Archive | May, 2026

First of May – a look back at past Portuguese Caminos – and a hearty updated folk song to begin…

1 May
I have loved folk music since I was a teenager as well as contemporary music – I spent many convivial, singalong nights at folk clubs in Birmingham and Solihull back in the 60s/70s. Below is a link to a relatively contemporary version of HAL-EN-TOW; a bucolic classic.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ruvmo5bCGg&si=_d-n1YvCMyDJgmSX

Take the scorn and wear the horns 
It was the crest when you were born 
Your father’s father wore it 
And your father wore it too 

Robin Hood and Little John 
Have both gone to the fair-o 
We shall to the merry green wood 
To hunt the buck and hare-o 

Hal-an-Tow, jolly rumbelow 
We were up long before the day-o 
To welcome in the summertime 
To welcome in the May-o 
For summer is coming in 
And winter’s gone away 

What happened to the Spaniards 
That made so great a boast-o? 
They shall eat the feathered goose 
And we shall eat the roast-o 

God bless Aunt Mary Moses 
With all her power and might-o 
Send us peace in England 
Send us peace by day and night-o

Well, if old folk songs sniff of nostalgia, then recalling Caminos walked this century could be politely termed “ recent history.” As with any look back,there comes context because despite familarity there are always differences.For example,I have walked the Camino Ingles from Ferrol to S de C twice with two totally different groups and although both were great saunters, they were still unique in the experiences, conversations and meetings that took place.

An early passport

Hence, I invite you to look back on Caminos Portuguese from the past that I blogged about – I would say from the outset that WordPress is much improved if not the content – I shall try to evoke both the time and the context. The first recollection is a Blog I wrote eight years after it took place – in 2012 I only had a notebook – so I decided in 2020 to write up the “ lost Caminos “. This is a long blog as I tried to tackle the entire Camino in one post!

The Portuguese Internal Camino from Porto 2012

From John the Baptist lookalikes to meetings with Portuguese pelegrinas, memories of my roommate Mac, to a memorable t- shirt and a NEW YORK yellow poncho, this was also where I took the phrase “ ensuitepilgrim “ the title of the blog pages since.

Lovely guy who would not accept any payment for my drinks,etc

Caminho Portuguese – Coastal Route)

This is really a summary of preparations back in the days when I carried all my stuff….for the last time as it turned out!

Oporto to Santiago de Compostella – September 2013….

This was my only “ solo” Camino and it is memorable for the kindnesses I received en route and also the solitude which I found strange at first and then I slipped easily into that mode. I confess to using my I-pod along the way, mainly listening to a Camino soundtrack I had compiled.

. “High On The Skyline”. THE NEW MENDICANTS ( this is not a monastic order! )
” Soul Shoes”. GRAHAM PARKER
“You Better Move On”. ARTHUR ALEXANDER
“One More Cup of Coffee”. CALEXICO & ROGER McGOUGH
“True Love & High Adventure” GRAND DRIVE
“There Goes the Sun”. PERNICE BROTHERS
“The Lower Road. THEA GILMORE featuring JOAN BAEZ
“It Will Be a Good Day” YES
“Ends of the Earth” LORD HURON
“Everyman Needs a Companion” Fr JOHN MISTY
“Sangre de Cristo”. SCUD MOUNTAIN BOYS
“Wild Places”. COLIN BLUNSTONE
“Travelling Alone”. TIFT MERRITT
“Walk Like a Giant”. NEIL YOUNG
“Mr Blue Sky”. TONY DISCONTI ( Jeff Lynne Tribute)
“Jesus is a Hobo”. CHARLIE PARR
“Down Among the Cove “. DUANE ALLMAN
“June Hymn” THE DECEMBRISTS
“Hot Dusty Roads”. BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
“Beautiful View”. RON SEXSMITH
“Ramblin’ On My Mind”. ROBERT JOHNSON
“The Sea “. SANDY DENNY
“Crossroads”. RYAN COODER
“Pinches of Salt” ROY HARPER
“Beyond the Shore”. WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY
“Into the Great Wide Open”. TOM PETTY
“Waterfalls”. PAUL McCARTNEY
“Ease Down the Road”. BONNIE PRINCE BILLY
“Miles from Nowhere”. CAT STEVENS
“On a Day Like This”. ELBOW
“Restless Feet”. DANNY &THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD
“Wide River to Cross”. LEVON HELM
“As I Roved Out”. JANE SIBERRY
“Going Home”. LEONARD COHEN

I still have it!

“Life’s a road full of ups and downs, but it’s the journey that makes the difference.” Every step we take, every decision we make, every challenge we face, all shapes us and makes us who we are. Life is an adventure and it takes courage to embark on it and keep going even when it gets tough. Life is precious and deserves to be lived with passion and determination. “

by Hape Kerkeling in “I’ll be gone”