Walking the Camino de Santiago
Today being the feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, my Confirmation Saint and the brother of Saint James – Santiago – it seems apropos to begin this new series of the Camino Photo of the Day today. My 2023 pilgrimage began in our parish church of Saint Patrick, with the ancient pilgrims’ blessing bestowed on me by my pastor, […]
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Last night was the first time I sang “Ultreïa” on this Camino. It was in the darkened church after compline, and we processed around the interior of the church singing it before ending up before a carving of the blessed Virgin Mary. And then we sang the Salve Regina. This morning I stayed for breakfast in the refectory. I continue […]
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Last night’s dinner in the seminary refectory was my first real chance to sit down and talk with French pilgrims. Well, I say “talk” but we probably only had fifty words in common between two languages and the six of us. None of them are going to be on the trail for more than two weeks, and some for considerably […]
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Kit for the Via Podiensis We’ve come to that part of the pre-Camino countdown where for every two or three items I’m checking off my list, I seem to be adding one more. Today my very last piece of kit arrived – a new windbreaker/rain shell to replace my old one. The new one is about a third the weight […]
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After a delay prompted by my injury, we are back to training in earnest! This week, I’ve added some weight back to my pack, taking me up to about 16.4 pounds (without water). The only things I haven’t added back in yet are my breviary and prayerbook bundle, my “strawberry troll” poncho, and my journal. We are continuing our daily […]
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Early this morning, I had my follow-up visit with the podiatrist. He was extremely pleased and somewhat amazed with my rapid progress. We discussed a Cortizone shot, but given the level of improvement, he wasn’t too enthusiastic about it. So that’s off the table. Most importantly, he cleared me for my Camino. I am convinced that my rapid recovery is […]
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This rustic statue of Santiago resides in the high altar of the Igrexa Parroquial de Santiago de Boente. While it’s no work of high art, it has a certain primitive charm that has made it iconic on this part of the Camino. Holy cards featuring the image and a passport stamp are always cheerfully given, which last long after you’ve […]
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Here we see Francine hiking along a Galician holloway, a path worn into the ground by centuries of local use and passing pilgrims. We walked this type of path both on the Camino Francés and the Camino Primitivo throughout Galicia. The closer the various Camino paths funnel towards Santiago, the more pilgrims trod any given specific path, so of course […]
» Read moreWe walked a “long Camino” in the autumn of 2023. Unlike our previous pilgrimages, Francine embarked on a separate adventure. Thom headed for France. He began in the French city of Le Puy-en-Velay. This route, known as the Via Podiensis, covers something like 740km before arriving in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, where it becomes the Camino Francés. Then it’s 800km in Spain. This adventure is about […]
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After last year’s short, sharp Camino Primitivo, we’re already planning for what I am calling “the long Camino” in the spring of 2024. Like our original 2013 Camino, Francine is planning to only walk part of the route, most likely the first ten or so days and the last week or two. I’m planning to begin in the French city […]
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