Alan Pearce
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Invierno October 2022
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Thanks Sean for bringing back these great memories. Just a little more about Seans and my time with Maria - I am very partial to a good brandy as a nightcap after a days walk, and after she stayed as a guest in my flat in SdC in 2016, she bought me a bottle of brandy as a thankyou. After she tragically died, I put the unopened bottle away until such time as Sean and I could open it and together toast her memory. This we did in 2018, in the cloisters of San Martin. The remainder is back in storage, until we both can be in SdC together, and toast Maria again.On 12th May 2014, Alan, my Australian pal, and I arrived in Santiago having just finished the Camino Ingles. It had been a short walk in beautiful weather and we were in good time for the Pilgrims Mass at 12. We spent a few days in the city before we started a volunteering stint together in the Pilgrims Office.
On 12th May 2015 Alan, Mike from America, Ruben from Madrid and I arrived in Alcazaren on the Camino Madrid having walked in from Coca. We were in the Bar Real to collect a key for the alburgue when we met Maria, a lady from Holland, who had arrived just ahead of us. Maria (in her seventies) was walking alone and had been on the way for seven days. She joined our happy band for the rest of the camino and we parted the very best of friends. The next year she started on the Primitivo but had to stop in Lugo with what she thought was a knee issue: she bussed it to Santiago and spent a few days with Alan who was volunteering in the Pilgrims Office. We kept in touch and Maria subsequently had a hip joint replaced later that year: it hadn't been her knee at all. She had a laugh about that. In 2017 we arranged to meet to walk the Invierno and hopefully to volunteer together in the Pilgrims Office. Plans were well advanced when totally unexpectedly Maria was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer: after a brave fight, she sadly passed away on 23 August that year. We were devastated, she was such a vibrant, positive, happy person. Those two dates, 12 May 2015 and 23 August 2017 will always have a special place in my camino memories.
Yes, with all due respect you do.I don't think I need to say anything.
It should have been early in the morning (sun on east) and the Charolais and Limosin cows still lying down. I am missing a lot the Sierra de Madrid that must be beautiful because it is raining a lot. What a pity!!Great thread and photos!
May 14th 2020 marked the end of my three days on the Camino Mendocino and transition to the Camino de Madrid. It was a day where I thought I might meet some other pilgrims, but that didn't happen until the following one.
1&2: Walking rom @rayyrosa 's albergue to Manzanares el RealView attachment 74985
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3, 4 & 5 Manzanares el Real to the Las Dehesas youth hostel
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I'm quite the choco-holic so I think (hope!) my radar would have picked up if there was a chocolateIn Burgos on the 11th 2017. Is that where the chocolate factory was/is? I couldn’t find it..
On May 10, last year, I walked from Calizano to Santander, fue muy bonito. Espero que pueda volver pronto.If you were on the Camino on this date in May in a previous year, where were you? I arrived in St Jean Pied de Port on May 10th last year for my fourth Camino, which would take me along the Francés to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo, then I walked to Avilés to connect to the Norte. After reaching Santiago I continued on to Finisterre.
Several threads that I started about dates in May have been combined into one.
When you respond, please mention the date, route you were on and where you walked (or rested) that day. Thanks!
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Thanks for sharing your delightful story, and photo!I’m going to break date ranks a little, but for good reason. On this date - 16 May 2018 - I met Alejandro, a hospitalero in Foncebadon, who would change my life forever. I stayed in his campervan rather than my dorm bed, he walked me up to Cruz de fiero in the morning and he came to meet me a few days later in Triacastela. When I finished the Camino I came back to see him. Cutting the rest of the story short, he ultimately left his job to come and live with me in London and we now have twin boys who are 1 year old! We dream of running an Albergue together one day and bringing up our boys there. We need to gain the courage to take another risk again, like we did when we met, and just do it! Maybe in another year from now...on this day!
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Two years ago yesterday my wife and I left SJPD. to Orrison for our first day on our Camino Frances, unfortunately we only got as fas as Castrojeriz before my knee collapsed. It was suppose to continue on the 27 of this month. Will have to be next year.If you were on the Camino on this date in May in a previous year, where were you? I arrived in St Jean Pied de Port on May 10th last year for my fourth Camino, which would take me along the Francés to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo, then I walked to Avilés to connect to the Norte. After reaching Santiago I continued on to Finisterre.
Several threads that I started about dates in May have been combined into one.
When you respond, please mention the date, route you were on and where you walked (or rested) that day. Thanks!
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John Hungerford, You mentioned the Aussie Camino in South Australia. How do I find information on that?
Actually, this is the other one I once read up about: www.caminosalvado.com
John, did you mean this one perhaps? Other wise the Australian Friends of the Camino have some information on pilgrim walks in Australia, though they're nothing like the ones in Europe by the look of it.
Fall or autumn as I call it is good too. Walked late September early October twice. Believe it or not, neither was as cold as a couple of days in early May in 2015Thank you all for sharing your pictures and stories. I've always walked Caminos in the Fall/early Winter, so I have none to contribute for May. It is sure a treat seeing the one's posted
This spot reminded me so much of scenes from home... Scotland.This day (19th) last year on the CF.
A bitterly cold start as we left Rabanal. The sky was blue, the sun shining, the hills a riot of colours but it was the chilling wind that I most remember. After Cruz de Ferro the wind died down and much later we could even enjoy a picnic lunch as a steady stream of pilgrims passed before our eyes.
In previous years we had pushed on but we stopped at Acebo this year for a change.
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This has brought back great memories for me...one of my very favorite stretches on the Camino Frances!Notes from 15/05/12 Camino Frances.
We had a sleep-in this morning and left the albergue at 08.30 after a good breakfast, and started the walk to Cruz de Ferro. It was a beautiful, clear chilly morning, perfect for walking.
Both of us are feeling really excited about finally reaching the cross and leaving our stones which we had carried from home.
Just as we got to about fifty meters from the cross, a tour bus pulled in and disgorged about fifty or so tourists who immediately walked up to the cross. They formed a big circle around the cross and started to sing then pray, then some more singing, then some speeches, then more singing and praying. This went on for about twenty or thirty minutes and many pilgrims who arrived about the same time as us left in frustration without getting near the cross.
I got a bit impatient and climbed up as far as I could go and pitched my stone, which was a flat beach stone on which I had written all the names of the people I wanted to remember in my prayers. Well the stone shattered when it made contact with all the other stones in the mound! My granddaughter had given it to me before I left home and I was so mad and disappointed when this happened, I took it as a bad omen. Iggy was a lot more patient than me and waited and let them do their thing. Eventually they left to the relief of everyone, we all got to walk up to the cross and have photos taken of each other. It was a memorable occasion but not in the way I had envisioned.
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We slung our packs and headed off towards Ponferrada which was our intended destination. The rest of the day was the most beautiful day we spent on the Camino, walking through mountain trails, glades and passes with birdsong and the smell of wildflowers.
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Coming down the mountain was rough enough going and had a toll on feet and ankles but it was worth the pain.
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We passed Manjarin on our way but Tomas the Templar was busy entertaining a few other pilgrims so we passed on.
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We stopped in Acebo for lunch, the day was heating up and we met up with Ana, John, from Arizona, and a new pilgrim from Texas called Mary, a tough sixty-nine year old who took a shine to Iggy. She wasn't too impressed with me as we disagreed on most things.
John had left the cross without leaving his stone this morning because of the tourists and was very disappointed as he was carrying his son's ashes to Muxia and thought the Cruz de Ferro would be a special moment for him. I really felt sorry for him.
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After lunch we headed off again and reached Molinaseca by about three o'clock. As we crossed the old bridge to the town we heard Ana calling us from a riverside cafe down below We joined her, Mary and Annalise for a drink and chat.
After the first drink we decided to stay put for the day and I went off and organised a private room around the corner from the Cafe. We had a great afternoon chatting and laughing about different things that happened along the way.
Jim from New York arrived later and joined us. His ears were very badly sunburned as he only had a baseball cap but Ana fixed him up with some cream. We all had dinner together then went our separate ways to bed. What a great day.
I love hearing about Camino love stories! Awww!I’m going to break date ranks a little, but for good reason. On this date - 16 May 2018 - I met Alejandro, a hospitalero in Foncebadon, who would change my life forever. I stayed in his campervan rather than my dorm bed, he walked me up to Cruz de fiero in the morning and he came to meet me a few days later in Triacastela. When I finished the Camino I came back to see him. Cutting the rest of the story short, he ultimately left his job to come and live with me in London and we now have twin boys who are 1 year old! We dream of running an Albergue together one day and bringing up our boys there. We need to gain the courage to take another risk again, like we did when we met, and just do it! Maybe in another year from now...on this day!
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WOW - I walked this section of the VDLP on or about the 18/19 May 2013 on my first Camino. How I would love to return.May 10, 2018 - Walked from Aljucén to Alcuescar on the VDLP.
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This was on the Invierno, on the first day out of Ponferrada. Zoom in to read the plaque. I was surprised to see it there, ore or less in the middle of nowhere. I wonder if Megumi Shiozawa had anything to do with either of these.Seeing the marker in Molinaseca brought back fond memories of our walks in Japan.
Wow, what an interesting story and I loved the pictures.We ended up in the little hamlet of San Julien. The albergue/café/bar is run by a very interesting man and his wife. He told us that he once lived in a cave in Majorca for a few years when he was young. He lived off the land and sea hunting and fishing. They decided to leave when his now wife became pregnant.
2018 I had a delicious lunch in the restaurant at Ponte Maceira on the way to Muxia/Fisterra...View attachment 74897
Love this tree! Every time I see it
One of my goals last year was to see the Meseta in the spring. I wasn't disappointed! These are some pictures of my walk between Hontanas and Población de Campos on May 26th
The red color in these photos really are amazing
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