Are you curious about the Camino? What is it; what secrets does it hold; where does it start and end; what to take; where to sleep; how difficult it’s to walk; and what preparation and equipment are needed to succeed? You may have done day or multi-day walks in the past and have now heard what is often referred to as “the call of the Camino.” I’ve done the research, walked the walk, and can help you successfully prepare for the Camino Frances and similar long-distance ancient pilgrims’ pathways. From the dozens of things to know I have chosen nine key topics based on my own experience: 1. Boots vs. blisters. Or no blisters. Choosing the right footwear (boots) for long-distance walking. 2. Walking as a ”system.” It’s not just putting one foot in front of the other. 3. Clothes for sun, rain, and cold. Choosing the right clothes and outerwear. 4. A get fit program. To be physically and mentally prepared. 5. Are you a greaser or a strapper? Protecting your feet each day; avoiding blisters; choosing socks. 6. Weight creep-a killjoy. Your backpack and contents. 7. Water: why, where, and when. It isn’t just about sipping. 8. Trekking or walking poles. Why, what, and how. 9. Sundry useful tips. SIM cards, keeping valuables safe, rain gear, free Wi-Fi, offline maps, overcoming fear, companies providing services, Camino forums in many countries. In addition to these subjects, the appendices contain two articles by fellow pilgrims who commented on an early draft and suggested other topics to help people with their first Camino. The first is on albergues, “What to expect and how to manage”; the second is all about bed bugs with a focus on avoiding them and, if you can’t avoid them, how to treat the bites and avoid carrying them home! The most important thing: Just love the “time out” from the daily routine along with the many challenges along the way. It’s therapeutic walking through fields and forests, over hills and mountains, breathing fresh air. I didn’t know what “eco therapy” was until I experienced it: a sense of peace through being away from cities and immersed in nature. It’s as though our genetic roots are being reawakened and we are reinvigorated. The information in Camino Ready. Backpacks, Boots, and (no) Blisters will get you Camino ready so you can be prepared not only physically but also mentally for an amazing journey. It will be a journey where you’ll likely experience exhilaration, exhaustion, self-doubt, joy, fear, tears, pain, and a great sense of achievement (maybe all on the same day!) together with companionship and new friendships. It can change your life.

This book is for everyone thinking about or planning to do a long walk, like the Camino Frances from southern France to Santiago de Compostela a distance of 800 km or nearly 500 miles. The focus is on preparation and so you will have the best chance to successfully reach your destination pain and injury free. Many fail to complete the walk.Mark has walked 5 Camino routes in France, Spain and Portugal as have the other contributors. The book will help you prepare for the Camino Frances and similar long-distance ancient pilgrims' pathways--or the Inca Trail, which he has also hiked. "Camino Ready. Backpacks, Boots & (no) Blisters"focuses on nine key topics based on Mark's experience: 1.Boots vs. blisters. Choosing the right boots for long distance walking.2. Walking as a System: Some basic physiology and what to do to avoid problems.3. Clothes for sun, rain, or cold and other handy items.4. A get-fit program. To be physically and mentally prepared.5.Are you a greaser or a strapper? Protecting your feet each day; avoiding blisters; choosing socks.6.Weight creep--a killjoy. Your backpack and contents.7.Water: why, where, and when. It is not just about sipping.8.Trekking or walking poles. Why, what, and how.9.Sundry useful tips. SIM cards, keeping valuables safe, rain gear, free Wi-Fi, et al. There are also two appendices by fellow pilgrims, one on what to expect and how to manage lodging in albergues, the other all about bed bugs with a focus on avoiding them and, if it happens, how to treat the bites and avoid carrying them home.

Between 1827 and 1835, Humphrey O'Sullivan kept a diary of his life in Co Kilkenny. He was a hedge-school master like his father, but went on to become a prosperous businessman and philanthropist. No aspect of life escaped his attention, from the poverty and degradation of the peasantry to the flora and fauna of the region.

This guidebook describes the Way of St Francis a 550km month-long pilgrimage trail from Florence through Assisi to Rome. Split into 28 day stages, the walk begins in Florence and finishes in the Vatican City. Stages range from 8km to 30km with plenty to see, including ancient ruins, picturesque towns, national treasures, and stunning churches. This comprehensive guidebook fits in a jacket pocket or rucksack, and contains information on everything from accommodation and transport in Italy, to securing your credential (pilgrim identity card), budgeting, what to take, and where to do laundry. Stories of Francis of Assisi's life are also included. Although the route includes climbs and descents of up to 1200m, no special equipment is required - although your hiking boots and socks definitely need to get along. Following the steps of heroes, conquerors and saints on this pilgrim trail is manageable all year round, but is best done from April to June and mid-August to October. Route maps are given for every stage, and basic Italian phrases are included in the guidebook.

A routine trip to the doctor left seasoned traveller Ursula with a diagnosis of Stage 1A Ovarian Cancer. Determined not to sink into self-pity, she continued her travels by walking between her Welsh home and hospital appointments in Bristol, leading to her decision to walk across Wales to publicise the need for early detection of the disease, which kills many patients due to ignorance of symptoms. Taking 17 months Ursula's story is one of determination, tears and laughter, joy and pain; a fascinating insight into one woman's journey and also a country, its landscape and its people.

Years ago an overachieving and harried young mother accidentally flushed her gold watch down the toilet. Time passed, but the image of the lost watch continued to haunt her, a symbol of an overcommitted life. Two decades later, propelled by a series of curious coincidences, she leaves behind her busy professional life, her cell phone, and her family to escape the tyranny of time and walk five hundred miles across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Steps Out of Time brings the mysterious and wonderful world of the Camino to life with its tales of serendipitous encounters, new friends made (and one tragically lost), stunning natural beauty, and unforgettable food. By the end of her journey, an exhausted and exhilarated Katharine Soper is keenly aware that she has completed much more than a month-long walk.

The 'story' of English is continually re-told and re-written, as more and more people use the language and have a part in shaping the way it develops. Varieties of Modern English provides a critical introduction to the study of regional, social, gendered, context- and medium-related varieties of the language, and explores some of the debates concerning the role and impact of English in different parts of the world today. Beginning by outlining the main types of variation in language, the book focuses on the link between language or dialect and the construction of both group and individual identities. Issues of identity are crucial to chapters on the roots of Modern English, on gender and English, on ethnicity and English and on English as an international language. As well as looking at a range of 'users' of the language, Davies also explores many of its 'uses' and modes, including the English of literary texts, advertising, newspaper reporting and commentary, political speeches, email and text messaging. Written in a discursive, student-friendly style, the book also provides: * A rich mix of illustrative material * End-of-chapter Activities and related Comments at the end of the book * Suggestions for further reading Varieties of Modern English provides a thought-provoking overview of its subject and will be invaluable reading for students of English Language and Linguistics.

2020 Banff Mountain Book Competition Finalist in Adventure Travel In Journeys North, legendary trail angel, thru hiker, and former PCTA board member Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007 as they walk from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers--including Barney and his wife, Sandy--trod north, slowly forming relationships and revealing their deepest secrets and aspirations. They face a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will in this bare-knuckled adventure. In fact, only a third of all the hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish. As the group approaches Canada, a storm rages. How will these very different hikers, ranging in age, gender, and background, respond to the hardship and suffering ahead of them? Can they all make the final 60-mile push through freezing temperatures, sleet, and snow, or will some reach their breaking point? Journeys North is a story of grit, compassion, and the relationships people forge when they strive toward a common goal.

Travel Memoir that takes places on the Camino de Santiago