It’s about time…

September 2025

It’s about time I wrote and posted something on here. To be honest, I’ve been sulking for much of the year. It’s been rather uneventful for adventurers really, which wasn’t supposed to be the case. For those who don’t know, following our failed 40 day trip to Norway in February where Mrs P and I skied a mere 23 miles (37km) of our planned 400 miles (643km), we were forced to return home due to me developing a hernia that required surgery.

What with waiting for the operation and a surprisingly long time to recover I really did very little for the best part of four-and-a-half months.

To take my mind off the discomfort, I built and painted a quite large, radio controlled, plastic model tank (whatever works eh?)

Apart from some hiking and relatively gentle cycling, it was July before I finally returned to the gym and began to try to get my fitness back on track.

It’s now the end of September and it’s long overdue thar Mrs P and I to take some time off, pack the old campervan, Gandalf and head out on a proper adventure.

On a ferry bound for sunny climes

“Let’s go to Spain.” we thought. So, here we are, not in Spain but in the French Pyrenees. So, close to Spain. Weather; good, mountains; beautiful. All is set fair for a great few weeks.

Saint Jean Pied de Port - A regular starting point for past Pyrenean adventures

Day one saw us repeat a hike up the first stage of the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port. A mere 5 and a bit miles each way but 2,300 feet of ascent and, because what goes up must come down, 700 metres of descent (do you see what I did there?).

Pilgrim spotting. Day 1. There’s one!

It’s a tough descent because it is mostly on tarmac, but well worth the effort and a great excuse for a cold glass of something at the end.

Mrs P, looking sheepish

Next we will be crossing into the Spanish Pyrenees, a new area for us, where we hope to do a spot of climbing and hiking.

I’m a bit rusty at this writing thing, but do follow along as things (read: my writing) can only get better.