I’m one of the smallest, but never the less, I’m the leader of the group, well, at least when it comes to playing!

And anyone who has a minimum of life-experience knows how important playing is for the health of our species. But more important still is that we have to give a good example to mankind.

Amongst us dog, I tell you that this walk is the best idea that humans have ever had, I just don’t understand why they don’t do that more often! It can be tiring sometimes, especially when it is hot, but generally, we dogs are having a great time. For those who just came from the kennels, it is a tremendous great break to the boring routine. Me, personally, I have not lived at the kennels lately, I have been fostered by Jacinto, that was rather nice, since he let me run a lot, on weekends he goes of with his bicycle. Humans always need some kind of a tool to keep up with our speed and I love to run fast! But the best for me would be to live with a family, kids are great for playing and much more on my level.

Sometimes even humans make sense, for instant Erika, last week I walked with her, and even though she was sometimes a bit though with me, she has got this idea that she needed to educate me!!!, but in a way she made sense, she has realized that I am an intelligent dog and could have a great future.  And if humans make a bit of an effort and talk to me in the right tone, I’m quite prepared to learn their rules. After all we have to get along and I must say I like humans, specially if they are as nice as Erika was  to me, she even cried when she said good bye to me! Or Johanna, who spoils me terribly, but that stays amongst us, she has got a lot on her head and has to be strong, but for me she has got a soft spot, well, that is no surprise, after all, I’m a specially nice guy.

I could just go on walking forever and sleep in Johanna’s car, but I guess, that is not going to be possible, in spite of all the fun, the humans find this trip exhausting. Well, they are not as fit as we are and not al of them are willing to learn from us. The majority have adapted well to us, they have even learned to find a cosy place to stretch out when they are tired (humans don’t roll themselves up in a ball like we do), but there is always one or two who make a big fuss when they don’t find a bed immediately. We dogs, we also would prefer to sleep in a bed, but we can’t complain, our trailer is quite comfortable, but there is, of course, no room for humans.

Visions for the future? Well, I still want to learn a lot, Erika recons that I could learn a lot, it would be a pity not to use my talents, there must me something to it. Besides this I would love to life with a nice family, the best would be with other dogs and human kids together, because as I said before, fun is very important in life!!!!!

Hullo, I`m Cabs. Actually I`m really called Cabra which, being translated from the Spanish, means goat. I can’t honestly say I am very happy about being called a goat considering that I am a decent self respecting dog but that’s life for you. But I am used to it now and you know, I’ve come to like it. All my new pals on this strange adventure we are embarked on thought it would be a good idea if we had our own say about it. It seems all the two legged people have a chance to talk about what they wanted on this blog thingie and so we wanted our turn. So, let’s hear it for the dogs: that’s what we say.
First, a bit about me. I’ll keep it short. I grew up on a goat farm, hence my silly name I suppose. It was a tough life. I had a rope, dried bread and water when it rained which it does not always do in Andalucia. The two legged person who ran the joint lacked the finer graces and we all had a pretty tough time. But the goats were great and when things were really bad they made sure I had cheese and fresh milk to eat. Goats and me, we get on fine and I would go to war for them if I had to. After four years of this the wretched two legged person fell over dead drunk one night before he had fixed the chain. I was off in one bound I was free!
I spent the next month in the bush (as the Australian two legged people on this jaunt would call it) which was not easy or funny. But I managed to find an agreeable two legged one who introduced me to a nice chap who called Jorrian who really helped me. After a good meal and a rest the next thing I knew this lovely two legged person called Chrissie showed up. Now, I’m not stupid and so, liking the look of her, I put on a proper show. I bounced, turned in circles, wagged what the wretched two legged person on the goat farm had left of my tail, smiled like crazy and said ‘Sausages!’ It never fails. She melted before me and I adopted her on the spot.
Two legged ones always think they are in control but what do they really know? So immediately I was transported to a new life. Comfy sofas, loads of grub, great walks, new pals and lots of love and laughter. Brilliant. I’d say ‘Sausages’ any number of times to realise this. I also met my best mate, Dolores. She was also a rescue dog, so she told me, and she was a scream. Sadly she died last year and this blog thingie is really for her too.
Chrissie introduced me to her man, Mike. He is soft as a brush and I adopted him too. One funny thing: they insisted I called them Mum and Dad. Dogs seldom know their dads although they love their mums so this was a bit rum but it takes all sorts and I didn’t mind. In fact it seems quite normal now. And I can’t help loving them.
So, all was going swimmingly. And now this extraordinary adventure. We are walking all day every day with loads of great fellows and some pretty decent two legged ones through some marvellous smells and fields full of pigs. I love pigs. I can run faster than they can and I love winding them up. (No, that’s a joke, really).
Dad is with me and I like that. The one they call Patrick who Dido looks after is with us too. Dear Dido, she is a dizzy girl and I love her dearly but she is a bit old for all that chasing sticks business. There are lots of other upright ones too. There is a tall noisy two legged woman who calls me Cabralita who’ s kind to me and looks after us and we think she’s pretty decent too.
But what’s this all about?
Well, Uno, who despite appearances is a bit of an intellectual, says we are all pilgrims. I really don’t get this too well but he says it means we are the top dogs, if you’ll excuse the rather dreadful pun. That’s fine by me because we can have a great time and get away with it if you see what I mean. In fact Uno says we are going to see DOG who we are all taught made the world and all four legged things in it after which we all had a big party. The two legged ones who came later changed DOG to GOD which was hardly imaginative and claimed him as their own invention. We don’t really think that was very clever but they do and it’s no use arguing.
So, are we having a god time? I’ve talked to all the guys about this and I can honestly say that YES we are. I mean, every day we are somewhere new and walking all day. There are loads of new scents, lots of pigs, marvelous woods and fields and wonderful new scents to follow up. Being of course a bit privileged as a ‘private dog’ having made that difficult graduation from rescue dog status which the two legged ones talk so much about I am off the lead a lot and can run free. What a blast that is! We dogs are doing well. Some of the two legged ones are struggling. But what do they expect on their two legs? It must be a nightmare for them. And they seem to have no sense of smell either. Whose idea was that? Their ‘God’s’ I suppose. Anyway we are fine and having a ball.
In the evenings we are all in the trailer and you should hear the stories. We have such a laugh. Rompe has the best stories by far. He’s only a small dog (nothing wrong with that I hasten to add) but, boy, has he lived.
Rambo is a bit shocked now that he’s adopted Jacquie and thinks he should object but we tell him where him to go. I told the guys about the two legged farmer and his peculiar relationship with his goats but I have to say that was pretty tame stuff compared to the others. Still the chap running this blog thingie says I don’t have time to tell these stories now so I’ll save them up for later. But we have some good japes. Alfie likes to pull two legged David into every stream we have to cross. Moro pulls Emel across every obstacle at full speed and in the evenings we all like to lead the noisy one a right dance as she orders us about. What a giggle.
Today was a lovely day. The two legged ones were rhapsodizing about flowers and country side but we were fixed on marvelous smells and the scent of hares and pigs and all sorts. Don’t tell me we did not get the best of it! There was a bit of confusion tonight. Uno’s two legged person called Stuart who Uno had grown to like a lot suddenly left us. We are not sure why but he was noisy too sometimes and he seemed to have a bit of a row with the tall noisy woman. We dogs at least know how to settle these things but they seem to find it harder. Poor Uno is very sad tonight but we shall look after him and make sure he is OK. Also tonight I am allowed to stay with Dad which is good because he misses me when I am not there. That’ll be nice for him and, as I say, I love him dearly really although his snoring is a pretty grim.
So, what’s next? It seems in addition to seeing DOG we are going to meet this chap called Santiago in a place called Compostella. I have no idea who he is but if he can get Dad and all these other two legged people to walk all day, every day just to meet him he gets my vote. When I meet him I shall give him lots of bounces, smiles and ‘sausages’. Indeed, I shall put on the full ‘dog and pony show’ as the two legged ones rather crudely call it. DOG knows what they mean by that. Who have you ever met who liked to do a show with a pony? But they are funny creatures and you have to humour them to keep them on side.
That’s about it from me. I think Moro is due to write the next blog thingie from us. I’m not sure that is a good choice by the two legged ones. Don’t get me wrong. Moro is a great fellow and in a tight spot you could not want a better chap at your side. But he’s a dog of few words if you see what I mean and is not the brightest member of the team. I think the two legged ones will get a lot of chewed pencils and not much blog for all his efforts. Bless him.
That’s it from Cabs. Off to bed with Dad now in the best sense of course and looking forward to a 28 kilometer jaunt tomorrow.

Doodle pip,
Cabs.

I had set myself the goal of walking  the El Camino project for one week. I am not a passionate hiker and do not enjoy to give up my creature comforts and are surprised that the lack of it was my least concern during the journey.

The experience of the beauty of the county side, taken in walking speed, slowed my life right down, made it more intense, gave me a feeling of closeness with nature.
More pressing issues like ‘when is the next break’ became my priority!
I had many moving and special experiences due to the varieties of personalities in our group. Wonderful relationships were forming, drawing us into each others lives for a while.

One of these beautiful moments.
We just had finished the Paella (Kieron not!!!) It was a beautiful starry night, out in the Campo.
Kieron was pionting out the position of the Plough in the Northern Sky to Marion and me. He suddenly announced ‘Marion I love you’! I felt very privileged and happy to witness this beautiful moment.

I also had the chance to see the back up organization of this adventure in action, amazing, it takes Johanna all day!
Dietmar is for ever trying to find supermarkets! He has produced wonderful meals in his van. I cannot remember when I last had an appetite like a horse for a whole week, and ate like one. My dog Chetta felt the same, she even put on some weight and had a wonderful time with her friends.

Hopefully, through the help of our German Boys we will attract more interest into ADANA’s work and will be able to raise some more desperately needed money.
I also hope the El Camino Projet will be a spring board into the young men professional carriers.

I’ll follow you through the means of the Blog. Would love to keep in contact with you guys.
I bet, I do not need to tell you that I had the longest bath ever, when I got home, and it never run out of hot water!!!!! Wonderfull.

Lots of love to All of you. My hand is a lot better, thank you Marion.
Uschi

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I have now nearly completed the first week of walking, it has been a fantastic experience. And I really wish that I would be able to walk the 7 weeks. It has not all be positive. I started out with my husband and daughter but unfortunately my husband had to leave after the first two days. We have had some pain, Moa has been struggling really badly today with pain but I leave that to her to tell her story.
We have lived in a lot of different places some fantastic, like our first night in Gaucin we stayed with this fantastic couple Dick and Denise, they made our first night very nice and we had a fantastic breakfast before leaving again.
It was a bit of frustration in the group the first two days as we had some walkers that could not keep up and some that got injured. On the third day I think we only had walkers that was on the same level and that made it a bit easier.
We have met some nice walkers that we did not know from before, the once of the new once that we will remember the most in Andrea from Tenerife a very positive and nice girl. And Silvia whom unfortunately been injured so we did not get to know her that well from the walks but she has been so nice to us especially to Moa.
Then of course we have all our old walking friends that we will miss and follow on the blog.
Then a bit about the dogs, we have been a bit unlucky with some of the strongest and most prepared dogs that they have been injured, not badly but enough to have to go in the trailer. We have also had to send them some days half days as it has been so hot. We will miss them terrible but Moa will bring her dog Knock out with her home, so one dog that is now adopted.
And I have to give big credit to Johanna for the fantastic planning and to Ditmar for the fantastic food.