And other advice; When to go, what to pack, solo or with porter or group, books to read. Everybody is different and this may be a once in a lifetime trip so choosing wisely is important. Some trekkers have their hearts set on walking to Everest Base Camp in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary …
What is so special about a hot bath, Onsen, in Japan? Hot spring baths are cultural icons of Japan. The local onsen is similar to the local pub in Ireland. The difference being instead of at the end of the day chatting over a pint or 2, the Japanese talk as they soak and let …
Learning To Cut Turf (Peat) The Old Fashioned Way: A few weeks into a 3,000 kilometer pilgrimage from County Clare, Ireland to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, I was in the middle of a 30K walk in Cork, from Millstreet to Bweeng, on a sunny day with scattered clouds across the deep blue sky. As the …
Learning The Art of Cutting Turf (Peat) In Ireland: Read More »
Resuming our Camino Levante Pilgrimage. Last August with temperatures soaring to 111F/44C we decided to stop in Toledo and bus to Ponferrada and continue to Santiago. It was my 15th Camino and first time ending before Santiago. Though I know many that do their Caminos in stages, so Mika and I vowed to return and …
A video of our last sunset in The Galapagos. Motoring north on the eastside of Santa Cruz Island, as the sun set over the sea, 4 frigatebirds soared alongside us. And if you look closely a crescent moon is in sight at times in the upper right corner. Video Link
Yesterday was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. For anyone considering a Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage here are 9 reasons why it is a wonderful starting point. While a high majority of pilgrims wanting to do the Camino de Santiago for a month or longer choose St. Jean Pied-de-Port (SJPP) as a starting …
Starting The Camino in Lourdes Instead of St. Jean-Pied-de-Port Read More »
CAMINO INVIERNO Day 6 Monforte to Chantada: Another memorable day on this most delightful Camino. Beautiful scenery, wonderful encounters, and delicious food and wine. We left the new and very comfortable Albergue Santiago 15 at 6 while it was still dark, enduring a long tough walk with 2 tough ascents through the lush forests and steep river …
Last morning on The Galapagos. A beautiful sunrise viewed from top of our boat, San Jacinto. Then a walk on Seymour Island with scores of birds including blue footed Boobies and mating Frigate Birds with the males exhibiting their desires via their blown up red sacks. And of course just before boarding our Zodiac for …
Woke early at 6 and Asun had a nice breakfast of toast and tea and fruit for us. So humbled by her kindness and service to us despite her handicap. Wonderful walking this morning taking us high above the River Sil. No bars but we had my fruit and there were 3 …
One of most humbling stays on this or any Camino: Following the serene River Sil and its wonderful wineries. This is my second Camino Invierno and a highlight of my first pilgrimage on The Winter Way was a stay in A Rua in the home of Asun. I prayed she was still around and servicing …
Pleasant walk today as we reached the River Sil which we would be following for a few days. August 18, 2021. In Saldeado, we stopped at the Municipal Social Center Cafe for a huge tortilla de queso. Surprisingly, we met 3 pilgrims from Italy. First time I ever saw more than 2 walking Invierno. One …
Ponferrada to Las Medulas: We arrived in Ponferrada in time to visit the beautifully restored Templar Castle founded in 1178. Stayed at Albergue Guiana which was the first time we shared a dormitory after 17 days on Camino Levante from Valencia to Toledo where we never saw another pilgrim. The word is that the pilgrims …
After a hearty breakfast we canoed 2 hours down river to Puente Bolivar to visit the village and experience a bit of jungle life. First a yucca bread making experience. Everything was done by hand, including; We pulled some yucca from the garden. Removed the outer shell with our hands. 2. Grated the yucca. 3. …
The Amazon Jungle; Preparing and cooking yucca bread Read More »
Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe A 4 month overland journey from Nairobi, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa. ————- A couple days in the heart of Africa. Cruising Lake Kariba for two days on a large houseboat in northern Zimbabwe. There is nothing quite like an African sunset I thought over the grasslands of …
