WELCOME HOME AND WELL DONE FOR EXCEEDING YOUR TARGET!!  YOU ARE A TRUE STAR.

27th June - Gill returns to Looe in the early hours of the 28th after a flight diversion. 

26th June - Gill has returned to Santiago and is watching the pilgrims arrive.  She returns to Looe tomorrow - it's all gone so quickly, hasn't it?!

25th June - On the beach at Finisterre and enjoying traditional cleansing in the sea and having a picnic - hot and sunny and the beach is fab - you deserve it!!  And she saw the Simpsons in Spanish today - woohoo!!

24th June - Gill is in a lovely room with a view overlooking the port of Finisterre, the bay and mountains - exactly what she needs to relax.

23rd June - Gill actually walked 24 km towards Finisterre, but then went for 50 km by bus - she's all walked out and ready for home, although the area is very pretty.

22nd June - Gill attended the Pilgrim's Mass today - there is apparently a webcam at the altar...

21st June - She's done it!!!!  Well done, Gill!!  xxx

20th June - 30 long hot km to Pedrouzo.  Gill has just 20 km to Santiago (incredible), and has now got enough time to go on to Finisterre, and have a day off on Sunday.  I can't believe she'll be home this time next week ...Hasn't she done well?!

19th June - At Castaneda, which is very small, but Gill felt she needed a break after 22 km and 6.5 hours' walking in territory very like Cornwall (i.e. up and down.)

18th June - Gill has walked 25 km in sunshine (again!) to Palas de Rei.  She is feeling great and getting ready for el vino...

17th June - At Portomarin and Gill hopes to reach Santiago on either Saturday or Sunday - wow!!  Good weather today!

16th June - This is Galicia so Gill has had rain pouring all day.  She has reached Barbadeln after 16 km with long rests.  Lack of sleep, rain and road walking is taking its toll, but she has a good place to stay in the countryside.

15th June - At Samos and staying in a monastery!  Gill was off to hear the monks chanting.  Only 10 km today and feeling tired, but she has been walking for 35 days now (is that all??!!!).

14th June - In Triacastela having walked about 21 km.  Lovely scenery and one steep climb up and a long slog down.  Almost at the 100 km to go point.

13th June - In Galicia at O Cebreiro having walked 17 km and all vertical.  The steepest climb to date, and both weather and scenery 'fab'.

12th June - At La Portela de Valcarce after 24 km of hot and lovely walking.  Only 175 km to Santiago and Gill is very pleased with what she has done so far (I think one or two of us is impressed too!!)

11th June - In Cacabelos.  Very hot so only 19 km.  Have a bath in the hostel!

10th June - At Ponferrada today - only 16 km walked as Gill is still on steep and rocky mountainous terrain.  The rain is back again and her shoes need proofing again (and I'm about to text her and say that we are still in heatwave!!  I'm a big meany, I know xx).

9th June - At el Acebo, having reached the highest point of the Camino at 0945!  An easy walk at first, but got very steep and stony (but not as bad as Dizzard Point on the north Cornish coast where Gill did some training in near gale force conditions).  Luckily her knees are holding up in this change of terrain.

8 th June - Reached Rabanal del Camino in terrible weather - everything is saoked.  Gill could see snow up on the mountains, and will be going up there tomorrow.

7th June - Gill is in Astorga having a very lazy day.  She went to a chocolate museum with 2 ladies from Plymouth.  (I asked Gill to text me some chocolate, and she says she sent it, but it hasn't arrived yet...).

6th June - Summer has come at last!  Reached San Justo de la Vega to enjoy a room with a bath and balcony.  Walking alone (not really as we're all there with you!  No blisters, but no alcohol!).  XX

5th June - Reached San Martin del Camino after a dreary 27 km - path beside N120 very busy and noisy, and there's only one way to recover - vino, of course!!

4th June - Reached Leon after 2 hours and had a hotel stop.

3rd June - Reached Puents Villarents in the heat having walked a mammoth 31.5 km in 7.5 hours.  Tired but Gill will have a shorter day tomorrow...

2nd June - Gill has passed the half way point!!  Reached Bercianos del Real Camino and there was no rain and the washing's dry!  Celebrated with a (very well-deserved) beer.

1st June - At Terradillos de los Templarios.  28 km in 6 hours but lots of rain.

31st May - In Carrion de los Condes - 20 km in the dry and on the flat.  Then heavy rain and one or two troublesome pilgrims by the sound of it!

30th May - A much better day as there was no rain and no mud.  26 km including a mountain to Fromista.

29th May - Gill has reached Castojeriz despite the terrible weather and mud - don't think today has been her best so far, but she is enjoying walking on tarmac as it is mud-free!!

28th May - Gill has reached Hornillos del Camino having walked 20 k in 5 hours and stopped there as next hostel 2 hours away.

27th May - Gill is ready to walk again after her day off.  All her friends have gone on or home, and she is looking forward to meeting new ones on the road ahead.  In a 'basic' hostel!  And Gill sends love to all of us who are following her walk.

26th May - Gill has reached Burgos in spite of heavy rain and cold weather (actually worse than our bank holiday!), and decided that tomorrow will be a rest day.

25th May - Gill has reached Ages and has had her first private shower in 13 days!

24th May - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GILL!!!  Gill has reached Belorado having walked 23 km.  I spoke to her today which was great - she is having a fantastic time, really enjoying herself, and washing her clothes for the first time!!  Bliss!

23rd May - Reached St Domingo through thick mud - 'only' 15 km and knees not bad.

22nd May - Gill arrives at Azofra, but has a swollen knee - funnily enough, the cure is another bottle of Rioja.  She has promised to take things easier tomorrow (walking or wine?).

21st May - Gill reaches Navarette after 6 hours' walking.

20th May - Gill has reached Viana, in spite of drinking at the wine fountain at 7.35 am!!

19th May - very tired having walked 138 km in 6 days - 'not bad for an old gal' - indeed!

18th May - 'Only'  a 24 km walk to Estella.

17th May - the polite translation is very tired indeed.  Puente la Reina reached.

16th May - Gill reaches Pamplona after a testing 6 hours of rain and mud.

15th May - Gill reaches Zubiri and has an alcoholic recovery session!!

14th May - Gill crossed the Pyrenees in under 8 hours into Roncesvalles in Spain - 'knackered but happy'!

13th May - Gill has arrived safely in France, and texted from the train to St Jean-Pied-de Port.

In the past I have done some crazy things, but never before have I  attempted something as big as this!  Starting from Looe on 13 May 2008, I am travelling out to St Jean-Pied-de -Port in the French Pyrenees, to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

The Camino (Way of St James) originated as a medieval pilgrimage.  For more than a 1,000 years people from Europe have taken up the Camino's age-old symbols - the scallop shell and staff - and set off to walk the 500 miles across Northen Spain to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, risking life and limb to reach the tomb of St James the Apostle.  Today this long-distance walk attracts people from all over the world, still carrying a scallop shell, but these days with a collapsible walking pole.  Althought the risks are less, the challenges physically, mentally and emotionally are still as great.

Walking daily, carrying all I need in my backpack, will be demanding, so I am allowing myself just over 6 weeks to complete the walk.  If there is enough time left when I reach Santiago, I shall continue to walk to Finisterre, believed by ancient people to be the end of the earth, a further 54 miles.

Walking the Camino has been a dream of mine for several years, which is odd because I detest being hot and sweaty, don't do hills and generally prefer not to exert myself.  And I shall be carrying about  20 pounds in my backpack.  But dreams are not necessarily about being comfortable!

Nigel and Julie Libby also have a dream.  Their dream to start a holiday home, "a special place for special children", will benefit many families from Cornwall and Devon.  With our help, we could make Nigel and Julie's dream come true, and help children like their little Ellie.  Please visit Elllie's Haven's website at www.ellies-haven.org.uk to find out more about their plans.

So please sponsor me if you are able to and help to raise the money needed to build and run Ellie's Haven.  Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ellies-haven cornwall will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.


Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me and Ellie's Haven.