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Camino Trek

By Lynn Paweleck Join Me

Help me reach my goal of £500

My Activity Tracking

130
mi

My target 150 mi

Join the Movement: Fundraising for Mental Health UK

Why Choose Mental Health UK?

I have been a Trustee on the Board of Mental Health UK since its inception. I have watched the organisation grow and establish itself as a trusted mental health organisation. Mental Health UK has always adhered to its core values and has made, and continues to make, a huge difference to people suffering with their mental health. This is particularly important during these very difficult times and I am proud of the organisation and all the staff involved.


Mental Health UK is dedicated to providing essential support and resources to individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, they are at the forefront of driving positive change within the mental health landscape.

Together, we can make a difference. Join us in fundraising for Mental Health UK and be a catalyst for change in the fight for mental wellness. Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us one step closer to a world where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health. Let's turn awareness into action and create a brighter future for all.

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£1,235 + £206 GiftAid

My Goal

£500

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Event Information

Thursday 28th May
Camino de Santiago

My Achievements

Fundraising page

Shared Page

Sent Email

Thanked Donor

Created a Team

Raised £100

Percentage of Fundraising Target (50%)

Self Donated

50% of Distance Travelled

Reached Distance Goal

Number of Fitness Activities

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

Has 5 Gallery Images

Reached Goal

Increased Target

My Updates

Onwards and upwards - we can do it!

Tuesday 16th Jun
We left Portomarín at 6.45am and dawn was just breaking. The sky was heavy with rain clouds and within minutes, the rain started to pour down. This didn’t bother me too much because it felt cool and fresh and much easier to walk in than the searing hot sun. We saw a rainbow and that was a positive sign - despite the pain in my feet and legs I CAN DO THIS. 

We passed through small hamlets with little houses growing vegetables in their front gardens and one house had a side garden with a sow and numerous piglets running around. This part of Spain is rural, picturesque and most of the houses seem to dedicate their garden space to growing vegetables. It is inspiring to see how the people live and whoever we pass, they always have a bright smile and a call of Buen Camiño. 

Today’s walk was long (36,646 steps) but we had a few stops for fresh orange juice or coffee. The last hour of each day’s walk is always the worst and it seems like I am dragging my throbbing body through treacle! Today we stopped on the outskirts of Palas de Rei at a lovely little bar/cafe and the waiter obviously saw the fatigue on our faces and told us to sit down and he came and took our order - mine was a large beer - and generally looked after us. 

We arrived at the accommodation and it was ultra modern - electronic keys etc. the main door was open and there was a seating area and a small reception desk. A lovely lady smiled and spoke in Spanish - she had little English and my Spanish is in its infancy hahahaha. Basically I gathered that I should have checked in on line but the site wouldn’t accept the information and the receptionist couldn’t find my booking! I was hot and flustered and removed my jacket and trolled through my booking emails and she bade me to come round the reception desk and let me fill the details in on her laptop. Eventually it worked and I was emailed the electronic keys and we got to the room and collapsed! At 7pm we decided to go for something to eat but where was my jacket. I  felt sick as my purse with our euros was in the pocket I raced downstairs but there was no one around! I messaged the company and they said no one would be on reception until the following morning. All our money (€280) was in the purse - my heart sunk! Suddenly, the receptionist walked through the front door and she saw us and said, in broken English, that she had locked my coat in her office! I could have cried and I tried to give her some money as a thank you but she wouldn’t accept it. We went out and bought her a box of chocolates were fortunate to see her as we left early the following morning. Brian told her she was our Angel of the Camino and she hugged us and cried- we will never forget her.

Over half way and still smiling! 😊

Friday 5th Jun
Today 5 June is our sixth day of walking. We had a rest after the first day (a very wise move) and decided that we would have our bags transported to the next accommodation each day, rather than carrying them. It was the best thing to do because we would not have managed to carry such heavy packs up the mountains and it is a great service (apart from the day my bag went missing and the courier service kept informing me that there wasn’t a bag missing 🙈). A quick phone call to the UK and my son’s Spanish speaking partner sorted it out and my bag was delivered an hour later. 

The next two day’s walking were really pleasant and we passed through little hamlets that seemed untouched by the modern world. We ate rustic bread with fresh tomatoes and olive oil and drank long glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice - so delicious. The blot on the landscape was the struts of the massive motorway that pierced the otherwise perfect vista. This had resulted in many properties being boarded up with Ve Vende (For Sale) signs and farmers still tending to their land under the shadow and roar of the motorway.

 Las Herrerias, nestled at the foot of the mountain was the next place we would stay. As we got nearer to the village, we left the shadow of the motorway and experienced beautiful fields and hedgerows packed with wild flowers and looking like they should be featured in an Impressionist painting. 

We spent the night in a hostel (no other accommodation available) with eight strangers! A strange experience but at least we had a bed. I was on the top bunk and at 6am, saw others were waking so I climbed down and tried to locate my bag with the light on my phone. A voice screamed out “TURN OFF THAT LIGHT” which I quickly complied with and then another of the guests turned all the lights on! The screaming voice went very quiet - outnumbered I expect!

The following day saw us negotiate the mountain, with some trepidation. Fellow guests at the hostel had discussed the climb and given various accounts of how bad it was - the worst day of the whole Camino it was said! We were a little apprehensive as we set off the following morning with the expectation of a tough day ahead. It was difficult but the views were spectacular and this made it all worthwhile so we needn’t have worried so much about the climb. I had booked accommodation 5km off the Camino Trail so we had another 5km to walk when we got to O Cebriero, which is a beautiful medieval hamlet. It was sad we couldn’t stay there (fully booked up) so we had to walk further down the mountain to the next town, which was much more industrialised. 

We got a taxi the following morning to take us back to O Cabreiro and the next portion of the Camino. The walk from O Cabreiro to Tricastella was long and arduous and I had developed two massive blisters on my left foot! The paths descending down to Tricastella were steep and rocky and my energy levels were depleted (thank goodness for Kendal Mint Cake)! We eventually arrived at our hotel and it was really lovely with a little sitting area overlooking the mountain. Quite a contrast to the previous two night’s accommodation! 

The next section was Tricastella to Sarria and once again, I struggled with energy levels and pains in my calf and shin on both legs. I started to inwardly worry that I might not be able to complete another long day! However, during this walk, we had stumbled upon a wonderful retreat that gave food and drink to passing pilgrims and a sanctuary for them to sit for a while. We enjoyed a coffee and freshly made cake and benefitted from sheltering from the driving rain. I bought a tiny pot of handmade St John’s Wort and put it on my legs that evening. It has been remarkable how quickly I have recovered and now we are  more than halfway along in the journey to Santiago de Compostela.

To date, we have walked 85.6 miles since leaving Ponferrada. It hasn’t been easy but then it’s not meant to be and my driving motivation is to do my best for MHUK and all my wonderful supporters. 

There are so many highlights of this trip - it is a very special experience. The different landscapes and flora and fauna are something to be beheld. Since walking into Galicia, it has become more like the UK - thistles, wild mint, fennel and an abundance of daisies. The smell of perfume is intoxicating as we meander through the woodland paths and country lanes. 

The people we have met have been awesome - so many stories and acts of friendship. As we continue on the Camino we often meet up with people from earlier on in the journey and it is like we’re part of an unspoken club. Buen Camino is still called out as people pass and when someone recognises you from another part of the walk, they will spend time chatting. 

Many have asked about the MHUK t-shirt and have asked about the charity so hopefully it will achieve some positive outcomes. Tomorrow is a very long walk so I’ll update you all in a couple of days. Thanks and love to you all xxx 

First day - tough!

Sunday 31st May
Brian and I completed our first day - Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo. What a day - tough and HOT. We set off at 6.30 am and it was still dark. The first couple of hours were pleasant but then the sun came up and the temperature got hotter and hotter. I had repacked my bag four times before setting off on this adventure but it still weighs 10 kilos. People who know me well will know that I find it very difficult to travel light 😹😹😹 I paid physically for that on the 30 May - the sun was beating down and my rucksack rubbed into my back and shoulders and caused referred pain in my right hip! We adjusted the straps so it became easier but it was still difficult to walk. The blessing was Kendal Mint Cake to give me an energy boost and walking poles (once I’d got the hang of them)! We finally arrived in Villafranca at 6.45pm - exhausted but exhilarated by the whole experience. 

We have met the most amazing, friendly people. Everyone shouts Buen Camino as they pass and everyone wants to help - numerous people shouting “Your bag is too heavy” 😹😹😹 An old man with a bike and a chihuahua dog in the front basket came and mouthed “Buen Camino” and then pointed to his throat, indicating that he had lost his voice box. A toddler no older than 2 years shouted Buen Camino as we passed. A retired nurse and her daughter started chatting in the restaurant at lunchtime and showed me exercises to do before and after each walk to ease the pain in my hip. The pain went once I took off the rucksack!

The scenery on the Camino trail is amazing and the sight and smell of the wild flowers as we walk along is intoxicating. We met a farmer selling cherries at the side of the winding path and they tasted sublime. There are various water taps along the way supplying fresh water - so important to drink plenty in this heat.

We decided to make 31 May a rest day as Day 2 involves a mountain climb. Tomorrow our bags will be transported to the next accommodation in Las Herrerias so that makes the climb a whole lot easier. 

Today we have mooched around Villafranca and had a beer or two! Villafranca is a beautiful little village and the focal point is a beautiful church dating back to the 16th Century.

We have a long way to go yet but at my lowest point yesterday, when I felt physically drained, I thought of all you wonderful sponsors and the great charity Mental Health UK and the wonderful work that helps so many people. We can all need mental health interventions at some point in our lives and Mental Health UK is doing the best job of being there for the people in need. Onwards and upwards and I will report back on the next stage. Thanks to you all for your wonderful support!


Thank you to my Sponsors

£20

Pip

Congratulations on your achievement

£25

Adam Birchall

Great trek and a huge achievement to do

£10

Celine

£50

Anonymous

£25

Hannah Bould

Lynn and Brian, what an amazing thing to be doing and for a great charity. Loved reading the updates. Keep going and enjoy! Love Hannah, Ryan & Roo XXX

£25

Warren & Sarah Mcaleny

Good luck Lynn - all the best from Team McAleny ❤️

£20

Katie Brownlow

An amazing cause - good luck Lynn and Brian. Enjoy every moment!! X x x

£20

Vivienne Howard

Smash it Lynn. Well done for attempting it! Love Viv Jim and ‘flock’ xx

£10

Marie

Good luck to you both take care.

£10

Leona Lisle

Sorted xx

£20

Jean Otoole-massam

Good luck Lynn and Brian xx

£90

Barry

From your bipolar friend, amateur self-harmer and devotee of Shiva

£10

Liz

What an amazing adventure - have a great time. Love Liz, Kev, Finn & Leo

£20

Anonymous

£10

Lesley Radcliffe

Good luck Lynn

£10

Lorna And Wayne

Good luck Lynn. You'll smash it.

£25

Irene Smith

Good luck Lynn looking forward to catching up with you when you get home. Love Irene

£50

Susan M

Good luck! Great cause Lynn 😘

£25

John Hazelhurst

Very best wishes in your endeavour.

£20

Lauren M

Well done Lynn & Brian!! You will smash it! xx

£25

Mark Winstanley

Have fun. Do they have a version that is 100% by car 🙂?

£20

Jonny

Go for it Lynn! Anything for Mum #2 x

£25

Allan Smith

Good luck Lynn is Brian doing it as well

£20

Anne Seaborn

Don't forget to pack your blister plasters! Enjoy.

£25

Jackie

Well done Lynn thinking of you.

£20

Lesley Taylor

Good luck Lynn. Hope all goes well.

£15

Moira Harrison

£200

Jamie Paweleck

Good luck getting your ear chewed off for 2 weeks! Xxx

£20

Ann

Good luck 🙏🙏🙏🙏

£50

Paul Jenkins

Go Lynn go! Hope you have a brilliant time on the Camino and thanks for using it to raise funds for MHUK

£15

Estefania Campos Ramirez

Wishing you all the best on this adventure and for the amazing cause you’re supporting xxx

£10

Sarah Moody

Have a fantastic time! Xxx

£20

Caroline Crowther

This is an amazing adventure Lynn - good luck and enjoy! X

£25

Barbara Hitchins

Good luck Lynn. I hope you have a great time, as well as raising money for this worthy cause. Looking forward to hearing about it (especially the bag packing) xxx

£15

Eddie Paweleck

With Love

£20

My Phone

Good luck I be thinking about you

£10

Francine Sagar

Go Lynn, go!!

£25

Gilly Overton

Good luck Lynn and Brian ❤️💛

£10

Lyndsey And Dave

Good luck !

£10

Jane Rakowski

£100

Rosemary And Jamie

Go Lynn and Brian!!!!

£10

Emily Kelly

Good luck Lynn.👍

£50

Lynn Paweleck

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