Written June 12, 2026 

Dear Followers, Friends, Family, and Christine.

Today began with some challenges to my peace.

But how would one know the blessing of peace unless they had also experienced discord to compare it with?

Early in today’s walk there were three pilgrims listening to loud music on a very large bluetooth speaker. It was at maximum volume and audible for a radius of over 100 feet. Their pace seemed to mirror ours and the cacophony was inescapable.

Finally, out of frustration I approached the holder of the speaker. I said, “It is said that everyone walks their own Camino, but sir you are forcing everyone around you to walk your Camino.“

He was offended, but he turned the music down until eventually his small group was separated from the small group that I walked with.

Unfortunately, the stress of the moment lingered with me longer than the music.

Later in the day, Charlie and I checked into our room in a casa that is hundreds of years old.

Christine, you know how special this village is to me, and how meaningfully my experience was at the ancient church here in 2013.

We attended portions of the liturgy of the hours, presented at 7pm and 9:20 pm by Benedictine monks here in Rabanal.

Between Vespers and Compine we enjoyed a great meal, wonderful company and I the restoration of Peace.

Love to you Christine

Peace Everyone and Buen Camino. Pete.

Written at Astorga, Spain. June 11, 2026

Dear Followers, Friends, Family, and Christine.

Today has been a full and satisfying day! Tomorrow brings a longer day with a climb to Rabanal. So far the weather has favored us. No rain, morning temperatures in the upper 40’s and low 50’s, and the heat of the day holding off until afternoon when our day’s walk has finished.

Rain does now appear in the forecast but only 2 days out of the next 10 and at that less than 40%. Fingers are crossed!!

Here are my pictures from the day with limited captions. My friend Albert from England has been kindly giving some details in the post comments. Thank you Albert!!

My love to you Christine.

Pease Everyone, Buen Camino! Pete

Dear Christine, Friends and Followers.

Written 10 June from Hospital de Orbigo (a town not a hospital)

As promised here are pictures of the Leon Cathedral. As a “bonus” we were walking in the countryside and as I passed what I call a “Hobbit House”.(looks like a big underground storm shelter)

I saw two young men working to clear an overgrowth of brush.

My curiosity drove me to try and communicate a question in pantomime, “What is this??”.

I eventually learned that it was a family bodega, underground wine storage. Originally his grandfather’s, but being restored and purposed by he and his brother. He invited us in!

I would not have been surprised to see bodies and Dracula’s bride. I’ve been 24 hours still pulling cobwebs from my hair and clothes.

Love you Christine.

Peace Everyone. Buen Camino! Pete

From the Camino an open letter. June 9, 2026.

Dear followers, friends, and family.

Again I share an open letter to my wife Christine. Please look over my shoulder and be within the closeness. Buen Camino!

Dear Christine.

We arrived in the village of Mansilla de Los Mulas on June 7. The combination of arid breeze, relentless sun and adobe looking ruins were such that I felt I had wandered into an old Clint Eastwood movie. Perhaps “A Fistful of Euros”!

As I entered town I vividly remembered that this was the place where I last saw our dear 2013 Camino friends Henk from the Netherlands, and Germans Gabi and Christine.

Such fond memories. I feel so fortunate that we are still in touch with them and so many others from that time.

The garden cafe/restaurant had changed much in 13 years.

Charlie and I ate dinner there with friends Maggie and her daughter Alethia from Virginia.

Alethia is a recent university graduate in mathematics and mom is a professor of biology. There was a lot of mental horsepower between those two women.

Charlie and I assumed that the continued meetings with familiar faces was at an end. Nothing could be further from the truth! The following morning as we proceeded to the bus station, Ana from Belgium jumped out of the doorway of a café hollering for us to wait. We were planning to ride the bus into Leon and thus avoid the slog through industry and suburbs. Ana joined us.

In Leon it was an amazing series of meetings with friends from the last week. A real gift from the Camino!

Our room was less than two hundred meters from the Leon Cathedral. I’m torn between whether the Burgos or Leon Cathedrals are my favorite. Both are magnificent but so different. I will share pictures of the interior of the Leon Cathedral in a separate post.

I understand that you and the grandchildren are touring another magnificent cathedral right now: Notre Dame in Paris, followed by the Eiffel Tower. Wonderful!

Enjoy, and I love you. Me.

Peace to all and Buen Camino. Pete.

From the Camino an open letter. June 8, 2026.

Dear followers, friends, and family.

Again I share with you an open letters to my wife Christine. It is meant to be read by all, yet also to conveyed a feeling of intimacy. Please look over my shoulder and be within the closeness. Buen Camino!

Dear Christine.

It is our eighth day on the Camino and the start of our second week. Charlie and I are beginning to find stride within the limits of our abilities. I am listening to my body! So far I’ve managed to avoid blisters. Charlie is managing a couple and being proactive.

I woke with some disquiet this morning. I found myself thinking that before we had left on our respective adventures I had often commented that all I had to do was walk 300 miles while you had the difficult task of “herding cats”. What was meant as humor I now realize is all too true.

Charlie is an excellent Camino partner. Our abilities are similar, as are our outlooks on life. As adults we are responsible for ourselves, yet we watch out for each another. As a grandmother accompanying teenage grandchildren, you are responsible not only for yourself but for them as well. You are their guardian angel. In the 52 years that we have known each other you are still able to amaze me.

You know that in offering condolences I am reluctant to say “I will pray for you“. I find that to be a phrase overused and often given without intention.

I have learned of yet another friend who is faced with a serious and possibly life ending disease. I have on this occasion offered my “thoughts and prayers“.

I mentioned to Charlie that I carry many people in my thoughts, but I do not formally pray. He has given me an insight that is not the formula of the words that matter, but the thoughts given from the heart that constitute sincere prayer. It is a new piece of wisdom for me to consider.

I hope you will enjoy these pictures from the last two days. I love you.

To Everyone: Peace and Buen Camino! Pete