June 24. 1015, Debby and I will be leaving Seattle for our pilgrimage. We will be walking the 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago (the French Way). In 2010, we walked the last 114 km of the Camino and the Camino has been calling to us since.
This year we know the time is right. I closed my restaurant of 30 years and began a new career as a high school culinary arts teacher at the age of 63 and Debby is planning for her retirement from teaching elementary school. We both know we need the physical challenge and the personal time for reflection and contemplation of our new life journeys.
There are hundreds of pilgrim’s blogs that I have been reading. I am questioning whether one more is even necessary. I decided to write this one for two reasons: 1)My family is not really interested in sitting down for hours to hear and see my journey after the fact, but they do check in with my progress daily or weekly. (This way my feelings don’t get hurt, I don’t get mad at them, and they don’t have to pretend to want to watch.) 2)Blogging helps me process the sights and smells, the food and wine, and the solitude and companionship of my journey.
Now it is time for us to begin the planning of our journey. So it begins…..
I am home now. It was a long trip back from Spain, about 24 hours of travel. I had a wonderful nights sleep but am on Camino time still so up at 2:00 am. It feels very strange to be back in a large house. And also to have such quiet at night. Although it…
We decided to leave a little later this morning since we only had 10 km to walk. As I heard other pilgrims getting up and leaving I could feel my body pulling me to join them. It is partly a genetic thing. In my family if someone was going somewhere we all went happily. Maybe…
Today was quite a last long hike. We walked past the next “official” stop and moved into the woods sans hundreds of pilgrims. The alternate route took us into deep forests that were cool and quiet; so we had our last day of reflection. Tomorrow we have a 10k hike into Santiago de Compostela; along…
This is our last night in an albergue. Tomorrow we will be in a hotel outside of Santiago. It was the only place available with the influx on new pilgrims. Albergue life comes to…
When we entered the Galacian area I was very excited to relive old memories of my hike with the “girls” five years ago. It is strange to anticipate a feeling of comfort and familiarity and to be met with only one or two places that bring back a memory. Most of what were trails are…
We are in Galicia. It is not just the beautiful countryside or the Celtic shapes but the smell of cows and dodging cow pies all day. The odor is not a complaint just an observation that assaults the nose in hot weather. The dogs barked and scared this cow and I was almost gored. And I…
I just finished The Alchemist and I could have stayed at the albergue of a real one! It was strangle hiking into Sarria. Five years ago, four of us were delivered to the hotel to start our 115 Kms walk into Santiago. I walked by the hotel we stayed in, had a beer at…
I am sitting in the forest, in a chair swing, in my pj top and towel as a skirt, drinking 1.5€ a glass Vino Tinto, waiting for my clothes to dry and for dinner to be served. Chilling… We are at an Ecologically Albergue that is certified organic. It is rustic and charming. Our host…
Candi, This sounds like an amazing trip and an even more amazing life experience. I don’t know a lot about the trip but I am sure you will make the most of it like you did the restaurant. I am sad to hear you closed the restaurant but I will always remember the early morning coffee talks from 20 years ago. All things change but with that comes new life and new experiences which make us who we are. Best to you and Debby on your amazing Journey!!!
We are not dismissing going to Finisterre. Just leaving it as an open possibility. We are going to enjoy each day and accept what they bring and if it is right for us to continue on we will.😊
Good luck with your preparations, it’s a fun stage of the Camino journey. And congrats on the decision to undertake the entire 500 miles! It is such an incredible experience, as you already know. 🙂 I look forward to reading more about your Camino!
Two more pilgrims, Candi Bachtell and Debby Hoyt
Candi, This sounds like an amazing trip and an even more amazing life experience. I don’t know a lot about the trip but I am sure you will make the most of it like you did the restaurant. I am sad to hear you closed the restaurant but I will always remember the early morning coffee talks from 20 years ago. All things change but with that comes new life and new experiences which make us who we are. Best to you and Debby on your amazing Journey!!!
I see that you will be walking the Camino.I was wondering why you are planning on ending in Santiago instead of going all the way to Finistere?
We are not dismissing going to Finisterre. Just leaving it as an open possibility. We are going to enjoy each day and accept what they bring and if it is right for us to continue on we will.😊
Good luck with your preparations, it’s a fun stage of the Camino journey. And congrats on the decision to undertake the entire 500 miles! It is such an incredible experience, as you already know. 🙂 I look forward to reading more about your Camino!
Thanks Nadine. We are counting the days!
You’ve already begun your Camino. Buen Camino!
Cool,, Candice. This thing called life ain’t no dress rehearsal. Kudos!