep…..wait that was a weird dream….I actually said yes ( I should also add I never dreamt about either Uzbekistan or Sheep ). So while Jennie may not be going anywhere soon neither is her trouble so I took it on myself to get a head start on her and hope she will join me on one or more of the future stages of the walk as and when she feels up to it.
I had heard about The Camino before this however as I am in a 30 odd year relationship with walking in Crete I never really considered it. And now I know why I did not think about it: I love the North West of Ireland, I love Southern Crete……...now I have to throw The Camino into the mix….I'm too old for threesomes. ( I must admit that I’m too shy for them anyways.)
As I love to hike when I can I did not feel I had to train for this particular walk however as I was entering unknown territory for the first time in a few years I thought it best to put in just a little bit extra effort.
It was early August before I committed to walking in Spain, I was fortunate that I had already covered a few long walks prior to this. The longest of these were
1) The Sligo Camino which was 35.5 km.
Jennie, Joanne, Annie ( aka the German ) & myself walked the Sligo Camino. Tough enough, however it was a beautiful day and the amazing scenery made the going so much easier. It did help that Jennie was driving us back to Sligo which meant that at the finish while the ladies enjoyed what I was informed was amazing food I made my way to the nearest bar and enjoyed 1+1+1 pints of Guinness which I relished as much as they did they did their sustenance
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/sligo-camino-2023-2464647
So why write it then: Well I’m gonna be optimistic and think that someday I’ll be a fair bit older, greyer again than I already am ( see I’m optimistic about still having hair at all ) and maybe the memory will be fading a little as time passing so then perhaps someday I come across this bit of writing and think: whoever wrote that didn’t do so bad.
So where did my journey on this path begin. My younger sister Jennie got into a spot of bother, or at least her body did ( I don’t think there is any need for details here ) back at the end of 2021, as I write this in 2023 she is still here annoying the hell out of me ( humour ) and is threatening to do so for as long a possible ( less humour ). Good on her. So I believe it was early in 2022 Jennie asked me if, when she was feeling up to it, I would walk part of The Way of St. James with her…..and as any big brother would answer I of course said no as I was planning on going to Uzbekistan to study the mating habits of their native sheep…..wait that was a weird dream….I actually said yes ( I should also add I never dreamt about either Uzbekistan or Sheep ). So while Jennie may not be going anywhere soon neither is her trouble so I took it on myself to get a head start on her and hope she will join me on one or more of the future stages of the walk as and when she feels up to it.
I had heard about The Camino before this however as I am in a 30 odd year relationship with walking in Crete I never really considered it. And now I know why I did not think about it: I love the North West of Ireland, I love Southern Crete……...now I have to throw The Camino into the mix….I'm too old for threesomes. ( I must admit that I’m too shy for them anyways.)
As I love to hike when I can I did not feel I had to train for this particular walk however as I was entering unknown territory for the first time in a few years I thought it best to put in just a little bit extra effort.
It was early August before I committed to walking in Spain, I was fortunate that I had already covered a few long walks prior to this. The longest of these were
1) The Sligo Camino which was 35.5 km.
Jennie, Joanne, Annie ( aka the German ) & myself walked the Sligo Camino. Tough enough, however it was a beautiful day and the amazing scenery made the going so much easier. It did help that Jennie was driving us back to Sligo which meant that at the finish while the ladies enjoyed what I was informed was amazing food I made my way to the nearest bar and enjoyed 1+1+1 pints of Guinness which I relished as much as they did they did their sustenance
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/sligo-camino-2023-2464647
2) A lovely circular hike from Cleen to Drumshambo, Battlebridge and finishing in Clancy’s Bar, about 33.5 km, my phone got fed up walking and decided to take a rest shortly after Beirnes. This last one is my favourite as it involves, if you are so inclined, to drop into three Bars, though if you are truly dedicated there is more.
Conway’s of Drumshanbo ( 2 pints 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 ), Beirnes of Battlebridge ( 1 pint, too busy, too loud, way toooooo many people, also the pint was very average 🍺🍺 ) Clancy’s Bar of Cleen as mentioned ( so the pint count here was definitely more that 1 and less than 10 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 ) I think I left Clancy’s around 10:30 / 11 and had to hike 1 km back to Tommy and Orla’s after a wonderful day of Kilometres and Pints. If you are wondering about the carrot ratings on the pint: The highest you can get is 5, and yes I know Clancy’s got 6, not a typo. Just a note; when typing this on my PC the pints were represented by carrots, cannot get that carrot emoji to appear on my keyboard so pints representing pints will just have to do, I know it makes no sense.....however......have to get the carrot emoji working.
www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/to-drumshambo-and-back-again-76d4110
Conway’s of Drumshanbo ( 2 pints 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 ), Beirnes of Battlebridge ( 1 pint, too busy, too loud, way toooooo many people, also the pint was very average 🍺🍺 ) Clancy’s Bar of Cleen as mentioned ( so the pint count here was definitely more that 1 and less than 10 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 ) I think I left Clancy’s around 10:30 / 11 and had to hike 1 km back to Tommy and Orla’s after a wonderful day of Kilometres and Pints. If you are wondering about the carrot ratings on the pint: The highest you can get is 5, and yes I know Clancy’s got 6, not a typo. Just a note; when typing this on my PC the pints were represented by carrots, cannot get that carrot emoji to appear on my keyboard so pints representing pints will just have to do, I know it makes no sense.....however......have to get the carrot emoji working.
www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/to-drumshambo-and-back-again-76d4110
After I booked the flight and the first night in Orisson I had managed to get another two decent walks in:
3) The Galway Marathon Hike which was 42.8. Serious hike around Killery harbour back to Maam Community Centre.
The Galway was a tough enough, you get bussed from Maam Community Centre to….lets say the the middle of a pleasant nowhere, about 7km from Killery Harbour and you hike back to the above centre. It was a miserable overcast day where the rain always hung there, the clouds in the middle section were so low that we were walking in them, a cross between a mist and a drizzle, for about an hour, as we started the descent from Mám Éan Oratory the heavens opened….well the bits of our clothes and body that had not managed to soak up any water prior to this were now discovered and duly anointed. As we approached the last 2 km Joanne, my not so much older sister whom I was walking with...ooops...forgot to mention that, looked at me….I looked at her…..yep, we both said the same thing…. ”We’re not walking this next year”. The following day, Sunday, I am out for a short walk and phone Joanne to find out how she is feeling…..”Yea, I’m thinking the same, if we are both fit and well this time next year sher we might as well give it another go”.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/evening-backpack-trip-0906061-2
3) The Galway Marathon Hike which was 42.8. Serious hike around Killery harbour back to Maam Community Centre.
The Galway was a tough enough, you get bussed from Maam Community Centre to….lets say the the middle of a pleasant nowhere, about 7km from Killery Harbour and you hike back to the above centre. It was a miserable overcast day where the rain always hung there, the clouds in the middle section were so low that we were walking in them, a cross between a mist and a drizzle, for about an hour, as we started the descent from Mám Éan Oratory the heavens opened….well the bits of our clothes and body that had not managed to soak up any water prior to this were now discovered and duly anointed. As we approached the last 2 km Joanne, my not so much older sister whom I was walking with...ooops...forgot to mention that, looked at me….I looked at her…..yep, we both said the same thing…. ”We’re not walking this next year”. The following day, Sunday, I am out for a short walk and phone Joanne to find out how she is feeling…..”Yea, I’m thinking the same, if we are both fit and well this time next year sher we might as well give it another go”.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/evening-backpack-trip-0906061-2
4) The Carrick Camino 33.5. Ballyfarnon to Carrick on Shannon
The Carrick Camino was a totally different walk, 10km less than Galway, nice day, it did rain at the very beginning of the Walk but then the clouds went elsewhere, maybe Galway….Killery Harbour I’m thinking, other than that it was glorious weather and the scenery throughout was fantastic…...most definitely the more varied and pleasant of the 4 walks mentioned here. Half way through the day sunglasses were required, it would have been nice if I had remembered to take mine from my car, however my older sister had hers, the 2 extra years experience on this earth paid off for her. Just a note; Sunglasses in Ireland are not prerequisite, handy to have but I’d recommend that if you do bring them then make sure they have a raincoat wrapped around them.
I had a brainwave when we reached Carrick…..do this next year but arrange to leave the car here overnight…...have something between 4 and say 7 or 8 pints, get the train home and the same back again for the car the following. Isn't hindsight wonderful….
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/carrick-on-shannon-camino-2023-6b5ce5a
