Category Archives: Camino assessments and reflections

The plan that keeps on changing

Posted on 05/05/2026 by magwood

So…more discussions were held after our arrival into Sigüenza yesterday… Accommodation has become a bit of an issue on this camino. The next stage after Sigüenza is a long one – 30+ km into Atienza with much elevation gain and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de la Lana, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Ruta de la Lana | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de la Lana, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., long distance hiking, Ruta de la Lana, Spain, travel | 7 Comments

La Lana from Cuenca, stage 7

Posted on 05/05/2026 by magwood

Mandayona to Sigüenza, 22.7 km Our taxi arrives at 07:00 and takes 15 minutes to transport us 16 km back to Mandayona. Let’s see how long it takes us to make the return trip. We have left a lot of … Continue reading →

Walking the camino as a vegan

Posted on 01/09/2018 by magwood

I first started eating a plant-based diet at the beginning of 2017, but wasn’t sufficiently committed to keep it up on my camino last year. However, as soon as I returned home I jumped in 100% and haven’t wavered since. … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozárabe from Almeria | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, Camino Mozárabe from Almeria, long distance hiking, Spain, travel, vegan, Walking the camino as a vegan | 13 Comments

Reflections on the Caminos de Madrid & San Salvador

Posted on 21/08/2017 by magwood

It’s hard to believe that almost three months have passed since I finished my 2017 camino. I’ve spent quite some time going through my photos and video clips to put together the movie you can see below. I managed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Madrid, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino del Salvador, Preparations, Uncategorized | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Madrid, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., Camino del Salvador, long distance hiking, planning your camino, Spain, travel | 29 Comments

Stage 11 – Peñaflor de Hornija to Medina de Rioseco, 25.6 km

Posted on 03/05/2017 by magwood

Another day of long, straight, flat, sandy, gravelly tracks. Accompanied by the brightest blue sky I have ever seen, chilly to start but soon warming and becoming quite hot as the day progressed. At one point we saw ahead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Madrid | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Madrid, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., long distance hiking, Spain, travel | 32 Comments

Review of clothes and gear (II)

Posted on 26/11/2016 by magwood

Part two of my ongoing missive reporting on items taken on my Camino del Norte in April/May 2016 part (I) on clothes can be seen here part (II) on gear and equipment appears below part (III) on technology will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Preparations | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino packing list, long distance hiking, packing list, review of clothes and gear, travel | 20 Comments

Review of clothes and gear (I)

Posted on 15/10/2016 by magwood

Here is the first part of my long overdue gear report. I will divide it into three parts clothes (herewith) gear and equipment (see here) technology (to follow in separate post) My last such review was in 2014 and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Preparations | Tagged camino, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino packing list, Clothes and gear, long distance hiking, review of clothes and gear, Spain, travel | 26 Comments

Local trio join forces for fundraising ‘triathlon’

Posted on 12/06/2016 by magwood

Actually each of us independently organised our own event, but it just happened that they culminated at the same time…and I couldn’t resist the headline! As you will know, I have recently completed my latest camino walk and whilst I … Continue reading →

Posted in A view of life, Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., Canillas de Albaida, Cómpeta, CUDECA, Expats in Andalucia, fundraising, long distance hiking, Spain, travel | 3 Comments

Happy feet

Posted on 02/03/2016 by magwood

Only eight weeks until my next camino and my head is whirling with all sorts of planning strategies. The most important piece of equipment I shall be taking with me are my feet and I thought I would share my … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Preparations | Tagged blister prevention, Camino blog, Camino de Santiago., long distance hiking, travel | 22 Comments

Journey’s end

Posted on 06/06/2015 by magwood

And so I have really come to the end of this journey. There have been so many highlights, so many people I will remember and not very many that I want to forget. Firstly there was George – we spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, Camino Sanabrés, travel, Via de la Plata | 62 Comments

Camino Mozárabe (Via de la Plata) – day 28 – Calzada de Béjar to Fuenterroble 22.1 km

Posted on 05/05/2015 by magwood

Last night’s communal dinner was good and cost 9€. Vegetable soup to start. Then came some bowls of salad and a plate of grilled pork loin. My first thought was that the meat was a bit mean to go around … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino Mozarabe, Via de la Plata | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago de compostela, Camino de Santiago., camino Mozarabe, travel, Via de la Plata | 12 Comments

The making of the super-duper Maggie shoulder cape

Posted on 17/02/2015 by magwood

I wrote the post below eighteen months ago (February 2015, but didn’t publish it at the time because I hoped to develop the idea commercially. I had extended discussions with an equipment manufacturer, but the project didn’t ultimately come to … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Preparations, Walking the walk | Tagged Assessment of clothes and gear, Camino de Santiago., Rain gear, super duper Maggie shoulder cape | Leave a comment

2014 packing list for Camino Portuguese

Posted on 05/07/2014 by magwood

I updated my packing list and review following my 2016 Camino del Norte which can be seen here …meanwhile here is the list and review from my 2014 Camino Portuguese See my full packing list on excel spread sheet packing … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Portuguese | Tagged Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago., camino packing list, camino Portuguese, packing list, Portugal, Portuguese route, travel | 31 Comments

Assessment of clothes and walking gear 2014

Posted on 28/06/2014 by magwood

I updated my packing list and review following my 2016 Camino del Norte which can be seen here Meanwhile, here is my original post from 2014… Firstly, apologies for the very long and detailed assessment below. I have been asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Camino assessments and reflections, Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Camino Portuguese, Preparations | Tagged assessment, backpack, berghaus, buff, bum bag, Camino blog, Camino de Santiago blog, Camino de Santiago., camino Portuguese, Clothes and gear, ex-Officio, hydration system, merrell Moab, mont bell, pacer poles, Portugal, Portuguese route, travel | 39 Comments

Day 23, Rubiães to Tui, 22 km

Posted on 24/05/2014 by magwood

24 May 2014 Total distance walked 540.5 km Average daily distance 23.50 km I’m quite afronted as I write this, but I shall explain why later. I slept a very comfortable night at albergue Ninho in Rubiães. I felt a … Continue reading →