My intention for this adventure is to be more aware. I want to observe and reflect. I don’t want to be so focused on each step, each breath, the aches and pains but rather look around and enjoy. 

Today while waiting for our flight there was a couple from Great Britain sitting across from us. I noticed their accents. I couldn’t place where exactly they were from in the UK, like my older brother can do but definitely GB. Most of the time they were on their phones listening or reading. I looked up at one point and the man had a book in his hands that was only partially there, in other words pages had been torn away. At that moment he ripped out half a dozen page and tore them in two and in two again. He then proceeded to read what was left of his book. After they departed I walked over to where the torn pages lay on the table to see what the book was: The Psychic Eye.

Another observation: a woman seated her two children, ages 5 and 7 in the seats where the British couple had been sitting. She and her husband sat behind us in two other seats. The children did not look happy about being away from their parents even though it was a very short distance. I indicated to Noël that we should move so they could sit together. In perfect French Noël let them know they could all sit together. They were so grateful and the kids calmed down immediately. 

Our flight was on time and there was a tailwind so we got in early. Bilbao is a lively city and our pension is a simple room with a shared bathroom on a very active and noisy street. Apparently there is a festival going on since 17 August until 25 August. Aste Nagusia or “The Great Week” (Basque: Bilboko Aste Nagusia, Spanish: Semana Grande de Bilbao) is the main festival of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, which is celebrated annually over 9 days beginning on the first Saturday following 15 August, the festivity of the Assumption of Our Lady. (According to Wikipedia). Hoopla!!

Buen Camino!!!

Hi friends, we are off on another adventure and very excited!! We are flying to Bilbao.

As usual there have been changes in our plans. We were going to walk the Norte Camino but struggled finding affordable accommodations. Places were full or too expensive. So we pivoted and decided to walk a piece of the Camino Frances again. Last March we were not able to go over the Napoleon route so this actually works great for us. In addition to getting to cross over the Pyrenees by way of the Napoleon route we can pick up our chacos that we ordered on our last adventure. They have had adventures of their own but never made it to us. The Pilgrim office in St Jean Pied de Port has held on to them for us. So we will finally get them.

Our plan is to walk the Camino Frances until Leon. In Leon we will take the San Salvador camino to Oviedo. Then take the camino Primitivo to Santiago de Compostela. We will go to Muxia again. And then maybe do some other camino routes.

We will of course miss Lindsay, Mitchell and the pups Delilah and Jemma.

Hope this finds you well. I invite you to come along with us as we set out!!Enjoy your day. And Buen Camino!

Walking across Belgium, France, and Spain for four and a half months I find myself still adjusting and after a month and a half I have taken a semi break from social media. I have been doing quiet reflection on what happened physically, emotionally and spiritually. Since arriving back to the Netherlands we decided to continue our journey by joining a gym, jogging again, and continue hiking. After a week and a half of this Noël and I started having health issues. Noël’s eyes started itching, swelling, we finally found out it was an allergic reaction. I had bronchitis. It was a bummer. But now we are better!!

And now we are off on our next adventure! We are headed to Texas to celebrate my mom’s 97th birthday, see my son, and my sister and her family. We are NOT super excited except for the heat.

PILGRIMAGE: A journey of thoughtful intention with an unknown outcome.

This time out is also a pilgrimage of sorts. Sometimes the body insists on rest and that’s what we have had to do. At the same time we have enjoyed family time!

We are finally back at the gym and running and hiking. We are preparing for our next adventure which will be walking the Primitivo but also part of the Northern Camino from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela.

I hope you are all doing well.

Making connections:

From the day you start your camino making connections is a big part of your journey.

For us starting from The Netherlands and not seeing other pilgrims for two months this meant staying connected with family and friends through daily texts, blog posts , social media. This was super important to us.

Once we reached Le Puy en Velay after two months of walking we saw our first pilgrims. Once reaching Saint Jean Pied de Port the community begins to really grow. And you develop friendships and even Camino families.

One of this most interesting parts of camino life is the way you dive into very deep and intimate conversations with complete strangers. It’s almost as if walls are removed, you don’t wear a mask, no need for pretense.

After meeting people and seeing them a second time you greet them with warmth and often a hug. saying goodbye at the end of pilgrimage is sometimes filled with tears, but you know you are richer for these new friendships.

I feel so blessed to have so many communities and to be connected with you through the miles and years. Thank you!!