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November 7, 2019
11/7/2019, 10:00 We made it! Yesterday, after another 20km day of rain and wind, we arrived at the goal of our pilgrimage: The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the tomb of St. James the Greater. I am without words at this time, so I will leave you with pictures and words of wisdom that a diminutive nun handed me …
November 5, 2019
11/5/2019, 20:00 One more day to Santiago de Compostela! Tomorrow will be our (Fr. Tony and me) 43rd day since we left Ste. Jean-Pied-du-Port on September 25. We’ve experienced heat, cold, wind and rain. Sunburn, sore muscles, sore feet and even bedbugs have been our companions for the last 6 weeks. We will forever treasure the sights, sounds and smells …
November 3, 2019
11/3/2019, 06:15 I’m starting this reflection before the start of one of our final days walking on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, at which we should arrive on Wednesday, November 6. In the quiet of the morning, I looked back with wonder and awe on a series of events that occurred yesterday: While approaching Portomarin, about 5km into our walk, …
November 1, 2019
11/1/2019, 19:00 They’re baaaack! The bedbugs have returned, with a vengeance. Last night, in an albergue in Barbadelo, after a delicious dinner which included the Galician specialty, Galician Soup, and visiting with fellow pilgrims, the six of us, Frs. Tony, Joe Totton, Joe Kieffer (another seminary classmate who just joined us in Sarria), plus Joe G, Marius and me, retired …
October 31, 2019
10/31/2019, 18:00 Two days ago, the surprise was finally sprung: Fr. Joe Totton, a seminary classmate of Fr. Tony and a priest in our diocese, joined us in O Cebreiro. Fr. Tony was totally unaware until Fr. Joe walked into the hostel. Additionally, two of my friends from Kansas City, Marius Hubbell and Joe Griggs, have joined us for the …
October 28, 2019
10/28/2019, 18:30 Two nights ago, I didn’t sleep very well because we found dead bedbugs in our albergue. My mind convinced me that I was being bitten all night so I got very little sleep. As a result, yesterday I was almost sleep walking to our next town, Pieros. In Pieros, we met a very nice and knowledgable hospitalero (as …
October 26, 2019
0/26/2019, 20:30 Today we awoke to a heavy fog, had breakfast at our albergue and began our walk at a rather late time of 07:45 because we wanted to reach Cruz de Ferro (the Iron Cross) at sunrise which isn’t until about 08:45. Cruz de Ferro is a Camino landmark with a long tradition: Situated near the highest point …
October 25, 2019
10/25/2019, 21:30 “Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow.” Stopping for a small breakfast about 1-1/2 hours into our 16-mile walk from Astorga to Foncebadón, I noticed a poster on the cafe wall with that quote. And it got me thinking about time: Past, present and future. So I raised the topic with our little …
October 23, 2019
10/23/2019, 21:00 Today about an hour before sunrise, we left Villar de Mazarife under the threat of wind and rain but we eventually experienced some rare sunshine, as the group picture above attests. However, 10km later the clouds rolled in again. I Given that we were not bundled up against the wind and rain, we were able to talk to …