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French Camino: It’s Not All Beautiful

The French Camino travels through gorgeous countryside and charming villages, but parts of the France we have seen have not been postcard-ready. Today’s last few miles took us through farmland that resembled fields along Highway 99 in California’s Central Valley. As has been the case nearly every afternoon in September, the blazing sun torched us … Continue reading French Camino: It’s Not All Beautiful →

French Camino: Rocky Descents

The French Camino has tested our footing for a good part of the 300 or so miles so far. It seems the steeper the descent, the rockier it gets. Sue’s photo from today shows our path, which was nowhere near as steep and rocky as some sections, but one misstep could still have been an … Continue reading French Camino: Rocky Descents →

French Camino: A Pause for Reflection

Our rest day in Cahors offered a pause for reflection about the path that is guiding us across France. For many we have met, the 500-mile French Camino is their Christian pilgrimage that has its roots all the way back in the 10th Century. The Cahors Cathedral is a majestic reminder of the religious significance … Continue reading French Camino: A Pause for Reflection →

French Camino: The Walk Resumes

Sue and I are still walking! Check out the slideshow above to see highlights. We arrived today in Limogne, France on the Via Podiensis, or GR65. We began our trek in Le Puy on September 3. Here’s an updated roundup: The stats: We have walked 261 miles and climbed 24,757 feet, according to GPS tracking. … Continue reading French Camino: The Walk Resumes →

‘Just a Regular Boy’ Is No Regular Book

No spoilers here. Except for one: Just a Regular Boy could spoil you by setting a bar so high you may have trouble topping it in your future reading. The book, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, grabbed me from the opening pages and, days after I finished it, I still feel its pull. Remy Blake is … Continue reading ‘Just a Regular Boy’ Is No Regular Book →

Injury Trips Up French Camino — For Now

Our Via Podiensis walk has been derailed by my achilles injury, which hit during the second day of steep, 1,500-foot descents. Seven distance treks and nearly 2,000 miles of injury-free backpacking ended with a limp into our convent-hotel in Saint Come d’Olt. The next morning, we taxied to the charming, riverside village of Estaing, where … Continue reading Injury Trips Up French Camino — For Now →

The French Camino: The First 8 Days

Greetings from France’s Via Podiensis, a nearly 500-mile pilgrimage from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees Mountains. Eight days out of 42 now behind us, a roundup of happenings: The stats: Guru Pro says we have come 129 miles (including some sidetrips) and have climbed 13,199 feet. The place: The … Continue reading The French Camino: The First 8 Days →

Now Read This: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

I have joined enthusiastic readers around the globe in applauding Matt Haig’s books. He creates characters and stories with intriguing themes and compelling stories. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt Haig’s very personal story. He opens his heart and his mind as he describes his long battle with depression and anxiety. His book presents important … Continue reading Now Read This: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig →

Notre Dame: A Virtual Tour to Behold

What a tour! Sue and I are in Paris for a bit before our Camino across France, which begins Sunday. The restoration work on the Notre Dame Cathedral continues after the devastating 2019 fire. The cathedral, of course, is still closed, but a virtual reality tour took us on an incredible journey through history and … Continue reading Notre Dame: A Virtual Tour to Behold →

Ten Years Later, a New Camino Calls

Ten years ago, Sue and I stood at O’Cebreiro, in the final phase of our journey on the Camino de Santiago. Our arrival in Santiago was bittersweet. We welcomed the chance to rest our feet after a month on the trail, but didn’t want our greatest adventure to end. For me, the journey was as … Continue reading Ten Years Later, a New Camino Calls →