Rome Reports Story on my Via Lemovicensis
A few weeks back, I was interviewed by a fellow named Santiago (!) for a story for Rome Reports. Here’s the result.
» Read moreCategory: Francine
Nudges of Grace
This morning just before I started my 5K walk, I reflexively checked the email on my phone. What I saw absolutely stopped me in my tracks, and I had to take a couple of minutes to regroup. The first two emails were little nudges to respond or follow up to older messages. The top one was something I had written […]
» Read moreFunerals and Weddings
One year ago today, I buried the love of my life in the cold earth of a priest’s grave. It’s an impossible thing. My heart aches even to think about it. Since I have returned from the Camino, the largest presence in Pistachio House is Francine’s absence. Today is also the feast of Saint Benedict, and Francine and I are […]
» Read moreVia Lemovicensis: Endgame
This morning, I was out of the albergue before 6:30 in an effort to beat today’s expected heat. Katie gave me a hug and left just a little bit before me. The morning air was humid. For the second day in a row, I didn’t even bother putting my fleece on. At this time of the morning, breakfast was out […]
» Read moreVia Lemovicensis: Here We Go
This morning, I’m getting on an airplane to fly to Paris. God willing, I begin walking on pilgrimage from Vézelay, France, on April 9. It was Francine’s dream to walk the Camino from Vézelay ever since she heard about this route in 2022. We have been actively planning this pilgrimage walk since late 2023. Francine was an enthusiastic pilgrim – […]
» Read moreVia Lemovicensis: Training Wrapup
Training for my upcoming walk on the Via Lemovicensis has more or less concluded. I’ve repacked my bags for the flight, and the two days until I fly will be taken up with various housekeeping measures and preparation for and celebration of Good Friday and the great Vigil of Easter. Part of that training is walking a “virtual Camino”. Francine […]
» Read moreA Saturday Training Day
In the decade and a half that I’ve trained for Camino, I’ve never done it without Francine before. There are days when that hits me, and I’m overcome with melancholy as I hike. At the same time, sometimes I can feel her with me, off to my left, hiking in her usual place. It is the strangest thing. Today, after […]
» Read moreVia Podiensis at Two Years
Today is the second anniversary of my arrival in Santiago following my thousand-mile walking pilgrimage on the Via Podiensis and Camino Francés. From August 18 through October 23, 2023, I walked from Le Puy-en-Velay in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain on pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Saint James the Greater. Last year on this date, I […]
» Read morePlanning the Via Lemovicensis, or, We’ll Never Have Paris
Next year, I plan to walk a long Camino for Francine. Some background is probably in order. At the annual Gathering of Pilgrims back in 2022, Francine attended a talk on one of the four main Camino routes in France: the Voie de Vézelay, also known as the Via Lemovicensis. She was immediately smitten with this route. For one thing, […]
» Read moreThe Feast of Saint James
Today is the Feast of Saint James the Greater, known throughout the Spanish-speaking world as Santiago and in French as Saint Jacques. He was one of Christ’s Twelve Apostles. Saint James is the patron saint of the archdiocese of Seattle. May you have the joy of the feast! James and his brother John were natives of Galilee, sons of the […]
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