About Us
My name is Leslie Gilmour and I started this website in Feb 2006. I was recovering from an operation at the time and could not get out very much. I woke one morning and decided I should know how to build a website – so I built this one.
Since then the site has grown and I don’t do everything on the site myself any more. Anna checks my text, spelling mostly, Nora – a big thanks for all the recent photos, I could not run the forum without the moderators they are a great, and help keep the forum spam free and answer the many questions that get posted every day, a big thanks to the Spanish Tourist Office for all the extra research information they send me, and to the many who have sent me books, CD’s, postcards, and various updates by post and email.
I have been lucky this site has kept the Camino alive in my heart.
Old About Text
I’m Leslie Gilmour. I went walking the Camino, only because I had lots of time, little money, and wanted to get away for the summer. I didn’t think it would be a wonderful idea to go walk a pilgrimage, I had no real idea of what it would be like. The thoughts of not having my own bed each night, well it wasn’t something I thought would be a great experience.
I was wrong. Not something that happens often! It changed me and my life. That sounds so trite, but no mater how I try to explain it, it always ends up sounding that way.
Now I write this website site and my own blog is at Life in Ireland, it is just my day to day musings on life.
I love the internet, the simplicity of sitting down at my computer and writing, then it is published immediately, this for me is great I love the freedom of it. However it does have it drawbacks. I make mistakes. I like to think that I don’t, but I do. When I do they are pointed out to me, this is good and bad. Good that I get to correct mis-information and bad in the way some folk do it. It is good to develop a think skin, mine has become thinker over the last couple of years.
I hope you find this site helpful it has been a pleasure for me to write it.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Leslie,
I also live in Ireland, in County Down, up north, to be exact. I am giving strong consideration to walking El Camino during a future summer…probably not this, but maybe next summer. Anyway, I was reading through your site and noticed you’re looking for a gmail account. I’ll gladly send you an invite, if you don’t have one already. What’s your email address, and I’ll send you one. Or, you can email me at jillamber(at)gmail.com and I’ll get ya back that way.
Sláinte,
Jill
Hi Jill,
Yes that was part of my first newsletter last year and I got a few invites for a gmail account. I have taken your email address off the blog as it will get picked up by spammers. I have started to use (at) in my mail address anywhere online it stops non humans getting the mail address.
I hope you found the site helpful and you do at some point get a chance to walk the Camino, it is quite beautiful.
Leslie
My partner and I are retiring in June 2008. We hope to walk the Camino beginning in April 2009, setting aside about 6 weeks for the trip. I am cognisant of the need to keep the weight of ones pack as low as possible. I note the packing of this website suggests taking a sleeping bag, a significant weight. Other reading I have done makes no mention of this. What are your thoughts. Thank you in advance.
Dave Bird
Dave, there are many quality sleeping bags available at under 2 lbs and rated at 40 degrees F (sorry haven’t gotten away from old school quantities). Having a sleeping bag is a great way to shelter yourself in a refugio that doesn’t provide blankets, or the sheets/blankets provided are already occupied by mites. I suggest a bag that can be fully opened and combined. You never know when you might have need of sharing body heat should you become frost bitten. I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in the eastern US (2164 miles) and on two occasions, hikers were found nearly frozen and a combined bag was the life saver. My bag for the Camino weighs in at 1 lb. 6 oz. regards Arn
Hi,
I am a 35 years old spaniard living in Dublin interested in making the camino de Santiago by bike around May or June 2008. I would like to contact people who would be interested in joining me.
I would really appreciate any information.
Thanks,
Guillermo
Hello all,
Leslie, thanks for a great site packed with information needed for the Camino de Santiago journey!
I have started my own planning for cycling the camino, and in the progress I have begun developing a Google Earth .kmz map file of the trail and with all (not yet:) Albergues on the way. This makes it easy to plan the trip and get a good view of the surroundings before even going there. Enjoy, It will be updated frequently until I go in april 2008.
First download and install Google Earth: http://earth.google.com.
Then download and open the KMZ file with google earth.
http://aslund.se/mixed/Santiago_de_Compostela.kmz
Thanks,
Henrik
Please could you advise which is the best part of the Camino Trail if I can only do 7 or 10 days of it.
I believe the last section could be congested?
How is the first section?
I would suggest walking from either St Jean or Roncesvales or my fav from Pamplona – all these parts are reasonably quiet except in July-Aug when there is no-where that is quiet.
Hope this helps.
I have 7 days to walk a stretch of the Camino and am considering the Via de la Plata, possibly starting from Ourense or Allariz and ending in Santiago. Can you please comment on the feasiblility of the route or have other suggestions? Also, will it be safe for a female to walk alone? Is there a bus service available from Santiago to Ouernse?
I have just got back from 1 week on my first Camino from Sarria. As someone who is not particularly fit and a good bit overweight, I was nervous and ambivilant whether I could do the 30kms per day. I had the most unforgettable, wonderful and life-changing experience. There were days when I found the going difficult, however there was just something about the landscape, the support and friendliness of the other pilgrims and the Galician people that motivated me to keep going. Throughout the week I had a real sense of being guided and lead by something unexplainable. Despite reassuring myself I could always get a taxi if I couldnt walk anymore, I made it to Santiago with an amazing sense of achievement, and sadness that it was all over.
Although only back 2 days, Im planning on returning at the end of May/early June for two weeks, now that I know I am fit enough.
Leslie, how long does it take from Pamplona? Would 2 weeks be enough time? I am also hoping to walk to Finestere, as I did not allow enough time on the last walk.
I loved this site you have created. Beautiful photos, inspiring text. I can’t wait to be able one day to start my own pilgrimage. Now I must make do with a “pilgrimage in my mind,” but thanks to your lovely blog I can make the trip with the real hikers who have or want to go. It’s just wonderful being here. Thank you so much!
Love your blog; read it every night like a favorite book, or passages of a special “Bible.” Talking about “making mistakes,” I had to laugh: take a look at this one in this sentence (if it is a mistake): talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy! I’ve done the same thing many times myself. You put it very well. Here it is (guess what word(s) it is):
“Good that I get to correct mis-information and bad in the way some folk do it. It is good to develop a think skin, mine has become thinker over the last couple of years.”
Hi. I am wondering if its feasable to walk first part of the Camino in late Oktober, is it too late with regard to the weather? Best regards Palmar.
Late Oct? It is all about the weather, it will rain – it does during the sumer also. I would just check some of the weather sites, the hostels are almost all open.
Hi Leslie, here you have a photographic project about the Camino de Santiago.
http://www.delmialvarez.com/camino
Nice blog!
Saludos
delmi
Hi Leslie
I enjoy reading about yours and others experiences with the Camino.
I am thinking of walking the Camino this summer, probably mid June and July as this is the time available to me. From what I read it might be a very hot and crowded first time experience. At least I will not be alone:-)…What I am more concerned about though is the food along the way. I do not tolerate either sugar, glutein or milk products. Would I be able to cope? Are there enough grocery stores along the way? and is it possible to cook your own food at the albergues?
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards
Inger
Hi Inger,
I don’t know about gluten – but it will be fairly easy to avoid the sugar and milk.
About 60% of the albergues have kitchens where you can cook your own food. There are enough shops along the way to eat and live on simple foods – but don’t expect the same choice you would have in the US or UK.
All the best
leslie
Hello Leslie,
I have been trying to find my way around the internet for information about the Camino. I wrote on another blog that you are on and you were very helpful. Now I was wondering if you could help me again.
I am landing in Santiago on June 17th and am planning on taking the bus to Burgos. I speak VERY little Spanish ( am cramming with CD’s, but not with too much luck,ha) so I am a bit nervous about where to get the bus to Burgos.
My plane also goes through Barcelona and I could get off there, if it would be easier to get a bus to Burgos there.
Anyway, thank you for any information you could give me.
Marilyn
hi leslie,
would you mind linking to our web-site, an all swedish site.
best rgds,
pia
Pia, I have added your site to the links pages.
@Marilyn
I would suggest you have a look on the forum pages and if there is no answer there just post up the question.
However the bus from Barcelona is a long over night journey and not one I would recommend.
We share many similarities except that you are further down the line.
1) I’ve just finished my first year studying Philosophy and English as a mature student. I shall be marginally into my 30s when I finished.
2) I’m thinking about becoming a teacher after my degree.
3) In a couple of days I will begin walking the Camino for the first time.
I’m still figuring things out and I have the feeling this trek will help me greatly.
Great to hear your story,
GF
I wish you all the best on your Camino, it was one of the best things I have done in my life, and it opened my horizons.
Hello guys,
We have just recently open a new hostel in Santiago de Compostela, this a cosy place with kind local staff looking forward to meeting your expectations. You can have further information on our web page http://www.fogarteodomiro.com
Everyone is more than welcome to visit our web page (and of course the hostel)and if you had any question about our rates or rooms please do not hesitate to contact us!
Hope to see you there!:-)
PS_ Thanks Leslie for letting us write in your block. If you come to Santiago again you must visit us.