Last night I went to the Country Dance at Loafer's and talked with my friend who'll soon be leaving on a cruise to Portugal and Spain. I'd gotten the information about that trip and it sent me in a different direction. I started thinking of the Camino and wondered if I could take a route … Continue reading Camino Samaritan
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Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
It's been two months since I left for the Camino; I'm amazed that that much time has gone by. In the days before I left, when I was walking for miles at Hunter St. Park with my loaded backpack, I gradually built up muscle and strength. During that time, I was visiting at my sister, … Continue reading Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
3 Tips for the Journey
During my preparation for the Camino, and later on the path, I was given three pieces of advice that served me well. Sometimes advice goes "in one ear and out the other," but these words of wisdom, from three friends, made for a more successful journey. Last February, when I was buying gear and going … Continue reading 3 Tips for the Journey
Camino Adventure: Red Car in Ramallosa
It was my eighth day of walking and I'd need to cover 16 miles starting in Oia and ending at my night's lodging in Ramallosa, Spain. When I was preparing to leave my room in Oia, I felt restless, out of sorts, and my doubting voice asked, "Can I do it another day?" I'd looked … Continue reading Camino Adventure: Red Car in Ramallosa
Funicular: Fear or Fun?
For the next three Sundays, while I'm traveling on the Camino, my posts have been written ahead of time based on where I'll be. I've found on previous journeys, that to anticipate a new place and then to actually experience it offers many surprises. In my video posts on my author Facebook page, I plan … Continue reading Funicular: Fear or Fun?
Camino Bound: Going Solo–Again
In January, I signed up to go with a group on the Portuguese Coastal Camino through the company Prayerful Path led by Mary Maddox from Georgia https://prayerfulpath.com. It would be nice to go in a small group of ten people and feel the camaraderie and support of fellow travelers. When I turned fifty, I started … Continue reading Camino Bound: Going Solo–Again
Camino Bound: Symbols to Carry
In a week, I'll take off for Porto to start my walk on the Portuguese Coastal Camino. I've considered what I should carry beyond the necessities of clothing, medications, maps, and travel documents. I've felt a need for symbols that will anchor me in my purpose. For many years, the scallop shell has been the … Continue reading Camino Bound: Symbols to Carry
Camino Bound: A Blessing for the Journey
Last Saturday, when I met with my Raleigh Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino, our leader recognized any in our group who would be heading out on the path in the next month; that was me. In the presence of many who have walked the Camino, and others who are anticipating that journey, he … Continue reading Camino Bound: A Blessing for the Journey
Camino Prep: Setbacks
It's four weeks now until I leave for Portugal to walk the Coastal Camino path to Santiago. I'm amazed at how the time has passed since I first made the plan to go on pilgrimage on that ancient path. Since I started my training at the Hunter St Park, we've gone through fall, winter, spring, … Continue reading Camino Prep: Setbacks
Internal Pilgrimage: Plunging into Mystery
In the last two posts, I've explored aspects of the internal pilgrimage that we're all walking using Christine Walter's Paintner's gifts of embracing doubt. ( p112, Ch. 7, "The Practice of Embracing the Unknown" The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within ) When thinking about mystery, I considered why it is … Continue reading Internal Pilgrimage: Plunging into Mystery