A (short) Homage to the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

 

Last week Gill and I went for a holiday to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. The old town of Santiago is a beautiful medieval city full of history and art, as well as bars and restaurants. It is also the end point of a famous Catholic pilgrimage route across Spain from several points in Europe to the reputed remains of the Apostle St James. Some 200,000 pilgrims take part every year. There are 9 routes and the most popular route is about 800k.

We were tourists not pilgrims but with help from the local tourist office, we were able to work out how to catch the airport bus (6A) and get off about 10k away at village of Lavacolla, outside the Supermarket, in order to walk back. The route is well marked and there is many other walkers. It was a lovely walk, lots of rolling countryside and historial stop offs (One at least not to be mentioned in polite company) but we did notice angry handwritten banners in the villages protesting about some planning proposals for the area (see riot Police on hand for a later demo outside the Cathedral which seemed to be a somewhat OTT response?).

My father (another John Gray) did the full pilgrimage route several times despite being a socialist atheist from a Scottish non conformist background. He always said he enjoyed the comradeship of the pilgrims from all countries and different walks of life and also the fantastic scenery.

One day I will come back and walk the full walk.

Land of Our Father - Yr Wyddfa 14 April 2007

On route to summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon - highest mountain in Wales) with my sister's Lucy and Helen (with daft Chocolate Labrador "Jazz" and very serious Boarder terrier with the even more daft name of "Chili"). Off message, of course, but we try to walk up Snowden every Easter to remember our Dad, John Gray, (1929-2002) who died of a heart attack on April 14 2002 while on a long distance walk ("wild camping" aged 73 against all medical advice!) practising for his 5th Camino de Santiago also known as "The Way of St James" (Spain). We scattered his ashes on top of Snowdon.

We walked up "Watkins path" (2nd picture) for the first time in many years. It is probably the most pretty and dramatic route in good weather (free parking) but the final climb through scree is pretty tough and only do it if you are well prepared (four hours up, 3 hours down).

The third picture is of Dad's grandchildren, Hannah, Rachel, Matthew and David on an oak bench we have put up on the Marian, Colwyn Bay. With a plaque that says "John Gray Passed this Way"

Despite being a lifelong atheist, Dad enjoyed the challenges and fellowship of taking part in the longest pilgrimages in Europe. He was also a life long member of the Labour Party, former Buckley Labour Councillor and trade union activist.

Ironically on April 14 2002 I took part in the London Marathon (never again! 4 hrs 24 mins) which caused some confusion on the day about which "John Gray" had actually died!