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Just some boring stuff about me - I am 52 years old, single, living in Alcaudete,Spain and a retired Police Officer having in a former life been in the Army for 18 years.  I cycled the Way of St James in April 2006 from St Jan pied de port in the French pyrenees to Santiago with a couple of friends.  So I need a challenge and a time of reflection and thinking so therefore I am going to walk from Alcaudete in Spain to Santiago de Compestella following the pilgrim route - a distance of some 1000km give or take.  I will be setting off in early April 2008 complete with route guide?????.  My intention is to update this page as I progress along the route - internet cafes permitting.  I will also be producing a photographic record which I will post on facebook on completion of the walk.  I will be totally unsupported throughout the journey - so its just me my backpack and of course a diary to record my adventures.

UPDATE 1

The date has now been set for the pilgrimage and I will be departing my home on 5 Apr 08 exactly one year after my retirement.  In order to update the site daily from that date I have invested in a Datawind Personal Surfer so no excuses - although I feel sure I will find one or two en route.

Training:  Whats that!!!  Actually I have completed a couple of 40km bike rides and done loads of walking around several cities Cordoba, Granada and Seville and will be returning to the UK in February to purchase some essential items ie Walking shoes - more choice over there.  I do walk most days - well the weather here is suited for it you know sunny and dry oh yes and warm - just thought I'd throw that one in.

UPDATE 2

My list of gadgets is now nearing completion - still no boots/shoes as yet but hey how important are they hehe.  I have decided a bare bones spartan approach is well in order - other than my very necessary  gadgets of course my kit list will look something like this:

Rucksack - complete with back to back Welsh and RBL Poppy Flag - kindly made by my sister Caroline (better mention her or else methinks).

Bladder Pack 2 ltr - No its for drinking water.

MP3 Player and headphones - Variety of music from Punk to Classical

Mobile Phone - Well you just never know, my mates over here want me to check in with them daily as I am setting off - probably so they can have a good laugh if something goes wrong - no not really they are nice people.

Solar Power Battery charger - see I can do Green

Spare Trousers, Shirt (complete with Welsh flag badge (courtesy of Caroline)) socks, sleeping bag and cover - for those times I may have to sleep in the open, there are some long stages without any hostels apparently.

A couple of Walking Poles - well you need to look the part.

My Quasi Australian Digger hat - without the corks.

A water resistant jacket - when I wear this I get wet anyway cause it just causes condensation but at least it is light and the condensation is warmish - hopefully I wont need to wear it too much.

A fleece - belt and braces approach

My datawind Personal Surfer - so I can keep this waffle going daily.

A copy - a small one - of the New Testament so at least I get to read something in English and it should last the whole trip.

Thats it for now Ah nearly forgot Cash, Credit and Debit Cards and Passport.

Just got to find those shoes/boots er er

UPDATE 3

Well today was supposed to be the great day when I set off - and the weather is great for it - however I managed to find myself a little dog last Sunday who had been abandoned and got herself caught in some wire in a small culvert in a ditch - having released her I decided she was coming home with me and has stayed.  I now need to spend some time feeding her up getting her innoculated and then I can put her in a boarding kennel when I go WALKIES so a delay of one month until sometime around 5 May - Dont worry you will still get your laugh when I set off and you read of my suffering lol.

The good news is I have got some boots HURRAH and they are well broken in now and I have also got everything else I need.  I am currently using Google maps to transfer waypoints to the GPS so hopefully - but dont hold your breaths - I shouldnt go too far wrong what with a guide book and a GPS what can go wrong - except me of course, hey ho

TUE 29 APRIL 2008

Hurrah today I start my journey. Ah yes before continuing, my recue dog Lucky was well named and she is now safely in the bosom of her adoring family who had lost her in November over in Martos - about 30 miles away - so good news there - her real name was Palomo so no kennels for her then.

It is now just after 5.30am and I have just finished packing my rucksack and I have to say it feels suspiciously light but I have unpacked it and packed it numerous times and everything I need seems to be there - oh well time will tell.

Oh well got to get dressed and move out hopefully my first report will be this evening so stay rivetted and again Thank you all for your support.

UPDATE 8 MAY 2008

OK so here I am at last - not my fault he says the damned internet gizmo thingy refuses to play despite phoning the company in UK at great expense.

ANyway I started my journey with a 26 km hike to Baena a lovely walk along the Via Verde - the green route - and then a journey through many olive groves to the destination for the first evening - no problems everything was hunky dory.

Day 2 was a completely different matter - the route to Castro Del Rio was mainly on tarmacced roads and tracks - hot roads mean one thing hot feet and that in turn leads to yes you have guessed it two massive blisters one on the ball of each foot.  So when I arrived at Castro Del Rio some 28 km later I was hoblbing a bit ok a lot then - thoise of a sensitive nature may like to skip the next few lines yeah fat chance eh - I took my trusty Hi Tech knife and cut the blisters to allow the fluid to be drained and then plastered them it hurt a bit OK I screamed like a baby but it has worked well.  I thought that the next day I would resdt my poor wounded feet but at 11 am I was bored and impatient so off I wandered the 37km to Cordoba in the hottest part of the day but hey noone ever said this would be easy.  I staggered in Cordoba some 8 hours later - no water sore feet dog tired and so hungry I looked at a scabby donkey and started drooling.  Anyway I asked a man the way to a hostel and he took me there it turns out he was one of the AMigos of the Via de la Plata - the route I am walking - and he asked me if I would like to come to their meeting in an hours time so I said                                                               WELL YES and a good job I did because I learned that part of the route to Merida was impassible due to the recent heavy rains and would cause another long walk of more than 40km to get round it - they advised catch the bus to Merida for the real start of the route so next day I toddled off to the Autobus Estacion and hopped - quite literally - onto a bus for Merida. 

I arrived in Merida a very beautiful ROman town at around 7.30 pm and walked straight into a pilgrim refugeo - which wasnt in my guide book - but very welcome non the less.

I stayed in Merida the following day photographing everything that looked roman and generally sauntering around.  It was here I met up with my current travelling companions Frans and Ria a dutch couple who are great fun and we laugh a lot every day.  Two days ago in an ALburgue  Frans decided to cook some Tostado (toast) for breakfast and make some coffee yeah great idea Frans the electricity couldnt take it and the fuses tripped and even worse the main fuse was in the building adjoining the Pensionista building and it was obviously at 0630 am CERRADO (closed) so no coffee and it got worse we walked 11km to a village with 3 bars all CERRADO at this point I was lack of caffeine mad but luckily we soon came accross a garage with a cafe and enjoyed our breakfast of 2 coffees and a tostada - sod the toast I just wanted gallons of coffee.

We are now some 100 km from Merida at Caser de Caseres a small but very long village and stopping in an Alburgue - Frans has been banned from the kitchen for ever.

SO I will attempt to update using the useless mobile internet machine tomorrow but if not it may be a few more days cause we are in deepest rural Spain for a few days now.

SO Hasta Luego and I hope you are all well and being extremely jealous that whilst you are all working I am having a ball if you call lugging a backpack mile after mile in beautiful countryside with great weather having a ball

UPDATE 9 MAY 2008

OK so this is Spain again it has failed to save so here we go for the second time of asking.

Today I set off at around 0730 and sadly Frans and Ria were unable to accompany me as Ria had had an allergic reaction to an insect bite and had to go an see the medico.

Todays camino was very pleasant with a section called the roof of the world from which the views were quite spectacular - I attempted to take some photos of the view with my Box Brownie - ok Ive got a very good Canon but hey I may need an excuse you know Workman and tools spring to mind.

Anyway the route meandered through the countryside and eventually turned onto an old roman road which had some ancient wheel ruts embedded in the rock surface - yeah of course they were Roman well it made me feel happy anyway.  It was a steep road in places and it was starting to get quite hot which made it more difficult that and the food I was carrying as apparently the Albergue I was to  stop in had nothing except the basic water supply HAH.

Eventually the track finished and I spilled out onto the N630 to cross two rivers and then continued up this main highway for around 5 km I can say that white man van is alive and well in Spain as one such fool - despite the fact that I was tucked near to the crash barrier some 2m from the carriageway had to swerve to avoid me - there were some very unpilgim like expletives uttered I can tell you.

Anyway I arrived at the Alburgue and found it to be a modern purpose build building overlooking a reserviour and yes it had a full spectrum of food and drink.

About an hour after my arrival Frans and Ria sauntered in which was great.

Frans then procedded to visit the ladies toilet before finding the gents and then he decided to test the water pressure on the shower which was very good causing the shower head to flex around on its cable completely soaking a german pilgrims clothing which was laying on the bench whilst he had a shower.  I didnt laugh much I can tell you.  The german was very good about it - like he had a choice eh and Frans bought him a beer and we all laughed about the incident.

I am able to give this update courtesy of the hospitaleer who has allowed me sue of his laptop MUCHAS GRACIAS

So Hasta Luego until the next enthralling episode of Glaves the Pilgrim.

UPDATE SUNDAY 18 MAY 2008

Hi folks - yes its me the errant pilgrim and no I am not lost in the wilderness of Spain I am here in Salamanca.

For the past week or so I have been to the walled town of Galisteo very imposing from the outside but quite modern inside which was a bit of a disappointment but hey we had a walk on top of the walls which was a dodgy experience as one of the walls looked like it was going to fall forward at any moment.

We have met a number of very nice and helpful people to the lady who dragged a bar owner out to open it so we could have coffee - no matter that the power had gone down oh no she took a jug of milk home and heated it on her gas cooker before bringing it back and pouring coffee into it - thats service for you Gracias Senora.  And we have alos met the downright useless like the owner of the one bar in the village we stayed at last night who point blank refused to cook us a meal because a confirmation was in progress - so his notice of 15 years service to Pilgrims didnt work for that one day obviously - the lady in the one shop was much more understanding when we banged on the shop door to buy food and was very helpful again Muchas Gracias Senora.

We have been up in the mountains for the last few days and it has been quite cold and damp - yesterday we crossed the highest point of the route at 1140m and it was a fantastic view.  I ate my lunch of bread and cheese at the top - well I needed a rest I was cream crackered, before our 15km walk to the nearest accomodation.

Today was cold and dull but the walk was fine into Salamanca as the city came into view when we crested a hill there was a cross and behind it you could clearly see the battlefield where Wellington routed the French in days of yore.  I placed a large wild red poppy near to tyhe cross in remembrance.

So where to next Dont Know Dont Care am thoroughly enjoying myself and becoming more like a hippy er I mean pilgrim every day it is a simple life and I am absolutely enjoying it.

So until the next epistle of Pilgrims Progress sorry John (Bunyan) I will say Hasta Luego and be with you soon - well whenever I fgind a spare bit of internet laying around doing nothing in particular.

UPDATE 19 MAY 2008

Yes folks its me again how cool is this Internet for free yahoo - no not the website - Anyway here we are some 20 km further on towards Santiago - this part of the route is a bit hit and miss as far as distance is concerned you either walk 20km or 40 plus between accomodation obviously being an idle sod I chose the 20km option - no seriously this journey is more about meeting people and experiencing the camino not just a hike from town to town seeing nothing and I think I will be quite sad when it is completed but hey Im not there yet.

Today we left Salamanca in the grey of dawn - ok it was around 0745 hrs - and stopped at a cafe within 1km of starting well one could smell the tostada and coffee so it would have been rude not to.  We then followed the road for a few kms to Aldeasca de la Armuna which boasts two bars - great more coffee methinks - no chance both CERRADO (thats closed) so we went across a lovely track in the country towards another town with 2 bars hey so there may be some coffee after all er no both bars again CERRADO is this any way to treat a pilgrim - apparently yes so again we hiked out into the wilderness with just water to drink - not a lot of caffeine in that - until we reached our destination for today Calzada de Valduncial which is bidding for the largest building site in Castille y Lyon oh yes houses being built like there is no tomorrow and the alburgue - which is new and very comfortable - yes folks youve guessed it right next to a building site.  As we arrived it started to rain but ha we were in the alburgue except I was halfway to the panaderia (bread shop) with no jacket and yes I had a lovely shower.

We went to the local hostel for meal of the day and it was like the Ben and Jerry show we ordered 3 chicken meals and got 2 chicken and one fish - ten minutes later I managed to attract the attention of the very simple waiter who then gave me a chicken meal in exchange for the now very cold fish meal which he immediately passed to a workman who had ordered it.  Anyway the meal was relatively good.  I then went back to the alburgue via the local shop where I bought some stuff for this evenings meal oh yeah and I managed to finally track down the panaderia hidden away up a back street 100 m from the rest of the shops ??????????  Then I had a bit of a siesta what bliss.

Today we have two italian guys for company at the Albergue they started their journey at Salamanca and they are a lot of fun - dont italians eat a lot they had packed tons of food in their packs and sat and ate the lot by the time we had returned from dinner maybe they dont like spanish food hey.

So thats it for another chronical of the errant pilgrim so until next time - whenever that may be - these internet places turn up in the strangest places I can tell you - but when we reach Zamora in a couple of days there should be internet there - so dont hold your breath waiting for the next thrilling installment and I will be back sooner than you would like so Hasta Luego, Pilgrim Glaves

UPDATE 21 MAY 2008

Starship enterprise calling earth - Oh sorry wrong site but Hola Buena Tardes anyway.

So today we are in Zamoras a very lovely town some 414 km from Santiago so a couple of weeks to do yet.  We had a great walk today - yes Im still with the Dutch Couple Frans and Ria - and decided that our original destination for today was a bit short so we extended it and made up 35 km to get here.  A great walk in the main but special thanks must go to the farmer who when the track was soaking wet fishtailed his tractor and trailer excessively to make giant ruts so when they were dry - which they were today - it is like walking on iron so Muchas Gracias Matey!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a completely different story.  It started off well enough leaving the great location of El Cubo de la Tierra Vina - you should have seen the size of the village sign - where we stopped with several other pilgrims at the private home of a spanish family CASA CARMEN absolutely great two massive meals and a decent breakfast all for Euros 30 each oh yeah and we got to entertain the three family cats.

Anyway as I was saying the day started of well enough and then after 6km some dirty great bulldozers had started building another new motorway using the camino as its basis so we were relegated to the National route 630 which has a hard shoulder about the size of a waistbelt.  Walking along for some 16km or more with great juggernaughts bearing down on you is no fun I can tell you that and the road is extremely boring if you exclude the near miss I had with a coach and a white van - there he is again - on a narrow bridge with a bend on it and these two nutters decided to cut the already narrow hard shoulder to a few inches missing me who was by now cowering against the bridge support by 2 inches - I kid you not.  Thanks St James you looked after me yesterday.

As I was strolling along the aforementioned bit of rough track today with my feet killing me slowly I adapted a well known hymn which is about a pilgrim - my version goes something like this:

He who would a pilgrim be let him come hither, I will flay his feet with a cane until they quiver, and if thats not enough Ill take his legs off at the hips, Ill teach the man some pain to be a pilgrim.

Yeah it needs some work but my dutch companions found it amusing.

On our arrival at Zamoras today we found a brand new alburgue but it wasnt going to be open until 4.30 it was then around 3pm so we opted for an Hostel in the town centre yeah great idea despite ringing the bell for several minutes and phoning the place nothing nowt nada so we opted for a nearby kebab shop to refresh our bodys with food oh and beer.  Suitably refreshed we again tried the Hostel with the same result so we walked back to the Alburgue which was now open - what a great choice been open 3 months so is great every facility in the world - state of the art kitchen, ceramic hob job lot - arghhh no damn pans.  Oh well I guess they tried hey.

So until the next time - I am just going to stick some pins in my eyes to take away the pain of the aforementioned track - only kidding folks.  So its goodnight from me and hoping you are all well and enjoying your soft lives with creature comforts and warm beds and things.  No seriously I am really enjoying this very simple and very rewarding life it is great fun meating different people who have the same aim - to enjoy their camino.

TATTY BYE FOR NOW - The increasingly mad pilgrim nanu nanu

UPDATE 24 MAY 2008

Hi campers  this is the pilgrim with another load of drivel er I mean some very interesting yarns to relate.

So where am I now - er somewhere in Spain actually at GRANJA DE MORERUELA some 373 km fromSantiago.  This is a very interesting place cause its where the route splits one bit goes on to Astorga and joins the Camino Frances and the other bit heads for the hills towards OURENSE so hey up lad Im off to OURENSE well you cant make this too easy can you.

Last night we stayed in a hostel - pure luxury own en suite and bedroom - just outside the village of Montemarte - now renamed village of the inbred - I tell you it was a very strange place indeed there were something like 6 restaurants - not sure how many actually sold food or were still open - and one shop.  The village stretched almost 1km in length and we went into the DISCO BAR and I did my John Travolta bit - well actually I had a coffee and got the hell out of there the locals were a bit wierd to say the least.

Today we headed for Granja and eventualy found it despite being blocked by a full reservior - I mean what idiot waymarks a route that goes throughthe middle of a damn reservoir Oh yes they did - mind you the alternative route I managed to miss and wandered around for a bit doing about 2km in the process trying to find the road to get across the bridge I couldnt see to go to a place I could see - complete madness but hey ho eventually sorted it out and continued past the runs of the castel of theknights of santiago - very big place  ONCE now a heap of rubble with a few walls - again the waymarking didnt so we headed for the road and made our way to the unfriendliest bar in the history of the world  at RIEGO DEL CAMINO despite the bottles having COCA COLA written all over them the dumb barmaid would not or could not understand I wanted a bottle of the damn stuff still the choritzo bocadillo went down well and yes I finally got my coke but I tell you it was an uphill struggle.

Arrived at Granja in time for lunchat 2pm which was very nice and then I decided to have a siesta.  We have suddenly been joined by a bunch of frogs - you know the garlic munching ignorant idiots we all love to hate - so there was me having a siesta and they were holding a garden party in the sleeping room see I said they were ignorant - they can get ready for tonight it will be Glens revenge.

So I am very much enjoying myself still and we are now only a couple of weeks from Santiago - If I say it fast it doesnt seem as long.  So its Hasta Luego for now and the next thrilling, yawn, episode will be coming to a computer near you soon.

UPDATE 26 MAY 2008

Hi my avid readers yet another thrill a minute periodical from yours truly.

We lwft Granja de Moreleous the other day and headed off into the countryside again.  The first part of the route was quite nice undulating countryside not too taxing until we got to Puente Quintos - I knew it would be a nightmare cause all I could see was cliffs all around the place and sure enough just after crossing the bridge we were directed along a goat track alongside the river - I kid you not they must breed 2 legged goats round here cause the track was a bit on the thin side not helped by the odd landslip or three.  So we ventured where pilgrims had ventured before and scrambled up rock faces and saw below the carcasses of pilgrims on the rocks below who had failed the test - not really but I put that in for a bit of dramatic effect.  Anyway it was steep and we got ever higher before we eventually swapped our precarious position over the river to go inland up a one in three bank till we reached the top - what great views and well worth the effort expended.  We then walked again through undulating - thats up and down to you lot - countryside through some trees and eventually got to our destination of Tabara some 30 km later.  This was a right hovl full of inbreds and being Sunday mostly closed.  The Alburgue which was free was brand new and still to be finished off - yes there were walls and a roof and a couple of heaters but no microwave and the two electric rings had the power of a candle - 1 hr to heat a pan of water for coffee.

Unpeturbed we went into the village for lunch HA HA ended up with some tapas and a beer in one bar and spotted another bar that did bocadillos except apparently on Sundays so ended up with some chips and bought some chocolate cakes.

Went back to the albergue and put the pan of water on had a sleep and made coffee.  By the evening I was nearing death due to the raging hunger consuming my being but I managed to eat the chocolate cakes and al was well until the morning when I woke up with the stomache aches to end all stomach aches - so today I got out of the traps and sped off in the direction of todays destination Casa Anita at Santa Croya de Tera arrived here by 12 midday and wow it is great and they do food FEED ME FEED ME.  Grabbed a shower washed my clothes and had a quicxk lie down before finding the coffee machine - this one automatically dispenses cups unlike the last one I used still my boots enjoyed that particular coffee.  So now 324 km from Santiago so about 2 more weeks of this drivel for you to undergo and we are now heading towards the tough part of the route having left the Ruta Via de la Plata and hung a left onto the Via Mozerabilla - something like that.  In a few days we again have a choice of route over the hills and far away the northern route or the softie southern route so its the northern route for this mad pilgrim and Ourense beckons.

Tomorrow we stop in a place where there is a bathing area in the river so despite the coolness of the air I will be doing dolphin like impressions and will probably freeze to death doing it but I reckon I will be the first pilgrim this year into the river.

So providing I survive this excursion I will be returning to a computer near to you soon.  SDo its goodbye from me and goodbye from him as they say to coin a phrase.

UPDATE 29 MAY 2008

So did I go for a dip in the river - ha no chance it was freezing and Im talking about the air temperature that and it was about half a km from the Alburgue down a very steep track - it is quite cold up in the hills and has been extremely wet recently - today we were forced to take to the road because the Camino was about knee deep in mud and water so not a nice day at all.

So last night we spent in a village called Palacios de Sanabria at one of the relatives of Casa Anita we had stayed at a couple of days ago - however it was not quite the luxurious pad we had enjoyed then still it was clean and the food prepared for us was very good.  It rained cats and dogs soon after we got in after a long 35 km walk through open country with the last bit being on the road due to the camino being more suited for fish and ducks than pilgrims - I kid you not.  We were watching Zarragoza in the North East of the country slowly drowning on the TV the other night with roads being washed away job lot - still its dry and warm in the South where I live - well according to the weather forecast Pete might want to tell me differently.

Over the past few days we have trudged paths through almost abandoned villages in what is an extremely poor part of Spain, at one place where we were expecting a bar we found from a local that it had been closed for 3 months - ever the wag I suggested that it may not be open today then - the local thought this highly amusing and walked off laughing repeating HOY NO

So today we arrived at Puebla de Sanabria, a medieval town set high in the hills and it is breathtakingly beautiful with the oldest part of the town sat right on top of the hill and Oh yes we needed to walk to it.  Today has been a really disappointing day as we spent our total time dodging transit vans and HGVs on the main road due to the camino being out of use and yes when we awoke this morining it was again chucking it down hey ho. By the time we had eaten breakfast at Casa Teresa it had slowed to a fine drizzle so raincoats on and off we went.  About 20 mins later the sun came out - well it stopped raining so off with the wet weather gear.  We stopped at Otera de Santabria where there is a beautiful church with great artwork inside - it looked great from the outside but it was locked so no private viewing for us.  We eventually arrived at Pueble de Santabria and found the Hostel Carlos V where we had decided to stay the night - and the rain came down again then stopped and then came down again.  We had a team talk and decided that there was no way we were going to do the next 110 km on the main road and as large parts of the camino are closed due to the rain we have regrettably decided to catch the train to Ourense tomorrow - after all where is the fun in trudging along a main road and not being able to see any of the great sights around due to the fact you are in the damn clouds - so a sensible decision we think.  The next 3 or 4 days to Ourense would have been in inhospitable country so much so that many villages have been abandoned by their former residents so accomodation is a long way apart made even longer by the fact we would be on the road - that is not for me or the rest of the team so the train it is sadly.

So on that disappointing note I will end tonights transmission.

UPDATE 3 JUNE 2008

Well we got into Ourense on the train and were feeling fairly down during the journey until we stopped at one of the provincial stations and an American pilgrim hauled himself aboard the train.  He had tried to negotiate the camino and had ruined his feet totally in so doing so we felt much better about our decision not to walk that stretch.

Whilst at Ourense in the alburgue Christa - the german lady who is now part of our group - purchased a very nice bottle of wine and promptly handed it to Frans who was the only one with a corkscrew so Frans duly pulled the cork and then sat there with an expression on his face I can only describe as the face of a little boy who has peed his pants - as he had pulled the cork the bottom of the bottle cracked and deposited the wine all round his feet - it was probably good wine cause it smelt really nice hey ho so we drank a bottle of cider instead.

The next day we set off for Cea and what a walk it was - the first 11 km uphill and I mean uphill it was a bit like climbing the Eiger I kid you not but still it warmed us up.

The following day we went to the monastry at Osiera and it was another hilly walk but this time up narrow gullies which had streams running down them so it was a rather elongated game of hopscotch asnd the crowning moment was crossing a raging torrent of a stream with the stepping stones being UNDER the surface of the water hey ho its fun being a pilgrim.

Anyway we arrived at the Monastary and were promptly thrown out ogf the church by one of the monks who was making it ready for mass and didnt want some grotty pilgrims dirtying his carpet.  So an hour later we attended the Mass HA and then went on a guided tour of the palce which is absolutely huge and freezing to boot there would appear to be only 12 monks living in the splendid place not surprised given the sub zero temperatures.

So we then headed off on the second part of our walk to Casstro Dozen except when we got within a couple of kms the track ran out in a village called Gouxa and despite asking a few drunken villagers - there was a festival in progress where the order of the day was eat drink and to hell with living in this dump - so we were looking a bit bemused when we saw two firemen who were sober and we asked them the way - they promptly piled us into their fire van and drove su to the outskirts of Casstro Dozen and then bought us a cup of coffee each TOP LADS.

Whilst at Castro Dozen I fell off the road and I now have a stress fracture on my right foot just in front of the instep but hey dont worry it only hurts when I walk.

We stopped at a brand new Albergue last night you know the sort of place - it has won a design award - form over function.  The lights are all on movement sensors so when you are in the toilet the damn things switch off but it got worse everytime someone rolled over in bed BANG the lights came on I tell you it was like sleeping in a disco damn architect can shove his award and put some proper switches in.  Still we had a great dinner at the nearby Industrial estate when we went to the workmens canteen - great food and wine after we risked life and limb on the main roundabout and on the way back the great flood as two workmen piled a blade straight into a water main OOPS.

So we are now in Bandiero after a nice little walk through some woods and a short stop at the Church of Santiago in a small village off the main road.  The guide book tells us the Alburgue is 1 km from the centre of town so when we arrive there it is the sign ALBURGUE 2.7KM and in the wrong direction for tomorrow so we are in the lap of luxury in a hostel with own shower tv and bed YAHOO.  We had lunch there and the food was very good so we have really dropped on.

We are now 33km from the Holy City of Santiago and cause of my foot and Frans neck it will be Thursday when we get there still it will be nice to stroll along without a care in the world trying to ignore the excruciating pain in my foot - yeah yeah it does sodding hurt.  When I get to the Cathedral I will throw myself on the floor and scream MEDIC before being transported to the emergency casualty department where they will no doubt amputate the damn thing - ok Literary licence again but it sounds better than I will limp to a hotel and go to sleep and then drink loads of beer and whisky - far more dramatic dont you think.

So until I reach the Cathedral thats it for this installment so you lot do not have too much more to suffer either.

UPDATE 5 JUNE 2008

Well the great day has arrived and I was up bright and early at 0615am to prepare for the short walk to Santiago - my foot was killing me its like having toothache in your foot - so I had a strong cup of coffee and a mars bar - good sustenance for a pilgrim - and walked outside to find it was raining - well actually it was a light drizzle - and this continued all the way to Santiago so denying us our first view of the Cathedral from 5 KM out - at this distance we couldnt even see Santiago it was that misty and we debated whether someone had stolen the place overnight.  Nonetheless we continued on our path and eventually from a distance of around 600 m we finally saw our goal.

An old chap walking by told us that Santiago wasnt too far away with a smile - so the Spanish do have a sense of humour.

So there we were queing up at the Office to get our certificates only a short wait today some 20 mins or so and then we went to the Cathedral where a service was in progress to bless the colours of two Infantry Units as well as the normal Pilgrim service and then the big insence burner - and I tell you this thing is massive it takes 4 people to swing it - started to swing and it went higher and higher before gradually coming to a stop - I was wondering if they ever miscalculated and hit a church pillar but seeing no dents I guess not - still it would be fun can you imagine it a packed cathedral then BANG as this great silver thing flies out of the sky and destroys itself on the floor - now that would be fun.

Anyway joking apart I am here and I have booked my tickets back to Jaen for Saturday so its a 13 hour train ride in the hands of the dubious Spanish Railway system with one change over for which I only have 35 minutes so dependant on efficiency or lack thereof I may get home at the allocated time of 2245.

I would just like to say a very big thank you to all of you who have supported me throughout this journey by donating to the British Legion i HAVE HAD GREAT FUN AND i HOPE THAT YOU HAVE TO.

So its over and out - I will be posting some photos on Facebook sometime in the next month or so for those who wish to prolong the agony and I will email you to let you know

ATTACHED HOPEFULLY is a copy of a watercolour print drawn by my good friend Frans Udo for me to auction with the legion in the next month or so - told you he was a wacky artist

 ok so I cant upload it but if you wish to see it and it is very strange but great email me and I will send you the attachment..

Title:  “Fat Lady on Sofa.”

Watercolour on paper

size A4  (21x29,5 cm) 

Artist:  Frans Udo, the  

Frans.j.udo@kpnplanet.nl

Made for our dear friend and companion on the Camino de Santiago (Camino de la Plata), during

Mai and June 2008, Glen Glaves; in order to raise funds for his project "British Legion" see:

For those who wish to sponsor me and would rather send a cheque than do it on line - so to speak - then please email me at glen-glaves@fsmail.net and I will send you a UK address to which your cheques may be sent - Yes that'll be you Dave so just hang onto them until early June - CHEERS.

The Royal British Legion are a very worthwhile cause assisting soldiers and their families and of course administering the Poppy Appeal of which we are all so familiar. More information about their work can be found at www.rbli.co.uk

If you are intending to send me a Birthday card, on April 19th,  this year consider a donation through this site instead.  Any amount no matter how small will be appreciated.

Thank you all

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Royal British Legion 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.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.