Fleeting moments, lasting memories Our merry band left Los Arcos in high spirits. I was happy to have someone new to talk to, especially someone from so close to home. We stopped for a breakfast …
Continue readingCamino De Santiago: The Hardest Day
Author: Katie Swanson
Finding Our Trail Family on the Camino
Remembrance and celebration On our tenth day on the Camino, we were walking through the countryside, headed into Estella. A couple of pilgrims caught up with us and we began the usual friendly exchange. The …
Continue readingCamino De Santiago: The Trail Provides
After an entire day off, I was restless. Andy wanted to take another full day off, but I wanted to get back on the Camino. We compromised with a short day, only about five kilometers. …
Continue readingMaking Peace with Rest on the Camino
Calm after the storm After a good night’s rest and a big breakfast, we said goodbye to the other pilgrims and our gracious hosts and set out on the trail. The rain had stopped and …
Continue readingWet and Wild (Camping) on The Camino
Finding the Camino Spirit The rain continued all night. We woke up and were shocked when we realized our bodies weren’t totally wrecked. What luck! Maybe the Camino wouldn’t be so hard after all. We …
Continue readingBuen Camino! We’re on The Way
We woke up early the next morning to the rustling of other pilgrims. They clambered from their bunks, gathered their gear, and left the hostel. By the time we were ready to go, all morsels …
Continue readingOverpacked and Underprepared
Off to a rough start We woke up the next morning chilly but refreshed from our night of sleeping under the stars. We came into the main house where our sweet host had hot coffee …
Continue readingThe Quest Begins and The Way Appears
Welcome to Europe! From Oklahoma City, we flew to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Here we had our last American meal before leaving the country: overpriced, soggy sandwiches and beer. The finest airport cuisine. But it didn’t matter. …
Continue readingThrowing off the Bowlines
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch …
Continue reading“But How Did You Do It?” Part 2: Bring in More Dough
While planning for the Quest, we were both working full-time jobs. Andy was an aerospace engineer and I was a non-profit program manager. Andy was on a project that involved a team of engineers in …
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