Two years ago as I neared the end of my Camino journey, I felt a mix of relief and sadness. I'd carried the dream of walking that pilgrim path for 12 years. When I accomplished that goal, there would be an absence in my life, a dream that had been realized. I'd also be relieved … Continue reading To Realize a Dream: Arrival in Santiago
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Camino Remembered: Vigo to Pontevedra
Two years ago, I was well into my journey walking the Portuguese Coastal Camino. I look back at the Blessing for Departing Pilgrims that I received from my support group back in North Carolina -- American Pilgrims on the Camino, Raleigh Chapter. "May you find companionship on the way and guidance at the crossroads." On … Continue reading Camino Remembered: Vigo to Pontevedra
Walking the Camino: A Transformative Journey
On August 10, 2024, I stepped onto the Camino path north of Porto, I was glad that 8-mile day would be along the Atlantic with dazzling views of the water. At first it was surreal that I was actually walking the Camino -- something I'd had in my heart to do since 2012. For months … Continue reading Walking the Camino: A Transformative Journey
Exploring Porto: My Pre-Camino Adventure
Two years ago, I set out to walk the Portuguese Coastal Path of the Camino de Santiago. I landed in Porto on Tuesday August 6th to acclimate myself before stepping onto the path on Saturday morning. Now I look at the artifacts from that journey, the cards and presents of encouragement, the log of my … Continue reading Exploring Porto: My Pre-Camino Adventure
Remembering Sedona: Journeys that Stay with Us
Recently my friend and her husband took a road trip out west. She shared lots of photos along the way and I especially enjoyed the ones of the red rock formations in Moab, Utah. I haven't been there but the rocks reminded me of Sedona, Arizona. I could appreciate the startling beauty that's so different … Continue reading Remembering Sedona: Journeys that Stay with Us
Camino Journey: The Gifts of Being Present
Lately, I've been remembering back to one day of my solo journey in August of 2024 on the Camino. I started that trip in Porto, Portugal and covered 158 miles in 14 days in order to reach the Cathedral in Santiago, Spain. On my third day, with the goal of walking 16-miles of that Portuguese … Continue reading Camino Journey: The Gifts of Being Present
Solo Journey: The Seed of an Idea
This last week of February, the urge to take a solo journey hit me when I was on my morning walk. I'd been busy in January with my writing and then back-to-back weekends of ice then snow put me in a hibernating mode. But on that walk, with the air feeling like spring, the thought … Continue reading Solo Journey: The Seed of an Idea
Walking a Path of Faith
This Sunday will mark the second in the season of Advent and the Faith candle will be lit. For me, the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph on their sojourn to Bethlehem, is mostly a story of faith. The practical reason for this trip was to pay taxes. But the overarching story is to fulfill … Continue reading Walking a Path of Faith
Solo Journeys: Wide Open Spaces
When I rode my bike last weekend at Ft Caswell, I was transported back to my second Solo Journey. That year I turned fifty and gave myself a trip--alone, for my birthday present. I'd remembered how freeing that first unexpected serendipitous trip to Sedona had been when I was forty-six: no carpooling teenage sons, no … Continue reading Solo Journeys: Wide Open Spaces
Camino Journey: Opening the Door
It was a year ago when I completed my journey on the Portuguese Coastal Path of the Camino. In reliving those fourteen days, I've looked back at my pictures, journal entries, and printed pages of maps and directions. Throughout my travel in Portugal and Spain, like on other trips, I was fascinated by doors and … Continue reading Camino Journey: Opening the Door
Connie Rosser Riddle 