15 years ago, on July 15, 2001 I wrote my first blog entry. Although, way back then, the term “blog” hadn’t even been introduced into the online vernacular. I called it my “Daily Journal.” (I think this might qualify me as one of the first, if not the very first,…

I had no idea that packing for the Camino was SUCH a big deal. I mean, I have packed, unpacked and repacked this backpack a million times and I'm still second-guessing myself. So, here's the rub - it is ALL about the weight! (Ugh, isn't that always the case. :)…

The Camino de Santiago translates as “The Way of Saint James.” It is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where legend has it the remains of Jesus’ apostle Saint James the Elder lie. The Camino has existed as a Christian pilgrimage for well over…

I really didn't know what to write about today. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share one of my journal entries from my silent retreat this summer about my evening ritual of walking the labyrinth at the Jesuit retreat center where I was praying through the  St. Ignatian Spiritual…

No, that is not a secret code of some sort. Then again, in a way, it kinda is. They are, actually, ways I identify in different personality typings. They are on my mind today because I have just spent the last 24 hours soaking up time with wonderful friends and…

In case you missed yesterday's blog post, I wrapped it up by sharing a conversation I had over lunch the day before. I had asked each of my friends at the table to tell us one area of their life that was filled with excitement and one area that was…

I am at the airport getting ready to fly to Iceland. I'm feeling too anxious to even think about  composing a new blog entry before my flight departs. So, I looked through my journal entries from my silent retreat again. (I may have to do this periodically when I don't have time…

I am officially on my way to the Camino (by way of two-day stop in Iceland and a brief layover in Paris.) The airfare was significantly cheaper on IcelandAir. Apparently, the country is attempting to draw tourist with these crazy low prices. And it's working! They advertise free layovers and…

That which I feared the most has come upon me. Clancy ended up at the Urgent Care last night with a life-threatening allergic reaction to a medication she just started taking. She’s going to be okay but this does set her back a ways because now she has to get that…

So, I bundle up on this cold, Icelandic morning and head out for another day of driving through a postcard. Leaving Reykjavik, I’m struck with how clean the city is. Not just as in “cleanliness” but in the very architecture. Straight lines, angular edges, no-frills exteriors. Even as we make…

I am sitting here overlooking the valley from which I just walked four hours – three of those hours were uphill! But, I made it. My first day of walking on the Camino. I was worried about this day (and tomorrow.) It is the steepest climb and it is before…

This is just a quick not to let you know that my iPhone crashed last night (pilot error) but it is now hobbling along enough that I will be able to write again but there will be a delay in posting today's blog. More to come tomorrow!  

Well, the Camino threw me into the deep end of the “trust” pool last night to teach me how to swim in the waters of surrender . I bought a SIM card to use in my phone for the remainder of the walk. I wanted to be easily accessible to…

Where do I begin? I’m now 72 very full hours of Camino life behind blogging and those 3 days have been filled with 3 months worth of stupefying sights and insights. I guess I’ll start with where I am in this moment and work my way backwards. I have returned…

I enjoyed a quiet, easy day in Pamplona. I stayed in bed until 10:00! Then enjoyed lunch of tapas and Sangria before walking into town to buy another pair of hiking socks. (I lost one in the dryer – i.e; clothesline in the wind.) I sat outside and drank café…

Today was a comparatively uneventful, somewhat boring, day. I left the hotel in Pamplona, stopped for a café con leche and croissant, listened to some music on my headphones (another thing I thought I’d never do on this walk) and after 20 kilometers and 26,000 steps I’m at my albergue…

Today, I walked 8 hours, 17 miles, 37,000 steps and 42 flights of stairs (according to my phone app.) It was stunning scenery all the way and I feel wiped out but strong. I enjoyed another lovely Pilgrim’s Dinner and conversation with perigrinos from all over the world. Such interesting…

I had already been walking 7 hours, 15 miles and 36,000 steps and hadn’t come across a village (or café!) for the last four hours! In the distance, I saw a mirage in the form of a food truck set up by the side of the Camino road for pilgrims.…

For the Traveler by John O'Donohue Every time you leave home, Another road takes you Into a world you were never in. New strangers on other paths await. New places that have never seen you Will startle a little at your entry. Old places that know you well Will pretend…

So…Claus and I are walking the Camino together again. He sent me a text message that read, “In two days, I will be in Logrono. I will wait for you there. Let’s walk together and connect with God again from a heart level.” Oh, there was such a big part…

What a full day we’ve had! After a night of rain, we set out in a soft mist. Ever since Claus texted me with pictures of his spending the night out under the stars when we were apart, I’ve known that I had to have that experience, too. Unfortunately, the…

Because we had camped out last night, I wasn’t able to send my backpack ahead to our next albergue, which meant I had to “be a real pilgrim” and carry it myself. Wow. I have so much respect for peregrinos who make this pilgrimage carrying their burdens on their backs.…

I’m not really going to write a blog today…I’m just writing a blog to tell you that. :) I had an experience yesterday that isn’t ready to be limited by words. I’m not sure if it is ever meant to be. Maybe. But not now. There are some encounters that…

The night we slept in the church tower, we had arrived in the late afternoon. The hospitelero directed me to the top of the tower into a stone attic where there was a sink and some soap to wash my clothes. She then pointed me to a school yard around…

So sorry about the sporadic blog posts lately. Not only did they not have wifi at the albergue but there wasn’t even an outlet in the room so my phone died. It was such a quaint, special little place, though. There were only four bunk beds in the room and…

Claus just left on a train to make his way back to Denmark and I am stepping into the second part of my Camino. It's hard to believe I'm not even halfway. This has already been more than I dreamed.  Because I wanted to send Claus away with a kiss,…

Okay, we may need to play catch up over these next few days. There is much I’ve experienced and learned that I want to share. I think it is best I start from where I am and work backwards, though. So, this is my view at this very moment. I…

I’m going to back up a couple of days to tell you about our walk from San Bol to Castrojeriz. It is considered part of the Meseta but I thought it was lovely. Maybe I haven’t hit the boring part, yet. We stopped for lunch in Hontanas and discovered our…