I know…3 trips to Europe in 1 year….

I also find it amazing that all stars have lined up with this great opportunity. It truly was a celebration and gift to myself (and one trip a gift from Maria and Benny; my Danish family) for 36 years of owning a business and finally saying goodbye to my beloved café and staff.

On this trip I am blessed with the opportunity to share the Camino with my amazing hiking partner and friend, Karen Temen. We will be walking on two Caminos that I have not walked; the Primativo from Lugo to Santiago, and the Finsterra. Both of these hikes are in area of Galicia.

We are giving ourselves plenty of days to do these 130 mile Caminos; slow strolling this time around…again. My heel spur is not inflamed, as it was for the Portuguese. I found out that I had torn my Achilles tendon on a hiking stumble before we left for Porto. I walked for three weeks with the tear and an injury to my back from the fall. So for the next three weeks and five days until we leave, I am on high alert for mountain beaver holes!

This will be my fifth time on a Camino. Yet each time I feel as excited about the prospects of each and every day. I think about meeting new people, challenging my mind and body to walk day after day, and eating Spanish food again. Oh! And drinking amazing Spanish Tempranillo.

One of my Camino friends is on the Portuguese Camino right now. She just started from Porto yesterday. We have kept in touch with each other’s lives since my 2019 Camino Frances. We have rejoiced in our highs and giving support during our lows. This is one of the blessings of the Camino; a few days together, pushing yourselves to your limits, receiving kind words of encouragement, sharing our fears and successes, produces a world wide network of friends.

And so, Karen and I will be leaving in three short weeks to meet up with your brother and his friend at the end of their Camino. This will be a special time for them. After we celebrate with a few days in Santiago, she and I will be off to “the end of the World” as Romans named called it. Today it is the only Camino that does not end in Santiago, but instead it starts there. It is considered the end of a pilgrim’s camino to be able to walk to the edge of the earth. A time to sit quietly and watch the sunset while contemplating your days on your Camino. I have never finished any of my previous Caminos at Finsterra, but on Sept. 21 I will!