I just published my 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th blog books. It seems like a good time for a short (for me ☺️) reflection on this crazy blog...273 blogposts later!
Brief history
In early 2013 while planning my long walk from Rorschach Switzerland to Finistere Spain I had the bright (or maybe not so bright 🤣) idea that blogging about my walking adventures would be fun. I hadn’t the faintest idea how to approach this however after some sleuthing, many hours configuring the Blogger software I simply started. Then I bugged some folks to be initial subscribers. 🙏
Why I enjoy blogging
At the end of the walking day...whatever type of day it was... it’s my way to capture highlight moments whether they be good or not so good. While crunching out km after km knowing that I will write a blogpost focuses my attention on key events, people encounters, funny things and challenges.
Unlike many others who have almost photographic memories of so many details i.e where they stayed, what to see in a given location, best route to take etc etc. I either don’t notice or remember many of them...so I blog on whatever catches my fancy 😊
Comments received from subscribers are always a treat and a way to stay connected in some small way with someone is a big positive to blogging.
Why publish blog books
Blog books with pictures and written memories will be there for me when long walks are no longer possible and family members may read them when you know... (I hear definite groans here from family members who can read 🤣)
On a practical level given the rapid changes in all types of media...8 track, cassettes, floppy disks, laser disks, CD’s, VHS/BETA, DVD’s etc etc can the replacement of the data stores where my Blog resides be far behind?
Unfortunately here is a real practical example. In March 2020 Paulo and I canceled our Camino Primitivo due to the COVID pandemic. I dug deep and decided the logical 🙃 thing to do was to walk the intended 310 kms over 12 days in the backyard...almost exclusively on a 29 ft. deck. The Camino Primitivo Alternate Route blogposts were published starting March 28, 2020 - 12 blogposts, 96 pictures and are captured in Volume 3.
To my astonishment all photos for these 12 blogposts are no longer visible on the online blog. Instead all one sees (tried Chrome and Safari) are ? where the photos once were. Why has this happened...who knows? I recall testing out software to update Blogger around that time. I can only guess that whatever code used to save the photos is no longer supported hence the photos are gone. Please note I have refrained on blaming System Architects for this mess…but I really want to! If anyone reading this can see the photos please let me know.
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| An example of missing photos |
Amazement at becoming a famous author! 😉
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would eventually author 13 books. Now some of you may be thinking...well Guy to say you “authored 13 books” hmmm have you considered that the books:
- are simply a data capture of existing online blogposts?
- utilize Pixxibook software where one simply picks the blogposts for the book with no options whatsoever in the creation of the book?
- cannot be purchased anywhere as they are all one of self printing jobs?
Agreed all the above is 100% true however the key omission is this...on the cover of all these 13 books one sees Author Guy Arbez which is all the proof I need and it makes me extremely happy ☺️.
OOPS I just noticed that on Volume 1 -3 book covers shown below I forgot to say Author Guy Arbez...I can’t believe I screwed up like that…well it happens to the best of us 🤣. On the inside cover it states the book is derived from www.caminolongwalk.blogspot.com however my name is nowhere to be seen!!! I suspect a number of my Gift books have suffered the same fate as well. Nevertheless I remain extremely happy ☺️.
Posts I most remember
Makes me laugh - Post Wainwright Coast to Coast Wrapup
Heartfelt - Dr. Olga - Thank You 🙏 Finally!
Toughest to write - Shocked and Very Saddened - Kumano Kodo 2015 Dual ...
Published Books - Currently housed in Arbez Walking Historical Library
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| The rather dapper Author |
In order of publishing dates
- Volume 1 - Via Jacobi (2013), Via Gebennensis (2013), Via Podiensis (2013)
- 295 pages, 78 blogposts, 913 photos, 53,842 words
- Volume 2 - Camino Frances (2014), Kumano Kodo (2015), Thames River Walk (2015)
- 258 pages, 51 blogposts, 955 photos, 31,012 words
- Volume 3 - Camino Portuguese (2018), Camino Primitivo Alternate Route (2020)
- 205 pages, 40 blogposts, 434 photos, 24,237 words
- Volume 4 - Camino Primitivo (2022), Camino San Salvador (2022)
- 300 pages, 29 blogposts, 539 photos, 34,140 words
- Volume 5 - Various (Planning Mini-Series) & PEI Island Walk (2023)
- 290 pages, 31 blogposts, 489 photos, 46,754 words
- Volume 6 - Japanese Documentary & UK Coast to Coast (2023)
- 296 pages, 29 blogposts, 525 photos, 43,333 words
Gifted Books
Over the years I have been very fortunate to walk with a number of new and old friends. As tokens of appreciation for their company and support I published a number of limited edition books for them. In each book I wrote a few words expressing my thanks.
In all cases I received some very nice expressions of thanks as they received the books which made my day ☺️.
- Camino Frances and Finisterre (169 pages) published 2020
- walked 892 kms with my bother Marc (Canada) in 2014 over 30 days
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| Marc |
- Camino Frances and Camino Portuguese (299 pages) published 2020
- walked 1,144 kms with Paulo (Brazil) in 2014 & 2018 over 43 days
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| Paulo |
- Thames River Walk (53 pages) published 2020
- walked 105 kms with Dennis & Elaine (Canada), Dave (United States), wife Dawn (Canada) in 2015 over 9 days
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| Dawn, Dennis, Dave, Elaine, Guy |
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| Dennis (Special Picture) |
- Via Podiensis (The Puy Route) (143 pages) published 2021
- walked 526 kms with Cyrille (France) in 2013 over 19 days; also later walked 156 kms over 6 days on the Camino Frances in 2014
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| Cyrille |
- Via Podiensis (The Puy Route) (143 pages) published 2021
- walked 469 kms with Georges (Belgium) in 2013 over 17 days
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| Georges |
- Japanese Documentary & 2022 Camino Primitivo (219 pages) published 2024
- walked 317 kms with Paulo (Brazil) in 2022 over 12 days
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| Paulo |
- 2023 UK Coast to Coast Walk (233 pages) published 2024
- walked 319 kms with Greg (Canada) in 2023 over 13 days
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| Greg |
A few fun 😉 facts
Showing admirable constraint only two graphs are included however I am so very proud of creating both of these...amazing creations ☺️🤓. Note if you are wondering how certain stats were obtained...well...somewhat creative use of keyboard shortcuts, nice free App and old fashioned brute force were all utilized.
Hypothesis - Blogpost length is directly correlated to time I have available. Walking days - have maybe an hour or so, Other days - well my imagination get’s the better of me 😱.
The graph below shows how the cumulative average words in blogposts has changed over time between Walking blogposts (198 blogposts; cumulative average 764 words per blogpost) and Other blogposts (75 blogposts: cumulative average 2,016 words per blogpost).
Conclusion - Hmmm...prettty clear...the more time I have the more I blab. The Other Dec 28, 2023 blogpost 2024 Mini Series # 1 - Reflecting on Past Long Walks was an unmitigated disaster at 38,835 words. The Other May 13, 2014 blogpost Camino Frances - A Camino Miracle Post Day 81 at 55 words helped lower the average 😉
