We arrived in Santiago on Saturday 17 July at about 3pm after walking 26 days. I don´t quite believe we have done it and I am just a tiny bit sad that it´s over.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, those that have waited until we finished, the money can really start rolling in now!

www.justgiving.com/elcamino-hospice

www.justgiving.com/elcamino-trust

Paco from Madrid

Paco cured my big massive blister, if it wasn´t for him, I don´t think I would have been able to finish.

Entering the province of La Coruna at last.

Pilgrim sign in Galicia

Some pilgrims were on horseback.

World Cup Fever!

We went to a bar to watch the World Cup Final.

When we stopped to rest, this group of gypsies came over and started singing and playing the guitar. I think my Dad enjoyed it!

Two French pilgrims we met on the way.

Japanese pilgrim who wouldn´t stop taking pictures of everyone!

Fiestas in Burgos

Two Italians we met in Santo Domingo, they were known as the snorers (including my Dad) and were sent to a separate room upstairs in the hostel where they would not disturb the others. Trouble is I had to go as well!

My Dad taking it easy!!

View of the Pyrenees

Burgos

We reached Burgos at 12 today, took us 2 hours to walk through the city and the midday sun which made it worse. Through chance I had to do the packing today, now I understand why it has been so heavy, now I will be doing the packing everyday! On our travels we passed through Rioja, there was a magic wall with two taps one with water the other with wine, guess which is which!

Pamplona - Puente la Reina

Today we started in Pamplona and walked until Puente la Reina. They are all preparing for San Fermin, and all the wooden boards are going up for the running of the bulls. On the way we passed Don Quijote and the windmills. Even though Don Quijote is long gone, Sancho Panza is nearly there!

Pyrenees

spent the day going up the mountain, 3 blisters not a bad start. Believe it or not we made it to the other side. Spent the night at what we thought was the top, at a lovley 4 star en suite tent, the stuff dreams are made of!

PACKING

First argument already, good start another month of this!

500 Mile Walk to support Hospice

We have put together a cheese and wine evening to help set our hikers off in the right direction. We value your support of this mission and welcome any donations you feel you can make; to the Hospice we are walking in aid of.

We are planning to walk the world famous El Camino de Santiago, a centuries old pilgrims route across Northern Spain. We will set off from the Spanish border town of Roncesvalles on 21 June and hope to reach Santiago de Compostela by 25 July, the date of the feast of St James. I hope that our efforts will persuade people to be generous. We have chosen two very good causes and are really looking forward to the challenge.

The link to Just Giving is: www.justgiving.com/elcamino-hospice and the other is www.justgiving.com/elcamino-trust
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you in advance for your support, from Manuel, Cristina & Sebastian

El Camino de Santiago

Manuel (owner of Elizabeth's Restaurant) and his son Sebastian, are going on a 500 mile pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. They will start from a town near the French border called Roncesvalles (near Pamplona) in the summer of 2010 and walk to Santiago in various stages, staying in hostels along the way. It is estimated to take about a month and they will hopefully reach their destination before 25 July 2010 (Feast of St James). Thousands of people will visit Santiago on this day as it is a Jacobean Holy Year (Ano Santo Jacobeo) and the Pope is also expected to visit.

Manuel and Sebastian are raising money for 2 charities: Friends of the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester (www.justgiving.com/elcamino-hospice) and The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (www.justgiving.com/elcamino-trust). You can support them by visiting these websites. Thank you.