Last month Xtriple organised a competition for his 1000th post, and I was the lucky winner. So in honour of that I'm going to do the same. The prize is a leather 2-watch travel case by Rapport. Nice object, but superseded from my point of view. You will see from the photo that it holds big watches comfortably, but they have to be able to go quite flat.



My competition concerns what was for me the highlight of 2011 (not watch-collecting, not even close!)...walking the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James)



The Camino is a long-distance footpath, one of several medieval pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela. My route began in April in St. Jean Pied-de-Port in the French Pyrenees.



Crossing the mountains on Day 1, I walked across Navarra and La Rioja...



...to reach Burgos in two weeks.



I returned to Burgos in July, crossed the Meseta plateau, and two more mountain ranges, reaching Santiago on 9th August.



The total distance (guides vary) I accept as 778 Km, and I walked for 34 days in total. Not bad for an overweight 50-something with a dodgy back (sciatica kicked in big-time after I finished). I did it partly as a challenge, partly for historical and cultural reasons. What I'm proud of, however, is that family, friends, colleagues and the parents of my pupils helped me raise £2600 for Childreach International.

So, the competition...you know the distance...I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and my stride-length is fairly average...HOW MANY STEPS DID I TAKE? (I based the calculation on my stride on the flat) Nearest guess wins the case. (If you don't want it have a go anyway, but indicate it in your post)

I aim to reveal the winner's name with my 1000th post! Good luck!

That looks like a superb experience....well done for walking that far and raising the cash!

Jolly good giveaway as well....i estimate 1021000 steps

Congratulations on your achievement and all of that money raised.

My guess, 1,110,007

It must have been wonderful! My guess: 600,000

Nice gesture Steve and congrats for achieving the walk.

If I win, you can sell the case on ebay and send the proceeds to your charity.

My guess: 1,023,684 steps.

I shall second downers idea....

My guess is 1,373,338

Well Done Steve!

Congratulations on the great total raised + the amazing walking achievement!!

And thanks also for the great post and opportunity.

My guess is; 1,643,140 Steps

Wow! Well done on all counts.

My guess is 1 723 000.

Congratulations

1,276,247.

Auction the prize off if I win

scooter

Outstanding, Very well done on the walk and the fundraising.

I,ll have a stab @ 1,189,652 steps.

Congrats! Must have been a great experience and nice sense of achievement. Not to mention some really beautiful scenery along the way.

I'll throw in a guess: 1 085 000 steps. If I win, Downer's idea seems good.

Some interesting ideas - I'm deliberately not giving clues, however. I'll have to try and post less for a few days, but with a nice C5 incoming that might be a problem.
Thank you, too, for those very kind comments. It was hard going some days, but an absolutely magnificent trip. I think my 2012 holiday will have to be a lazy poolside one!

Many, many years ago I rode my motorbike for 14 hours from Barcelona to Amsterdam stopping only for petrol and thought that was heroic enough but making that walk is a real achievement and the scenery across Galicia is stunning. I do like that part of Spain.

Your gift is a very honourable gesture, Steve, and I too would like you to do whatever is necessary so that the proceeds can be put to good use. So, trying to judge the distance between your tootsies in the photo and on a very crude assumption I'm going for 1,250,000 representing an average energy conserving walking pace of a little over 1.5 steps per metre. I'm probably doing you a great disservice and I dare say you took considerably larger steps than I have suggested and in fact you probably marched it in military fashion.

Great pics and a nice story. Was there a religious motivation too, I wonder?
Well done for raising the cash!

I don't want the prize (thanks!) but I will guess a nice: 1,111,111 steps.
(I suspect atnits may be a bit optimistic unless you secretly used a pogo stick!)



P.S. 5' 9" ?! Shorty!

Excellent achievement AVO! I am impressed and there are very few landscapes better.

Now, I am amazed a 5'9'' shorty would finish such a monumental walk. Your poor wee legs must have been cream crackered!

Joking. A rugby injury places me in a similar boat to your sciatica and lengthy walks become burdensome very quickly. So well done again.

My guess is 1,389,285. I am assuming you have suitable evidence of the number of steps you took?

Oh and of course, if I win, please do auction off the case for your excellent charity.