50,000 – THANK YOU!

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This blog has just clicked over the 50,000 page views mark.

This since mid April.

I’m not sure about these things, but that to me seems like a lot. Particularly as this blog started out being just for family and friends – 25 people in total. And also given that I’ve done nothing to boost the numbers. No fancy tagging or search optimisation etc.

The blog has just spread through word of mouth.

While I was walking, this blog became an essential part of my Camino experience.

It continues to be so.

I am blessed to have met some wonderful people here, and some have become good friends. I’m also blessed to have gained a greater insight and understanding through the postings of others here.

So THANK YOU to all those who have visited the site, and especially to those who now regularly contribute.

You make this blog something very special.

Bill


 

 

68 thoughts on “50,000 – THANK YOU!”

    • Dear Sister – for me, and for the others here too I’m sure, you make this blog very special.

      Your wisdom, life experience, your counselling expertise, your religious and spiritual understanding – all of these attributes of yours inform us all.

      So thank you. Bill

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    • ha ha Jasmyne – thank you.

      When my daughter was starting to write, I gave her some advice – write how you think. She had been filtering her thoughts. As soon as she shed those shackles, her writing became distinctive. Her voice came through. (she very soon had a major book deal.) But that’s what I try to do. I try to write unshackled.

      Bill

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  3. Bill
    You did do something to boost the numbers of followers! You write very well both truthfully and from the heart. It entices all of us to want more. I could read your writings all day long!. 42 sleeps until we leave for the Camino and I can hardly stand to wait that long. We still need to train A LOT so my knees, hips and feet can make it.Lynda and Dale
    Lynda and Dale

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    • Dear Lynda – thank you for your compliments. I am fortunate in that I love writing. When I write, the hours just slip by.

      Speaking of time slipping by – 42 sleeps hey? That’s not long. A word of advice. Don’t push your training too hard. And two weeks out from your departure, ease off. The last thing you want to do is get an injury before you leave.

      Very exciting for you and Dale though!

      Bill

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    • Michael, thank you.

      I get a kick out of it. The walk, tough as it was, was fun. Doing this blog, and interacting with you all, that’s enormous fun too.

      And every day I learn something, or get a greater insight into something.

      Bill

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  5. You have made checking my email a lot more fun and meaningful. What a remarkable thing to have touched so many people. And the comments from others have been inspiring too. Keeping the Camino real!!

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    • Hi kat –

      it’s pretty weird huh? This started out just for family and friends.

      Now it’s taken on a life of it’s own, as Steve has said.

      I love it!

      Bill

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  6. Bill,
    I look forward to every new post from you. Having walked last year, you have helped to rekindle many memories. Please keep writing and Bravo Peregrino! I raise my glass of vino tinto to you!!!!
    Arlene

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  7. Bill, No wonder the numbers are soaring as is the content. As you have said, this thing has taken on a life of it’s own and as we discussed, there are so many people who view who never post. That is the quiet masses. You should be proud. I also enjoy checking my email, but it has become a very time consuming endeavor because of you. This all came about because of you. The rest of us just tagged along. To reiterate. Another peregrino who walked about half way between you and me told me about your blog on your day 12. I started reading and got caught up in it and wanted to do my own. I started a blog because of you. I went to WordPress because of you. I bought a camera because of you (never mind it did not work and I took it back yesterday – thank goodness for my iPhone). I got on Blogsy because of you. I have made friends around the world because of you. My Camino was greatly enhanced because of you, and my post Camino is being enhanced because of you. So, Mr. Bennett, I am deeply indebted to you and grateful for your friendship. Buen Camino, or as you prefer, G’day Mate. Steve

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    • Its wild,isn’t it Steve? One bite of Bills blog early on,( and for me it was the snail photo and accomanying story-I still smile over that one) and you’re hooked !

      Ummm…are you going to be posting on your blog again soon? Hint hint

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      • Sister, Yes mam, I am, if I can ever find time after checking all the comments on Bill’s. It is a wonder any of us have time to do anything else. I am not like you, as I still like to sleep 8 hours a night. Steve

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      • Bill, What a nice thing to say. I need to get off your blog and back to mine, but I have to read every comment and so on, and so on, etc., etc. I am astounded at the depth of the insights tossed about on this blog. You have created an incredible forum for bringing out the best and most spiritual and creative thoughts of a lot of people. I think about picking mine up again, which I am about to do, and wonder what it is that I have to say that has not already been said ten times. Got to get up early to get ahead of this crowd. Steve

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  8. I remember when you finished your walk and considered ending the blog, how disappointed I was, and when you continued, how delighted. You and Steve were my vicarous feet on that trail and I certainly wasn’t ready for it to end. (Vicarious feet don’t get blisters, and vicarious knees don’t get sore, — though I do have a real knee that I wish was vicarious just now. Advil and therapy in the works.

    Your thoughts since finishing and those of others in the comments keep me coming back day after day. So thank you, Bill, and thank you all y’all who chime in with your own special brands of thoughts, perceptions, humor and good spirits, too. 50,000 and counting…. Hip hip hooray.

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    • Hi Barbara, I’m glad I kept posting. I didn’t realise how much happens AFTER the Camino.

      In many ways its when the real benefits of the pilgrimage begin to kick in, and I’ve found I’ve also been able to see things with greater clarity.

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  9. Your Blog has been one of the best I have ever read, I think because you wrote so sincerely!
    Thank you. Anne

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  10. Hi Bill –
    Congratulations on hitting this milestone!
    The growth of your wonderful blog (fuelled by all the effort and expertise you’ve put into it to make it outstanding) is testament to the fact that good news really does spread … PGS family (thank you Abbey – ‘just love this!) followers of how many nationalities are reading your posts?!!! Awesome! Cheers – JennyH

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  11. Hi Bill,
    You make a difference in my day when I get your blog notification 🙂 Walking the Camino to me seems a distant dream right now due to family responsibities but you keep my dream fueled. Thank you for continuing the blog. Congratulations! Marta

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  12. I’m like a few of you, who, despite the normal time constraints of a busy life, MUST find time to check the blog and of course, the more of us who comment, there more there is to read and the more time we all spend in this forum. It’s a wonderfully engaging, never (I hope) ending Camino journey continuation and I certainly intend staying on track and on-board!

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  13. Hi Bill, thank you! I also discovered your blog on the Camino Forum because of the Snail Photo. I returned home to Johannesburg yesterday from Santiago yesterday after completing my Camino on 25 June. Your Snail Pic reminded me, especially on steep climbs – like the track up to O Cebreiro – to keep my steps, Small, Slow and Steady, this always got me to the top. Thanks too for the recommendation to Steve for the Hostel San Juan de las Campanas in Santiago, what a great place to stay and explore Santiago from. Steve I’m sure our Paths may have crossed as we were walking at about the same time.
    Bill your blog inspired me to write more interesting pieces when updating my status on Facebook and my Richard, my husband then enjoyed uploading my Facebook pieces to my blog – CaminoSandy.co.za, this helped him feel that he was part of the journey from home.
    Thanks too for the introduction to Sister Clare her thoughts and wisdom are so inspiring.
    Please keep writing. Looking forward to your book!

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    • Hi Sandy –

      thank you for touching base!

      You must still be coming down from your walk.

      Yes, Sister Clare is a gem. I’m lucky to have her as a regular contributor here.

      And Steve is a llama. 🙂 I mean, he’s a gem too… what he did in returning to finish the Camino was nothing short of heroic.

      I’m really pleased you found some inspiration in this collection of postings. Keep checking in here – because there’s some fascinating discussions arise.

      Hope your post Camino reintegration goes well!!

      Bill

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      • Bill I will keep reading and being inspired and being encouraged and comforted too, especially when I get to read that others feel as I do. Please don’t let the Ashes take up too much of your blogging and writing time. It’s easy to allow cricket to absorb our time. Will be following the Ashes too.

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        • Sandy – I too have to be careful the Ashes don’t take up too much time.

          But, my wife and I are cricket fanatics – and this Ashes series will be fascinating, especially with the new coach and the young quicks.

          But yes, I have to keep blogging, and working!

          Bill

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  14. Bill, I leave for my Camino, August 15. Your blog has been a real gem for me, showing me how to train, what to bring, what to wear, (altho, “trackies” can’t be got in the states, I don’t think?)… And thanks for keeping the post-camino blog going, all so helpful and nicely written. Cheers to you!
    Peter McGlamery

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    • Hey Peter – no worries mate.

      Trackies are track suit pants. I got mine at the Nike Store in The Grove, in LA.

      Pleased to hear the blog has been helpful with your prep. You must be excited, leaving soon.

      Hope it all goes well for you!

      Bill

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      • My Galician friend Octavio, has, just a couple of days ago, invited me and my girlfriend Nancy, to his brother’s wedding… (21Sept.), to be held in some small town between Santiago and Fisterra, which has put a different spin on things for me and which has me leaving sooner than I had intended to. I’d wanted to begin hiking on my birthday, (21Aug), make it special… Like I’m giving myself the grandest 64th birthday present! It’s all pretty grand tho, anyway, isn’t it? And it’s not easy to plan when one is following a “calling” to do something… especially something strange and unknown.

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        • Ah Peter – you’re one of us who’s had a “calling.” Word of advice – be prepared to find your life changed at the end of this walk.

          As for rain gear – Steve is right, I was lucky in that I had good weather most of the time. I had about three days of rain all up. Steve left about a month after me and he had much more rain.

          I came prepared with a Goretex jacket and rain pants. The jacket became essential, particularly in Galicia where it can be very rainy, even at your time of the year. The rain pants are essential too, I’d say, but make sure you get “breathable” gear.

          Don’t think that because it’s summer, it will always be sunny. I spent about four months in Galicia two years ago, over the spring and into the summer, and it rained on and off the whole time.

          Bill

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    • Peter, Take good rain gear. Bill does not know much about trekking in the rain but those of us who followed him do. Probably half of my days were in the rain at some point in the day. Not to mention the snow. Take it like you buy insurance……buy it but hope you don’t need it. Steve

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      • Thanks Steve, for the heads up! I have a good rainjacket… Haven’t found the rainpants yet tho. I was thinking if I need rainpants I’ll find them along the way. But maybe just in case… I’ll think about it. Thanks.
        PM

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  15. Bill and Steve, I’ll get those rain pants ASAP! Thanks for the advice from two veterans. It’s been cool and rainy all over Europe this year as I’ve been paying attention to my weather apps… Beginning to warm up now in places but I still expect changeable weather conditions while I’m walking… Yep, I’ve been “called”. But so were you Bill… And you too Steve… Then again, of course, you know that.

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    • Hi Peter – of course now saying this, you might find that you never take your rain pants out of your pack! (And I hope that’s the case!) But in Galicia, the weather can be so unpredictable.

      You’ll have enormous fun. And knowing that you’re going to a wedding at the end of it all will be great motivator to keep you moving!

      Have you thought about doing a blog Peter? if so, then please send us the link. It would be great to follow your journey.

      Bill

      (By the way, Steve doesn’t know much about walking in the sun. 🙂 Make sure you take sunscreen. Sunscreen in Spain, for some crazy reason, is quite expensive. Pharmaceuticals are cheap, but sunscreen isn’t.)

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  16. Bill, see what happens when you post from the heart <3. Between this blog and Steve's who is writing so beautifully as well… when am I ever going to have time to do my work 🙂 Congrats, young buck! Llama, ultreia! Ingrid

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    • Dear Ingrid, thank you! You’re one of the people who’ve made this blog special.

      And the Llama is a treat! So too Sister Clare.

      Bill

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