What do you think?
Rate this book
The Journey in Between
A man at a crossroads. A thousand-mile hike. A life forever changed.
Keith Foskett was the definition of restless. Drifting aimlessly, he knew a piece was missing from his life. But when a stranger in a Greek bar tells him about a world-famous pilgrim’s trail, the chance encounter sets Foskett’s life in a new 1,000-mile direction.
On El Camino de Santiago, the wanderer copes with extreme temperatures, fake faith healers, and insatiable kleptomaniacs. Threatened with arrest for ‘not sleeping’ and suffering with excruciating blisters, Foskett pushes himself to new limits. Can he find what he’s looking for and make it to the other side?
Keith Foskett’s travelogues have been shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year multiple times by The Great Outdoors magazine. Awash with vivid descriptions and a cast of engaging real-life characters, the author delivers a humorous and mesmerizing tale of adventure and metamorphosis.
The Journey in Between is a daring travel memoir. If you like indulging your inner adventurer, taking the less popular fork in the road, and visiting foreign locations, then you’ll love Keith Foskett’s transformative tale.
Pick up The Journey in Between to take your first step today.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2010
610 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Keith Foskett
9 books142 followersKeith Foskett has hiked over 12,000 miles in the last few years and holds a deep respect for the outdoor spaces of this world. His adventures form the basis of much of his writing.
The Journey in Between, an account of his 1,000 mile journey on El Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The Last Englishman, an epic adventure along the 2,640 mile Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
Balancing on Blue, the second of his big hikes in America follows his continued addiction to thru-hiking on the Appalachian trail.
Travelled Far is a short read about his many adventures, both at home in England, the abroad.
A Thru-Hiking Trilogy is a collection of his first three books.
His latest book called High and Low, was released in March 2018.
He contributes to various outdoor publications and in 2012 was shortlisted for Outdoor Personality of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine. His second book - The Last Englishman, was also nominated for Outdoor Book of the Year. He was shortlisted again for two awards in 2015 and his blog (keithfoskett.com) was voted outdoor blog of the year.
Balancing on Blue was also shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year in 2015.
Partial to a decent bottle of Rioja, down sleeping bags and woollen underwear, he was born, and still lives in West Sussex, England.
The Journey in Between, an account of his 1,000 mile journey on El Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The Last Englishman, an epic adventure along the 2,640 mile Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
Balancing on Blue, the second of his big hikes in America follows his continued addiction to thru-hiking on the Appalachian trail.
Travelled Far is a short read about his many adventures, both at home in England, the abroad.
A Thru-Hiking Trilogy is a collection of his first three books.
His latest book called High and Low, was released in March 2018.
He contributes to various outdoor publications and in 2012 was shortlisted for Outdoor Personality of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine. His second book - The Last Englishman, was also nominated for Outdoor Book of the Year. He was shortlisted again for two awards in 2015 and his blog (keithfoskett.com) was voted outdoor blog of the year.
Balancing on Blue was also shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year in 2015.
Partial to a decent bottle of Rioja, down sleeping bags and woollen underwear, he was born, and still lives in West Sussex, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 17, 2020
It is All About the Pilgrimage After All
I was dreaming that I was reading Ogden Nash’s poems, poems that even a child could write, and then they began to sound like gibberish. I awkeke thinking of this book and how I wanted to write a review on it, so I got out of bed and began writing, so here I am.
The Camino de Santiago sounded interesting to me. I had once read a quote from a pilgrim and had written it down. I believe the quote is on a plaque on the trail. I learned that there was a book about the trail, so I bought and read it. Being that it was very religious, and I am no longer, I wanted to read a book by someone who had taken the trail who also was not religions. This author fit the bill.
While this book was somewhat interesting, the author did not spend enough time writing descriptions of his hike or his engagements with the others who were taking it. He spent most of his time hiking with women they loved him as he was charming. When off the trail they spent their time in bars either drinking coffee or wine. He spent time talking about the accommodations, sometimes the lack there of.
All he has to say about religion is that St. James, Christ’s disciple, was murdered, and his body was brought to Santiago, but no one knew where he had been buried, but a pilgrim saw a star, and the star led him to his body.
I was left with he feeling that this trail, tis pilgrimage, is all there is to the hike. Outside of that, there is no adventure, and maybe that is as it should be.
I was dreaming that I was reading Ogden Nash’s poems, poems that even a child could write, and then they began to sound like gibberish. I awkeke thinking of this book and how I wanted to write a review on it, so I got out of bed and began writing, so here I am.
The Camino de Santiago sounded interesting to me. I had once read a quote from a pilgrim and had written it down. I believe the quote is on a plaque on the trail. I learned that there was a book about the trail, so I bought and read it. Being that it was very religious, and I am no longer, I wanted to read a book by someone who had taken the trail who also was not religions. This author fit the bill.
While this book was somewhat interesting, the author did not spend enough time writing descriptions of his hike or his engagements with the others who were taking it. He spent most of his time hiking with women they loved him as he was charming. When off the trail they spent their time in bars either drinking coffee or wine. He spent time talking about the accommodations, sometimes the lack there of.
All he has to say about religion is that St. James, Christ’s disciple, was murdered, and his body was brought to Santiago, but no one knew where he had been buried, but a pilgrim saw a star, and the star led him to his body.
I was left with he feeling that this trail, tis pilgrimage, is all there is to the hike. Outside of that, there is no adventure, and maybe that is as it should be.
July 15, 2016
Not bad for a free (Prime) book, but not outstanding either. I've read a few Camino stories, with this one being notable for covering France in more detail than Spain; I was actually a bit taken aback that it seemed as though not long after he leaves France, he's at Santiago! Didn't leave me particularly interested in his other books.
June 28, 2019
This is a tough book for me to review, so I'll structure it following the pattern of one of my favorite YouTube reviewers, Nick Shabazz: the good, the great, the bad, and the ugly. First the good. I found the author to be charming and the reading light. I like hiking and found that--unlike the Appalachian Trail which seems like an unpleasant ordeal--the Camina seems like an actually "pleasant" through hike, as if any are truly pleasant. I like most of his anecdotes and enjoyed meeting the friends and acquaintances he met along the way. As for the great, and this will sound strange, it removed any lingering regrets I have for never having done a through hike in my youth (I'm in my early 50s). While it seems romantic, adventurous, and fun, the reality is that it is largely none of those things to me. Yes, I love being in nature and being surrounded by beautiful sights, but the reality is that too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. I know I wouldn't enjoy hiking 10s of miles a day, a day after day, hauling my life on my back. Far better is it for me to head to a National Park, rent a centrally located home, and go out each day on an out and back or circular trail, and repeat the next day. Through hiking seems like mostly a burden to me. So what was great is that killed any lingering regrets. Now for the bad. The bad is that the book had almost zero depth. There were no detailed descriptions of sights that he saw, the types of trails, the nature of the hikes, or even his deep thoughts along the way. He met people here and there and learned very little about them, and why they hiked. I don't have a real sense about what any of the places he stayed looked like, and for that matter, I don't have any sense of what any of the people he met looked like. The book was mainly a string of I got up, I hiked 18 miles, I stopped at X town, I ran into X and Y, I found a place to sleep, and I had this to eat. Repeat. Reminds me of that old insult about the guy whose knowledge is a mile wide but an inch deep. In terms of the ugly, there really wasn't any. In the end, the good and the great outweighed the bad and propelled this to three stars. If you are interested in light hiking fare, this is for you. If you are looking for a travel guide, deep thinking, go elsewhere. And if you are looking for comedy, take a Walk in the Woods will Bill Bryson.
October 22, 2020
The author has written a few books on the long distance hikes which he has undertaken. This is his first and is about the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. There are many start points people can choose. He chose central France so the first half of the book is in France and the second half in Spain. I enjoyed the book and if you have an interest in that part of the world and long distance walks you should too.
The title he tells us refers to the fact that life is not a destination but a journey, and that rather than focussing on where we are going when we think everything will somehow be ok, we should enjoy the journey and live in the moment, which seems good advice to me. A benefit of the pandemic for me has been to appreciate more what I have and the world just outside my front door, and having got a dog a few years ago has also changed my view of life. Dogs live in the moment, getting pleasure from now which maybe a lot of us fail to do enough. I know I have.
The title he tells us refers to the fact that life is not a destination but a journey, and that rather than focussing on where we are going when we think everything will somehow be ok, we should enjoy the journey and live in the moment, which seems good advice to me. A benefit of the pandemic for me has been to appreciate more what I have and the world just outside my front door, and having got a dog a few years ago has also changed my view of life. Dogs live in the moment, getting pleasure from now which maybe a lot of us fail to do enough. I know I have.
August 24, 2018
Loved it!
I loved 'The Journey in Between: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on El Camino de Santiago' by Keith Foskett. A quick and easy read-some chuckles too-you don't have to hike or know anything about equipment etc. to enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting, informative, and entertaining.
It's going to be three months. He will be walking 1600 km-but the book is far from just about walking. I enjoyed reading all the historical details, it was a nice read-and interesting even if you're not intending to walk the Camino yourself. Interesting facts and down to earth chat.
I really liked this book and will certainly be reading more from Keith Foskett-or Fozzie as he calls himself. Walking, unhurriedly. Camping out, cooking with his stove. Then stopping and breakfasting at a gite. Yet still sleeping out in his tent. Conversing with fellow pilgrims about where they were from etc. I found it all fascinating.
An engaging read. I've never been a hiker, fell walker etc-my partner has and had a fascination with this. This book is the next best thing-I can experience this famous trail yet not get any tired feet and muscles; not get wet or suffer other hardships.
Wonderfully detailed and an amazing read.
I loved 'The Journey in Between: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on El Camino de Santiago' by Keith Foskett. A quick and easy read-some chuckles too-you don't have to hike or know anything about equipment etc. to enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting, informative, and entertaining.
It's going to be three months. He will be walking 1600 km-but the book is far from just about walking. I enjoyed reading all the historical details, it was a nice read-and interesting even if you're not intending to walk the Camino yourself. Interesting facts and down to earth chat.
I really liked this book and will certainly be reading more from Keith Foskett-or Fozzie as he calls himself. Walking, unhurriedly. Camping out, cooking with his stove. Then stopping and breakfasting at a gite. Yet still sleeping out in his tent. Conversing with fellow pilgrims about where they were from etc. I found it all fascinating.
An engaging read. I've never been a hiker, fell walker etc-my partner has and had a fascination with this. This book is the next best thing-I can experience this famous trail yet not get any tired feet and muscles; not get wet or suffer other hardships.
Wonderfully detailed and an amazing read.
February 24, 2021
I loved the movie The Way and have been interested in this walk ever since. For this reason, I picked up Foskett's book, which reinforced my desire to walk El Camino de Santiago. I might have enjoyed more time in Foskett's mind as his conclusions are attractive to me--or even more details about his fellow travelers. But he wrote this they way he wanted to, and I'm happy he did. For someone who has yet to walk it, it was nice to be in his shoes.
March 27, 2018
"It was then, while tending vegetables in the Florida sun that I understood. There was no defining moment, no end result, and no sudden enlightenment. I had waited for it in vain when I should have been living in the moment, enjoying a journey my journey, my time on this planet." When I got to this point in the book this particular passage really resonated with me. So often in life we expect miracles and fireworks and all kinds of instant enlightenment or clarity when we do something, but more often than not we miss the 'miracles' of right now.
October 27, 2018
Took me a year to finish so not a page- turner. Author appears very shallow and self-obsessed. Some nice descriptions of place and time and person and of the walking life. If I were not already off the Camino, this would do it.
September 12, 2018
Persisted since I wanted to read a book about the Camino, but boy, Keith and I did NOT get along. Not recommended, unless you're a huge fan of similes and metaphors falling like snowflakes in a blizzard on every sentence. So glad I finally finished.
June 14, 2022
Another excellent read by Keith Foskett.
Following the journey along the pilgrim way through France and Spain, Keith writes with a candid humour that makes for an enjoyable and easy read. Highly recommend.
Following the journey along the pilgrim way through France and Spain, Keith writes with a candid humour that makes for an enjoyable and easy read. Highly recommend.
June 5, 2016
Didn't care for this at all.
July 11, 2017
This is a good read --mostly. The author, British, writing in the first person about his 1600 Kilometer walk across southern France and northern Spain is quite entertaining if one can dismiss the lifestyle choices of the author as he describes his grand adventure. To be sure, more then a few North America readers will be mystified, if not outright offended, by the authors prime detectives for a good life-- lots of tobacco, copious amounts off wine and a keen eye for obsessive thoughts about meeting and socializing with women. Unfortunately the books real value is only in the last chapter. Thus, I suspect, the book would have been more effective as a 5 page magazine article.
Other then that the book was quite Rosie indeed. It talked in detail about the walking subculture, mentioned that the trick, for many folks, was and still is a religious pilgrimage that has been preformed for more then a 1000 years. Further, he rightfully maintains it provided a person more then 3 months of solitude. Thus providing one time to sort out the self imposed drama of modernity. His great philosophical discovery, thou hardly original, is that the beginning or end of something is of little importance but rather the importance in in what lies in between.
Other then that the book was quite Rosie indeed. It talked in detail about the walking subculture, mentioned that the trick, for many folks, was and still is a religious pilgrimage that has been preformed for more then a 1000 years. Further, he rightfully maintains it provided a person more then 3 months of solitude. Thus providing one time to sort out the self imposed drama of modernity. His great philosophical discovery, thou hardly original, is that the beginning or end of something is of little importance but rather the importance in in what lies in between.
Read
September 26, 2018I walked the Camino back in 2007 so it was with great interest that I picked up Kieth Foskett 'Fozzies' book about his experiences on the path.
I like the way he writes - very natural and conversational but found it lacking in substance. There were no in depth descriptions of the people he met and the places he saw along the way. In fact at times I began to feel he had been on a writing course and had remembered about it just in time to describe a view or a woodland scene.
The one thing that really bugged me though was the way he described the women he met. They were either stunning beauties who instantly fell under his charm or some kind of minor eccentric. At one point I thought I was reading a 1930's detective novel the way he was describing 'Tamar'.
Although the book lacked substance and any real feeling for the Camino I enjoyed it. It was a nice quick read and great for the beach or a holiday. You won't learn a lot about the Camino reading this but you will learn about Fozzie and his foibles!
I like the way he writes - very natural and conversational but found it lacking in substance. There were no in depth descriptions of the people he met and the places he saw along the way. In fact at times I began to feel he had been on a writing course and had remembered about it just in time to describe a view or a woodland scene.
The one thing that really bugged me though was the way he described the women he met. They were either stunning beauties who instantly fell under his charm or some kind of minor eccentric. At one point I thought I was reading a 1930's detective novel the way he was describing 'Tamar'.
Although the book lacked substance and any real feeling for the Camino I enjoyed it. It was a nice quick read and great for the beach or a holiday. You won't learn a lot about the Camino reading this but you will learn about Fozzie and his foibles!
July 28, 2016
Absolutely loved reading this adventure on the eve of leaving to take the same road!!!!
Foskett found his voice on El Camino and tells the tales in the simplest yet mesmerizing way.
For all walkers, young and old, amateurs and pros, this is a delight on foot!
Mine were itchy to get started, they are now on fire!
Foskett found his voice on El Camino and tells the tales in the simplest yet mesmerizing way.
For all walkers, young and old, amateurs and pros, this is a delight on foot!
Mine were itchy to get started, they are now on fire!
February 25, 2018
A great inspiring read
I am doing the Camino starting in May so have been reading a lot about it. This book gave me a good picture in my mind about the journey. I think even if one wasn't planning on doing the walk, they would still enjoy this book. For me the only downside of reading this is that I wish I could do the entire journey like he did! Just jealous I guess.
I am doing the Camino starting in May so have been reading a lot about it. This book gave me a good picture in my mind about the journey. I think even if one wasn't planning on doing the walk, they would still enjoy this book. For me the only downside of reading this is that I wish I could do the entire journey like he did! Just jealous I guess.
August 2, 2020
As someone who has recently rediscovered his love for the great outdoors, this book just reaffirms everything there is to love with being out in the wild and not worrying about anything except where to lay your head at night. Excellent writing and the Camino is one on my bucket list, so this is a must read for anyone that feels the call of St James and the Way! great read!
May 13, 2021
Continues to Inspire
I keep reading Keith’s books out of order. Some how it still works. He continues to inspire me to get out and push my own personal limits. He proves that adventure is a choice. Not just for the chosen few. Ut for anyone who is willing to merely try and persevere.
I keep reading Keith’s books out of order. Some how it still works. He continues to inspire me to get out and push my own personal limits. He proves that adventure is a choice. Not just for the chosen few. Ut for anyone who is willing to merely try and persevere.
Read
July 28, 2019Whelp, I guess I'm hiking the Camino now.
September 27, 2020
One of the better hiking narratives I’ve read.
March 12, 2021
Although it was the author’s experience, I didn't feel the 'adventure'. He wrote mostly on the little villages he stopped at for rest and on the people he met along the way and the food he ate along the way, which wasn't bad, but wasn't what I was expecting. So, this was just an average read for me.
But, what he did inform about in his memoir was a really unique hiking trail called the El Camino del Santiago, that runs for 1000 miles from France to Spain, which I had never heard of before. This is evidently a very popular and legendary trail. One of Christ’s disciples, St. James, supposedly traveled to Spain to spread the gospel with little to no success, so he started back to Jerusalem. But, on his journey back, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and told him to return to Spain and try again; she would help. This time he was received and was instrumental in spreading the Word of God throughout. When he returned to Jerusalem, King Herod took a dislike to him and had him beheaded in AD 44. It is believed that the other disciples returned his body to Spain, where they buried him in a tomb on an empty hillside where centuries later a farmer discovered his burial. Along the route is St. James Cathdral where they claim to have a piece of the original wood that Jesus Christ was hung. It is only brought out to the public a couple of times a year. Anyway, this is the “legend” around the trail. It is still a big deal with adventure seekers around the world. Over 200,000 adventure seekers hike to the Camino de Santiago.
You, now known as a “pilgrim”, begin the trek at Le Puy en Velay in France, where you register and receive a certificate, called a créanciale, that gets stamped along the way as you enter the villages that are peppered along the trail. It’s not a totally isolated trek. Some of the villages provide room and board, internet, cable TV, breakfast, esspresso coffees, and lunch or dinner. France accommodations seemed to be better than Spains, according to this author. The 1000-mile trek takes around 3-4 months to complete, and once you reach El Camino Del Santiago, you line up to kiss the feet of the giant statue of St. James, if desired, and then enter the church for the last stamp on your créanciale and have it signed and certified in Latin.
NOTE: Google the word “créanciale”, and images of this certificate will pop up. Google “El Camino del Santiago hiking trail” and you will see that there are many starting points with varying lengths to get to this destination. You don’t have to take the full 1000 mile trek from inside France.
MOVIE: A great documentary on Netflix called "Footprints: The Path of Your Life" (2016) is a must see. It follows the journey of 12 Catholic men, which includes one priest. Through their suffering, they find God's true path for their lives on this trail.
But, what he did inform about in his memoir was a really unique hiking trail called the El Camino del Santiago, that runs for 1000 miles from France to Spain, which I had never heard of before. This is evidently a very popular and legendary trail. One of Christ’s disciples, St. James, supposedly traveled to Spain to spread the gospel with little to no success, so he started back to Jerusalem. But, on his journey back, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and told him to return to Spain and try again; she would help. This time he was received and was instrumental in spreading the Word of God throughout. When he returned to Jerusalem, King Herod took a dislike to him and had him beheaded in AD 44. It is believed that the other disciples returned his body to Spain, where they buried him in a tomb on an empty hillside where centuries later a farmer discovered his burial. Along the route is St. James Cathdral where they claim to have a piece of the original wood that Jesus Christ was hung. It is only brought out to the public a couple of times a year. Anyway, this is the “legend” around the trail. It is still a big deal with adventure seekers around the world. Over 200,000 adventure seekers hike to the Camino de Santiago.
You, now known as a “pilgrim”, begin the trek at Le Puy en Velay in France, where you register and receive a certificate, called a créanciale, that gets stamped along the way as you enter the villages that are peppered along the trail. It’s not a totally isolated trek. Some of the villages provide room and board, internet, cable TV, breakfast, esspresso coffees, and lunch or dinner. France accommodations seemed to be better than Spains, according to this author. The 1000-mile trek takes around 3-4 months to complete, and once you reach El Camino Del Santiago, you line up to kiss the feet of the giant statue of St. James, if desired, and then enter the church for the last stamp on your créanciale and have it signed and certified in Latin.
NOTE: Google the word “créanciale”, and images of this certificate will pop up. Google “El Camino del Santiago hiking trail” and you will see that there are many starting points with varying lengths to get to this destination. You don’t have to take the full 1000 mile trek from inside France.
MOVIE: A great documentary on Netflix called "Footprints: The Path of Your Life" (2016) is a must see. It follows the journey of 12 Catholic men, which includes one priest. Through their suffering, they find God's true path for their lives on this trail.
February 9, 2020
I enjoyed another book of Keith's, its easy to read (took me a matter of days) and the way the walk/experience is described is a strong point, its also very personally and Keith seems to put his all into his books (Like he does with his walks).
Towards the end it did peter out slightly (when Keith stayed in Villefranca for ten days and then heads off trail briefly to Madrid) but other than that he brought the Camino to life and I'll seriously consider doing it (or some of it) one day.
The Characters and Places along the journey are interesting and there is good flow to the Story with well researched History along the way. Judging by the mention of some of the events in the book I'd say his walk took place in 2001. Although you wouldn't necessary think this as the writing style is modern and the Journey feels very fresh, something which is testament to the Author. I'd also hazard a guess that Keith is around the same age that i am now, this may have helped somewhat but it should appeal to all.
Why it didn't quite get the full five stars was because the the experience is based on feel (which is a strength in itself) as opposed to description on daily mileage/elevation and also there is little information on kit used etc (but this is a personal choice) and I think other elements in the book make up for it.
I'd say overall from the two books of Keith's that I have read that he's the best Author on Long Distance Walking that I've come across, I have two more of his books which I will read soon as well. I wonder why his works aren't more well know as he has a superb writing style. Its very inspirational.
Towards the end it did peter out slightly (when Keith stayed in Villefranca for ten days and then heads off trail briefly to Madrid) but other than that he brought the Camino to life and I'll seriously consider doing it (or some of it) one day.
The Characters and Places along the journey are interesting and there is good flow to the Story with well researched History along the way. Judging by the mention of some of the events in the book I'd say his walk took place in 2001. Although you wouldn't necessary think this as the writing style is modern and the Journey feels very fresh, something which is testament to the Author. I'd also hazard a guess that Keith is around the same age that i am now, this may have helped somewhat but it should appeal to all.
Why it didn't quite get the full five stars was because the the experience is based on feel (which is a strength in itself) as opposed to description on daily mileage/elevation and also there is little information on kit used etc (but this is a personal choice) and I think other elements in the book make up for it.
I'd say overall from the two books of Keith's that I have read that he's the best Author on Long Distance Walking that I've come across, I have two more of his books which I will read soon as well. I wonder why his works aren't more well know as he has a superb writing style. Its very inspirational.
December 8, 2017
I had already read two books previously by "Fozzie". (Travelled Far: A Collection Of Hiking Adventures and The Last Englishman) The story was as entertaining as The Last Englishman (for some reason I find thru hiking memoirs interesting reads). I have read some books on PCT and AT before, but this is the first one I read about the Camino. One entertaining part of this one was that it was his first thru hike and he didn't yet quite know what it takes to complete one. Later Mr. Foskett has developed his writing skills, as I found this one to be not quite as well written as his later books. Don't get me wrong, the writing is still good and in no way gets in the way of a good story. The story seemed very personal, as I found the other pilgrims he met on the way to remain a bit shallow and flat, but his own feelings and emotions very well described. And I really loved the description of how it feels to end a very long hike. I will also be reading Balancing on Blue - Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail in the near future and I'm interested in walking at least a part of the Camino.
June 4, 2016
In The Journey in Between Keith Foskett tells us about the walk which went on to change his life. He recounts the thought processes of trekkers and their obsessions: feet, food and the finishing line prominent among them. Sometimes he is truculent, sometimes sensitive but never wishy-washy; it is his strong personality that holds the narrative together.
The book follows his first thru-hike on one of the Ways of St James, a total of 1000 miles. It is also about encounters. Brief. Some romantic – the pictures on his website give a clue to his fortunes. Chance plays a large part. He meets some walkers repeatedly but one man who set off just two days ahead of him is only seen at the end.
When he turns his hand to description there are some beautiful phrases: “chestnuts turned the path into a shimmer of mahogany,” for example. And he makes the most of meetings with the locals, including a classic description of an old man roasting his red pepper harvest in a garage. So I would have liked to read more about the places passed through.
Near the end of the trek he sees a note scribbled by another walker “I have just begun to realise that Santiago is only the destination”. It is not the destination which matters but the path taken to get there.
The book follows his first thru-hike on one of the Ways of St James, a total of 1000 miles. It is also about encounters. Brief. Some romantic – the pictures on his website give a clue to his fortunes. Chance plays a large part. He meets some walkers repeatedly but one man who set off just two days ahead of him is only seen at the end.
When he turns his hand to description there are some beautiful phrases: “chestnuts turned the path into a shimmer of mahogany,” for example. And he makes the most of meetings with the locals, including a classic description of an old man roasting his red pepper harvest in a garage. So I would have liked to read more about the places passed through.
Near the end of the trek he sees a note scribbled by another walker “I have just begun to realise that Santiago is only the destination”. It is not the destination which matters but the path taken to get there.
May 11, 2016
I'm so gutted that I've finished reading Fozzie's tale about his thru-hike of the Camino de Santiago. I totally loved it, and read it having already read his story about his thru-hike of the PCT called "The Last Englishman" - which I also highly recommend. The Journey In Between covers all aspects of the hike such as blisters, bad weather, good weather, scenery - including attractive French sunbathers! descriptions of the towns and refuges he stayed at, food and making friends with like-minded souls. The best element for me is his rather dry sense of humour. It had me folded in two at times. Unfortunately I read it too fast, except for the last few chapters as he was approaching the end of his thru-hike as I was trying to savour every last drop of the book. Thankfully he's written his book about the Appalachian Trail, so I have more Fozzie-fix lined up. Then I'll probably re-read all three books again. Can't recommend them highly enough. Pleeease Fozzie, hurry up to write another....!
September 24, 2016
By the time I came to the end of this book I liked Fozzie a lot. Mostly because he likes other people. If you don't keep him awake all night with your snoring he will look for and find the best in you. His version of the Camino is very sociable. He mostly walked on his own but sometimes kept company with others and always enjoyed shared meals and drinks and chats with fellow pilgrims and others along the way. Although not religious he felt that the Camino had given him something important. Apart from the sense of achievement he seems to have valued the sense of belonging to a community while he was on the road. All of that is very enjoyable but it is hard to understand, from this book, what the Camino might be like for people who are not Fozzie. You learn that some of the route is pretty and other parts are on busy roads, sometimes there are small villages and he also mentions a large town. So this is not a walking book for those who are interested in the route but you gain something else from the book, the feeling that you have been on a journey while reading it.
September 14, 2020
I've read some of the other reviews of this book, and I understand the ambivalence of some of them: some say that this isn't that well written and so on. And that's a defendable position. Keith Foskett isn't Joan Didion or some other prose stylist who draws attention to the way a sentence is constructed. That's not Mr. Foskett's strength, and ultimately I think that is probably not the standard I would want to judge the book against. The book appears to be, though, 100% Keith Foskett. That is, by the end of the book you really do have a sense of the person who wrote it. He's likeable, easy-going (largely), quirky, and flawed. He doesn't experience a life-changing epiphony or fake one, and I appreciated that. He is good enough at drawing the wide variety of "characters" he meets along the way, idiosyncratic fellow pilgrims. I read the book to the end, and I didn't feel doing so was some kind of penance or obligation. Ultimately, I think you'll find that the book is a good read provided you have reasonable expectations of it.
June 12, 2016
Inspiring journey
I'm a typical armchair traveller, always reading about journeys that I would love to do and no doubt could do or attempt if I didn't put every other commitment first. Now, sadly, age has crept up and provided a concrete reason for not getting up and going. The Camino pilgrim's walk has fascinated me for years and I keep getting drawn back to it. I've now read numerous very good accounts of the Camino walk and Keith 'Fozzy' Foskett's is the best. He writes really well and captures beautifully the camaraderie, the spirituality (not necessarily religious) and the sheer fun of the walk. He kept me gripped all the way through and through I read it as an ebook I shall now get the hard copy to add to my best travel, regularly reread collection. Thanks Fozzy
I'm a typical armchair traveller, always reading about journeys that I would love to do and no doubt could do or attempt if I didn't put every other commitment first. Now, sadly, age has crept up and provided a concrete reason for not getting up and going. The Camino pilgrim's walk has fascinated me for years and I keep getting drawn back to it. I've now read numerous very good accounts of the Camino walk and Keith 'Fozzy' Foskett's is the best. He writes really well and captures beautifully the camaraderie, the spirituality (not necessarily religious) and the sheer fun of the walk. He kept me gripped all the way through and through I read it as an ebook I shall now get the hard copy to add to my best travel, regularly reread collection. Thanks Fozzy
May 16, 2017
... appropriate subtitle: " Thinking about feet, food and finishing!"
Author Keith Foskett does a good job of painting what he sees as he walks along the famed El Camino de Santiago, and he does it with a good deal of humor and insight, making the journey an enjoyable one for the reader. As my made-up subtitle would indicate, there is a great deal of the book that deals with the condition of one's feet, the search for food, and the need to finish the entire walk ... but if one were to think about it, paying special attention to these things would be crucial, if one plans on successfully completing this lengthy hike.
Not the page-turner I had expected, but a decent account (4 1/2 Stars) of one man's journey along this oft-written-about pilgrimage.
Author Keith Foskett does a good job of painting what he sees as he walks along the famed El Camino de Santiago, and he does it with a good deal of humor and insight, making the journey an enjoyable one for the reader. As my made-up subtitle would indicate, there is a great deal of the book that deals with the condition of one's feet, the search for food, and the need to finish the entire walk ... but if one were to think about it, paying special attention to these things would be crucial, if one plans on successfully completing this lengthy hike.
Not the page-turner I had expected, but a decent account (4 1/2 Stars) of one man's journey along this oft-written-about pilgrimage.
September 22, 2017
The Journey in Between: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on El Camino de Santiago (2010) by Keith Foskett describes walking the great French and Spanish walking trail.
As a veteran of long walks I've done the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian trail, well, I've read books about them anyway and Foskett's book compares quite well with other books that focus on the trail and the people you meet rather than just the author's issues.
If you're into these kinds of books then this one holds up. It's perhaps a bit thin on describing the churches and the history of El Camino but that can be obtained from other sources. It's also an inspiration to people like myself who just read these books and wonder how they can one day wangle doing one of these walks.
As a veteran of long walks I've done the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian trail, well, I've read books about them anyway and Foskett's book compares quite well with other books that focus on the trail and the people you meet rather than just the author's issues.
If you're into these kinds of books then this one holds up. It's perhaps a bit thin on describing the churches and the history of El Camino but that can be obtained from other sources. It's also an inspiration to people like myself who just read these books and wonder how they can one day wangle doing one of these walks.
April 9, 2019
Keith wanted to walk, an adventure, without time tables. A place with history, culture, good foods. Bob gives him the name Camino de Santiago.
To get a completion certificate one only needed to walk 63.mikes.
Or the whole 1,000 miles, taking several weeks. For him he had three months, not just a walk, but an experience awaited him. The blisters were a problem, until a doctor said, to keep walking the feet will toughen up. The language of my English, with very poor French. The one annoyance was the bag rustlers, plastic bags from grocery stores, about 5:30 am, put night clothes in them, to set off earlier, so they could stop by noon. The experience taught me to live in the moment.
Delightful story of one who walk this trail and took the time to enjoy the beauty and friends along the way.
To get a completion certificate one only needed to walk 63.mikes.
Or the whole 1,000 miles, taking several weeks. For him he had three months, not just a walk, but an experience awaited him. The blisters were a problem, until a doctor said, to keep walking the feet will toughen up. The language of my English, with very poor French. The one annoyance was the bag rustlers, plastic bags from grocery stores, about 5:30 am, put night clothes in them, to set off earlier, so they could stop by noon. The experience taught me to live in the moment.
Delightful story of one who walk this trail and took the time to enjoy the beauty and friends along the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews