A rebel without a clue.

Many bites from the mountain (and perhaps from the late lunch and the two beers while I decided whether to eat or sleep. Two savoury local savoury patisserie - spinach and raisin/onions and pimento), and the itching woke me up around four as I feared bedbugs. Luckily the room was clear. Until I checked in around 4 I had no memory of the establishment I left from over a year ago. And even now it's a little hazy... Sat enjoying a coffee while I consider the third stage which takes me back to the Gaia River so I will have zigzagged. Another coffee and a croissant and then away. Across is a supermarket, but the next town isn't so far away. Last time I was passing through, having fallen badly in the Pyrenees, experiencing the various quality ales in Lleida and Montblanc, but not walking and this time stone cold sober heading towards the second and third monasteries before joining the main route West from Girona, etc, but only until Thursday. But it's worth it as I have to return...

End of an endurance sapping day - 40 kilometress from the doorway of the apartment to Santes Creus - there was nowhere to stay in the Abbey/Monastery and the Hostal was firmly locked too. But from the very noisy cathedral to the utter peace of a Eco Campsite: a few kilometres away from Santes Creus, but a helpful Colombian barmaid got a friend to bring me here in a car: I saw a few yellow arrows so I think it's on the route? It's closed after the weekend, but they are happy to have me stay. Gratis, but I said I must pay something as it's a bungalow in the woods and they're giving me supper at eight. They are two old folks and their son will come later to take some money from me? They returned with sheets, cold local spring water and shower gel, but I had a warm, but soap free wash. Now I lay in a bed and count the mosquito bites from the forest between Tarragona and El Catllar. Giants they were landing on my exposed bits! In El Catllar, when Sunday was catching up with ...

The day after the day before. Friday was manic and Nick's still crook. So here's Sunday. I am admiring the view on Nova Rambla - both directions: the balcony over the bay and the chica from Ecuador. In Tarragona the agua mineral Vichy Catalan  has become as obligatory as café solo, a croissant and a pretty girl ... I do wish I could get Nick better as he's intending on returning to the UK via Liverpool this afternoon. Such a shame he's not well. Crowded House comes on the wireless and I hesitate to move onwards from the finesse of this Sunday morning. In the apartment the cathedral bell chimes the hours and quarter intervals and around me clusters flies and pigeons and a cricket buzzes in the corner as a dog barks at the sunshine! Such sunshine. Almost all year round on the Mediterranean. And we have several months of SAD to account for back in Blighty!

Thursday morning. Last evening I used the hours to focus on my breath, and just relax, before a wholesome night's rest: I awoke quite peacefully at 5:45am. Having a bath in the dark and then laying on the bed, in my birthday suit, until the heat of the warm bath had left me and the creep of the coldness of the universe had begun to numb my toes and fingers. Then a glass of ice cold water and bed. I was gone. *** Down to the departure point for the X98 on Boar Lane. Plenty of time to wonder why men put their hands on the 'family jewels' - which is either to keep their hands warm or some anxiety about their manhood being taken away... The bus isn't the new Sky Class item purchased specially for the route. I guess it's broken down already? This is the bog standard Harrogate Bus Company double decker. *** Mum wanted me to cut the grass yesterday, but the grass is so damp I am convinced it will destroy the blades on the mower and with bugger up the autumn grass. I will e...

I am looking in the wrong places for a miracle. Miracles are not of the body or this earth? There is something I know there is... This lunchtime I ventured into The Light to get an appointment for various complaints: things which no amount of brown paper and vinegar can solve it. Jack and Jill - I've not heard that nursery rhyme in a long time... *** Off for a walk. Yesterday I walked to Collingham, with Lola(2 hours,) and then ate all the remaining broad beans before a beautiful afternoon on the allotment(3 hours) - making inroads on the wilderness - then was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of choices in The Mews being offered by a Bavarian Braühaus Maxlrainer. Brilliant. Now I am walking towards Wood Hall along Trip Lane on the Ebor Way for a coffee and a short break before I continue to Harewood. Spectacular autumn morning in all its raiment or yellows, reds and browns, alongside green. In Linton... I got two windfall apples, a copy of Treasure Island - from the red phonebo...

First night at my mum's for a while - since prior to heading to France on the 6th September - and I forgot how quiet it is before she wakes and gets on with being nearly 80. My sister had an interview for a new job on Friday, which she was very eager to get, and she's got it. So no more decorating people's homes, and back to being an account manager if she takes it... Yesterday afternoon I caught the 1455 bus from The Spinney to Hornbeam, getting off near the Woodlands and walking Ruby through Hookstone Woods there and back. Coming back to hers to feed her, and leave her settled, I came back through Bank Street, which was an error. That one beer pushed me into snacking before bed: cheese! I'd told myself to miss out Wetherby and Harrogate yesterday... One out of two isn't too bad. Mother is stirring so I'll go and get washed, brush my teeth and then take Lola out for an hour or so once she arrives on the scene? *** Just after six in Belgrave and. Ploughing throu...

Ruby is a bed hogging dog. To say she's so petite for a Vizsla she moves continually against any space which appears between myself and her: but, foolishly, I let her share the bed last night when I could easily have put her in the crate, left her on the couch or shown her mummy's bed... It's all good. As the rain falls heavily on the velux window panes I dwell on the ticket to Reus I booked last night: 14th October to get away to the Mediterranean once more for perhaps another two weeks walking somewhere away from where autumn comes on leaps and bounds? All the memories of that trip back in June: during the first heatwave of 2022 have presented themselves for my mental enjoyment. It's funny how easy those memories pop out from the recess, or the crevice, they hide away in deep in the mind... I can stay until before half term and come back to Leeds Bradford for €14.99... *** Just a brief walk with Ruby who is also, like me, struggling from our night in the same bed! Her...