What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
Distance Walked: 20 km, 6 hours (including breaks) Accommodations: Gracciano Parrocchia, San Marziale 1, 53034 Gracciano D'Elsa , 6 beds. Very basic. Cost: Donation. Tel.3297465518 - feaesi@gmail.com When preparing for this trip, one of my worries was needing to speak Italian, on the phone, without assistance. That opportunity came last night when I called ahead to… Continue reading Day 5: San Gimignano to Gracciano
San Gimignano: Often referred to as the "town of fine towers", San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture and the unique preservation of its tower houses. It is also well known for its saffron and its white wine. The Historic Centre of San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sights: The Duomo of San… Continue reading Day 4: Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano
Gambassi Terme is located on a (very) hilly ridge 35 km from Florence. Its mixture of natural beauty, historical buildings, visible pieces of the past (as well as its location on the VF) make it a very worthwhile place to visit. Sights: Pieve of Saint Maria Permanent Glass Exhibition Via Francigena Spa Distance Walked: 27.5… Continue reading Day 3: San Miniato Basso to Gambassi Terme
Although we enjoyed yesterday’s walk, today’s hike reminded us about what we love most about the Camino. The scenery was lush and peaceful, and changed frequently. The majority of this hike was far away from traffic (and other people) making it incredibly meditative. All along today’s trail were Information Signs (as in the Feature Photo)… Continue reading Day 2: Galleno to San Miniato Basso
Lucca proved to be a wonderful place to hang out before our pilgrimage. There was much to see and do, including the Old Town, City Walls, Botanical Gardens and the Via Francigena Museum (a must see for Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims alike)! It also allowed us to check off the practicalities that we needed to do,… Continue reading And We’re Off! Lucca to Galleno
Richard and I are on the countdown until we begin our whirlwind family and friend tour (Victoria, BC, Kelowna, BC and Lincoln, UK) and then onto our 400 km trek across Tuscany into Rome. To prepare, we have been packing, unpacking, repacking and adjusting our backpacks trying to make miracles happen. We have also been… Continue reading Practice Hikes
I recently had a conversation with another hiker about convertible pants. Yup, the ones with the horizontal zipper (or Velcro strip) allowing the pants to instantly become shorts. Attractive, right? She said that they are a fashion faux pas and must NEVER be worn….not even on the Camino. I said that I would not do… Continue reading The Camino Trail: Convertible Pants, and other Packing Tips
The problem with walking the Camino Trail is that it gets a hold of you and won't let go. In 2010, Richard and I walked our first Camino, 110 km from Tui, Portugal to Santiago de Compestella, Spain. In 2016, we walked another 110 km from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Najera, Spain.… Continue reading La Via Francigena – The Plan
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are stunning to behold. I have driven past them numerous times but have never previously stopped and stepped into their surrounding wilderness. This week, that finally changed. Recently, we visited family in both Kelowna (BC) and Sherwood Park (AB). As a bonus, we were able to catch up with a close… Continue reading A Postcard from the Canadian Rockies
'E' is for 'Exercise' and 'Enjoyment' In her recent A to Z post, Sue at Sizzling Toward Sixty, encourages us to explore movement-based activities that we enjoy, then schedule these activities regularly into our week. I wholeheartedly agree with Sue, as do most studies on this subject. According to researchers, enjoyment of exercise creates a… Continue reading A to Z Challenge: Day Five – “E”
Retirement Reflections 