What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
Our days on the Camino have been incredibly full, with reliable internet being rare and illusive. Once a week, whenever the internet gods are with me, I will attempt to post quick postcards of highlights for that week. Here's a sneak peek from Week One. Getting There - July 19 & 20: We had a… Continue reading Post Cards from the Camino Trail 2017 – Week One
Richard and I now have our backpacks packed and are ready to set out for our 700 km Camino Trail walking adventure. For quite some time, I've had it in the back of my mind to write a post about our plans for this trek. I was delighted when Sue, from Sizzling Toward Sixty, gave… Continue reading Celebrating a Milestone Birthday: 700 Kilometers on the Camino Trail
I can go for days without any computer, tablet or phone connectivity. I can and I did. The world did not end. Who knew? I cannot plan everything. Even I (who previously thought that spontaneity was for slackers) have begun to realize that improvisation is often the most challenging and rewarding commitment of all. Music… Continue reading Top Ten Lessons Learned on the Camino Trail: Personal Reflections
Our one-and-a-half days in Bilbao were exactly what we needed before the long flight home. Although my mind would not shut down (even when it was supposed to be in sleep mode) my legs instantly became heavy. I was extremely glad to have that first half day to humour the parts of my body that… Continue reading Days 9 & 10 – Bilbao: A Change of Pace
Although we repeatedly told ourselves that we had no set goal as to where we would end up on the trail – that may have been true for the day-to-day – but we did secretly have an ultimate goal to arrive in Najera for our finish. Now with only 30 K to go, and relatively… Continue reading Day 8 — Los Arcos to Najera (29.6K): A Change of Plans
It is said that the ‘Camino provides’, and that it gives each individual the lesson(s) that h/she needs. Although I have begun to chill a bit (well...at least for me), patience is still a virtue to which I can only aspire. Seven kilometers outside of Los Arcos, we reached a small town, Sansol (population: 108).… Continue reading Day 7 – Los Arcos to Logrono (28.2 K): Eugene Levy, the Sandwich Maker
(with apologies to Persian philosopher/poet, Omar Khayyam) The Camino Frances is rich with intriguing surprises and delights. Today’s route was an exceptional example. Just outside of Estella, we reached the renowned Camino Wine Fountain, Fuente del Vino. It was built in 1991 and belongs to the Bodegas Irache winery. The adjoining monastery is said to… Continue reading Day 6 – Lorca to Los Arcos (29.5 K): A Loaf of Bread, A Jug of Wine, and Thou
I must confess, my pen and paper notes started to become a bit sloppy at this time. Our days (although each unique) began to blur together. I do remember starting this day by climbing 200 meters over two kilometers and then descending 300 meters over the next four-and-a-half. Although there was a cool photo op… Continue reading Day 5 – Zariquiegui to Lorca (27.1 K): Building Community
Because we had pushed on past Roncesvalles, we were not on the typical path of ‘stages’ for the Camino Frances. That meant we stayed in smaller towns most nights--which worked perfectly for us. The downside was that during the hottest part of the day we were walking sections of the trail that were much better… Continue reading Day 4 – Larrasoana to Zariquiegui (25.7 K): We Should have Listened to the Bartender!
Somebody lied. Or else I honestly was not paying enough attention. I had (repeatedly) heard that Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles was the most difficult part of the entire Camino Frances and after that, the path was much easier. Visions of flat, smooth trails danced through my mind. For me, that conception could not have been more… Continue reading Day 3 – Espinal to Larrasoana (30 K): Somebody Lied!
Retirement Reflections 