Dear Christine and Renee’.

First of all to you Christine: I give all my love and gratitude for 47 years of your love and our partnership. I lit a candle to us.

Today was another 20+ km day. The sun was out and it warmed quickly.

There was a steep climb at the beginning but we are growing accustom to the variances in topography.

Bigger climbs await us ahead.

Walking 20 or more kilometers in a day it’s not such a big deal, but doing it every day does wear on the body and soul.

I have made some decisions. I want Britton to enjoy this and not become “burned out” in the same way that I once burned out his mother (you Renee!) on backpacking.

There is a very nice four-star hotel about 20km before Burgos. The owner of the hotel has set aside a wing for pilgrims. While many of the guests are paying hundreds of dollars a night the pilgrims pay about 20. We get to eat with the upscale guests and from our experience there in 2013 it is the pilgrims who are the celebrities.

The next day Britton and I will bus into Burgos and skip the suburbs. We will get a hotel for the night and tour the magnificent cathedral. We will get train tickets to Leon and thus skip the desert-like high plains known as the Meseta. This is not just in the interest of comfort, but in looking at our calendar we do not have enough days to otherwise complete the journey into Santiago. We will still qualify for our Compostelas.

I succeeded in getting tickets to visit the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. It’s a darn good thing that I did it now because they are already virtually sold out for the early part of July.

Christine, you may recall that when you and I walked into Logroño in 2013 there was a delightful woman who invited us into her home where she provided refreshments and memorabilia on the Camino, only asking for a donation.

This was Maria, daughter of the modern Camino’s famous Felisa (1910-2002) who for most of his adult life “stood guard”, just as Maria was doing, greeting pilgrims entering La Rioja. Sadly, Maria died in 2021.

Today as Britton and I were walking toward Logroño I recognized the home. Two ladies, one older, and one younger, were providing refreshments and Camino memorabilia, again asking only a donation. I showed them the picture of you with Maria, and one of the ladies said in broken English, “My mother!”. The younger lady said, “My grandmother!”. They were also in the process of setting up to celebrate the birthday of their five-year-old son/grandson.

We joined for hugs and a picture. It was a wonderful renewal of a time eleven years gone and which spanned 5 generations.

I will sign off here and finish this post with photographs and captions where appropriate.

Love to you both. Happy Anniversary, Christine. Dad

After a visit to the cathedral, we adjourned for an incredible variety of tapas and amazing wine. 

And after dinner… 

Dear Christine and Renee’.

Our hike today from Albergue Oasis Trails at Villamayor Monjardin to Torres del Rio was done in a leisurely six hours, 13 miles, and 30,000 steps.

There were no major hills to climb, and although it was warm, the sun stayed behind clouds most of the day.

At one point, we perceived a thread of rain, but it never materialized.

As with the sisters at Zabaldika, I was mere steps from Oasis Trails and I found that I really missed the company of the good people who took care of us. Both are very spiritually rich places.

About halfway on the road, we encountered another “oasis”.

This time it was a food truck.

Incredibly, it was operated by a gentleman, Wes, originally from Vancouver Canada, assisted by a young lady, Nevaeh (heaven spelled backwards) from Arizona who has just graduated from high school. She is here in Spain helping out over the summer before starting college in the fall.

Again, very spiritual people. Wes asked if he could pray over me for good health and a safe Camino for us.

We are just back from dinner. Britton has really come out of his shyness today and acted as an interpreter for two French speakers at dinner. He conducted himself throughout the dinner mostly in French. He is really happy with himself and I have expressed how proud I am of him. I know the two of you would be as well.

Before dinner, Britton and I swim in the Alberges’ swimming pool (WHAT A LUXURY!!!)…

and visited a very unusual 12th century Knights Templar church, Inglesia de Santo Sepulcro, here inTorres del Rio.

I will let the pictures speak to what we saw, as well as some of the other visual highlights of the day.

Love to you both. Peace. Dad

PS. Christine, it has been 47 years. What a gift you have been to me. Happy Anniversary. I Love You!

Dear Christine and Renee.

Another long day. Not as long as yesterday; Today totaled over 15 miles and 34,000 steps. The day opened with a crossing of the Puenta la Reina, the 12th century “Queen’s Bridge”. It was not even close to the oldest bridge we crossed today. 

This day was more than a little challenging due to the brilliant sun and 90 degree temperatures. On a positive note, we got laundry done!! Our clothes needed it.

I’ve planned tomorrow as a very short day (9km) to Villamayor de Monjardin where we may visit a castle ruins that overlooks the small village. We will again be returning to communal living for the next couple of days.

We encountered a variety of pilgrims, some for the first time and others were repeat meetings.

Of note were Samantha and her mother, Lisa, from California. To say that they are adventurous souls would be an understatement. At 15, Sam bicycled across the USA, and at age 18 she is bound for university studies in engineering and possibly also law.

By pure luck we happened upon the pilgrims we dined with last night. We reprised the experience… different food and venue, but the same endearing company.

I have to admit that I had lost track of this being Father’s Day. Thank you so much for the reminder! Wednesday is our 47th anniversary. Forgive me in advance if I space that off! Christine, it has been 50 years since we met… what a wonderful and fulfilling journey! As I have said so often, in the lottery of love, I hit the jackpot.

I will close giving you both my love and fondest thoughts. Pictures follow.

Love, Peace, Dad.

This bicycle pilgrim uses her drone to capture images of the Camino aloft loft.

Dear Christine and Renee.

Unlike the narrative in this post, today was a very long day. Over 7 walking hours, 17 miles, and 36,000 steps. This included a climb of over 1000 feet to Alto del Perdon where life-size metal cut outs of pilgrims on the Camino provide one of the iconic photo opportunities for pilgrims.

In the background are wind generators taking advantage of the elevation and constant winds aloft.

Britton was real trooper and never missed a step. Along the way we made the acquaintance of two young lady pilgrims from the United States, one (Chelsea who works in the field of social justice) from New York

and the other (Lexie, an art teacher) from California.

We later happened upon them and a group of pilgrims that assembled spontaneously for dinner. It was wonderful!

Our entourage included pilgrims from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and the States. Camille from France has already been walking for 43 days and started in Le Poy France. She is introspectively trying to find the next stage of her life. She was seated next me a table and in the course of discussions with the group it emerged that she is a young lawyer who specializes in mediation!. We have exchanged contact information and perhaps more discussions will follow along the way.

Our ages extended from Britton’s 15 years to my 72. Our nations of origin differed as did our non-Camino lives, and yet there seem to be no distinctions among us a table. The spirit of the Camino and its “magic” were fully present.

It is late and a Saturday night. The streets outside of our second-story window are alive with the sound of revelers which may impact upon sleep…

…but not my satisfaction with the day. Pictures follow below.

Love to both of you. Peace. Dad