Author Archives: John Humphreys

Plans were in place, as I’ve already said, for his flight stateside. The wonderful PetAir people made all the arrangements, I provided the details and documents with my new partner in the states making sure it all went seamlessly. Personal service, pickup from Perth was possible, but Cheshire seemed better to shorten his journey inContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 3. Separation Anxiety, March 2026”

The return to Scotland was uneventful, Jackson as relaxed as ever in the car, even starting to check out the cars behind when he’d run out of z’s, and taking the motorway services and miles on the road in his stride. And soon enough he was back on familiar territory, in the house he’d spentContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 2. Returning and Responsibility, February 2026”

Recently semi-retired, armed with a free bus pass and the emotional baggage of a marital breakup, I found myself at more than one loose end. My closest friend turned out to be my black labrador pup, Jackson, and together we set out on an adventure inspired by Steinbeck himself, who in the early 1960s embarkedContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 1.1 A New Start”

We visited Mum, although a care home isn’t the place to take a dog with the unpredictability of a small child, so he stayed in the car, and after the visits we’d have some well-earned playtime in a park nearby. Paths, trees and shrubs, frisbee and tennis ball, what more do you need? Lunch inContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 1.3 On the Wirral, and the benefits of staying longer. January 2026”

It has to be said from the outset that I’m a ‘love me, love my dog’ kind of person, but also that Jackson wasn’t meant to be my dog. I underestimated how attached I’d become to a canine companion essentially to make sure my wife was ok while I fed my travel addiction. It shouldContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 1.2 First Adventure, January 2026”

It had to happen. Day 6 brought more typical Galician weather, with an early mist soon developing into rain and building to a downpour. The route roughly follows the ria then the river, and occasionally we saw or heard the boats taking pilgrims by water, as the body of Santiago had been carried many yearsContinue reading “Weather and the Camino Portugués De Santiago – Day 6”

After an unexpectedly late night thanks to an over-enthusiastic DJ in the bar below our apartment, it was another early start for the final day of the Camino. Yesterday’s rain had abated, the sun was looking set to stay with us, and despite over 25km ahead, everyone we met seemed in great spirits. The rainContinue reading “Camino Portugués De Santiago- the Last Day”

The credencial It’s essential. You can’t get the Compostela, recording your Camino, without an approved document that’s been stamped along the way. The idea is that you should have places linked to the church and the Camino stamp the credencial when you visit. In practice it’s difficult sometimes to find someone to stamp it inContinue reading “Practicalities of the Camino Portugués”

The fourth day started in more typical Galician fashion – mist after a night of rain showers. But it took just the time for us to breakfast (desayunar) to transform into a brilliant blue sky. The gods had smiled on us again. Repack the waterproofs (keeping them handy) and we were ready to go. TheContinue reading “In the mi(d)st of the Camino Portugués”

Three days into the the Camino and we’re getting the hang of it… sort of… ish. Day 2 took us 13 miles from Redondela to the stunning city of Pontevedra, provincial centre and architectural masterpiece. It seems that each time you walk through an alley or down a as cobbled street it opens into aContinue reading “Contrasts of the Camino Portugués De Santiago – Days 2 & 3”