“We need to be reminded sometimes that a sunrise lasts but a few minutes. But its beauty can burn in our hearts eternally.” – R. A. Salvatore Anyone who’s met me knows I am not a morning person. I don’t often see the sun rise, nor do I want to. (A more accurate quoteContinue reading “First Light on the Camino”
Category Archives: Quotes for the Journey
Local Life on the Camino (#CaminoTuesday)
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine I was in the small village of Urtega, just past Alto del Perdon, when I met an American pilgrim I’ll call Callie. She’d started her Camino pilgrimage in Pamplona, and so this was her first day onContinue reading “Local Life on the Camino (#CaminoTuesday)”
The Day I Almost Quit the Camino (#CaminoTuesday)
“The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.” – Hellen Keller Walking through L’Aubrac was like walking through the legends and stories Eric read as a kid. Five days after leaving Le Puy, we reached the true highlands of the Massif Central, irregular rolling hills of open,Continue reading “The Day I Almost Quit the Camino (#CaminoTuesday)”
A Walk Above the Ocean (#CaminoTuesday)
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Cousteau The climb was called Purgatorio for a reason. It was short—just 300 meters, but with 100 meters of elevation gain, it was less an uphill walk and more a hold-onto-tree-branches-to-pull-yourself-up ascent. But then I emerged from the trees,Continue reading “A Walk Above the Ocean (#CaminoTuesday)”
Camino Foot Care (#CaminoTuesday)
“It is a monastic life. You wake up, you walk. When you arrive, you take care of your feet, you take care of your basic needs, and you eat. Do it day after day, and it becomes a meditation.” These were the words of a wise gite host, Sylvain, in Saint-Come-d’Olt, just seven days intoContinue reading “Camino Foot Care (#CaminoTuesday)”
The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage (An Almost Wordless Wednesday)
Give me my scallop shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk upon, My scrip of joy, immortal diet, My bottle of salvation, My gown of glory, hope’s true gage, And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage. — The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage by Sir Walter Ralegh (click here to read the fullContinue reading “The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage (An Almost Wordless Wednesday)”
Why Do We Walk? Summer Reading Book Reviews
“Why are you walking?” It’s the second most popular question of the Camino, after only “where are you from?” Everyone had their own reason to put their life on hold, pare their belongings down to what fits in a pack, and set out on foot. I met people grieving the death of a spouse and Continue reading “Why Do We Walk? Summer Reading Book Reviews”
Away, Away From Men and Towns (An Almost Wordless Wednesday)
Away, away, from men and towns, To the wild wood and the downs— To the silent wilderness Where the soul need not repress its music (from An Invitation, by Percy Bysshe Shelley) April is National Poetry Month. Last Monday was Earth Day. And here in Seattle, there’s spring in the air. So it’s no surprise myContinue reading “Away, Away From Men and Towns (An Almost Wordless Wednesday)”
Progress (Almost Wordless Wednesday)
“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.” — Barack Obama When Eric and I set out from Le Puy, Santiago de Compostela seemed impossibly far away. A thousand miles? It was easy to get discouraged and believe I couldn’t do it. But the thingContinue reading “Progress (Almost Wordless Wednesday)”
To Saunter in the Mountains
“People ought to saunter in the mountains – not hike! Do you know the origin of that word ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, theyContinue reading “To Saunter in the Mountains”
camino times two 