Kurt Koontz's Blog, page 23
December 17, 2013
Neon Flashers
The directional heart and soul of the Camino is the yellow arrow. These little beauties are painted, carved, sculpted, and etched on every possible surface. As I recall, the smallest was a one-inch hat pin and the largest was a stand-alone sculpture exceeding ten feet....
December 10, 2013
24 Great Hours
I ran into my friend, Mark, at the Boise airport. He is a captain with Southwest Airlines and was en route to work in Oakland. I was heading to Petaluma to meet Justine Toms for a radio interview. I’ve known Mark for years and see...
December 3, 2013
Stork Lessons
Because churches tend to be the tallest buildings in Spanish towns, the bell towers are a favorite location for white stork’s nests. These nests are huge––four to six feet in diameter, three to five feet deep––and can weigh up to 500 pounds! They are likely...
November 26, 2013
Lightning Strikes!
On September 12, 2012, my journey on the Camino began with an early morning flight. My blue backpack, weighing 22 pounds, fit nicely in the overhead compartment. The minimalist contents included several pairs of socks, three undies, four shirts, one pair of pants, a sleeping...
November 19, 2013
Roll Models
On the Camino, people enter and exit your life on a daily basis. I believe that the random nature of meeting people is far from random. With this in mind, my fellow pilgrims walked with me at an opportune time, shared their gift, absorbed mine,...
November 12, 2013
True Colors
A recent Facebook post put a smile on my face. It said, “If someone shows you their true colors, don’t try to repaint them.” This simple sentence really struck a chord with me. It reminded me of my time on the Camino de Santiago and...
November 5, 2013
Unexpected Inspiration
While walking the Camino de Santiago, strangers help strangers by sharing a coffee con leche, providing a patch for a blister, or just listening to a good story. If you really think about it, stories are all that really connect us to each other. My...
October 29, 2013
March to Your Own Drum
As a result of walking the Camino and writing A Million Steps, another door has opened into the world of public speaking. While some people equate this to drinking turpentine, I thrive in the arena and really enjoy connecting with people. I feel a great...
October 22, 2013
Insights From Being of Service to Others
I met Scaughdt at an annual event called “Ride Idaho.” It’s a weeklong group road bike ride with about 300 participants. On my initial ride in 2008, Scaughdt was a volunteer who stood out from the crowd. His attitude was always positive and he seemed...
October 15, 2013
Helping Hands and Hearts
On the Camino de Santiago, the kindness of strangers was a constant and overwhelming part of the trip. No matter the circumstances, when in need, a fellow pilgrim was always there to help. If a person were to sprain an ankle on the trail, I...
