Beginning...

10 days until we embark on our grand adventure! Just posting this now so that we can distribute the link to any and all that want to follow us via our blog.
SeaTac Airport

Getting ready to board our first flight, Seattle to Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt, Germany

Next stop, Paris
Paris, France

Arrived safely. Took a while to locate the hotel shuttle. Now for dinner and a restful night!
Dinner in Paris

The buffet was a little challenging so we opted for burgers— which were unusual to say the least.
Miracle #1

The first miracle on our Camino occurred before we even departed. The first two intended dialysis sessions never materialized and Nancy had wisely suggested I seek an alternate. I found one in Orthez,もっと詳しく
Bonjour!

I appear to have run into a character limit in the middle of the night post last night. That limit may now be gone.
It’s our first morning in France, with a very traditional French breakfast.
Goodもっと詳しく
The Next Step…

After months of planning, 900 miles of preparatory walking, 3 days of travel by planes, trains and taxis, and a day of French dialysis, we are finally ready to set out on our Camino.
I am reminded ofもっと詳しく
Orthez, France

Arrived safely in Orthez, train to Bayonne, then a much shorter one here. Greeted by a whole bank of sweet-smelling honeysuckle upon exiting the train! What a delight. Looks like a nearby creperie forもっと詳しく
Bonjour follow-up

My sister Linda noted that most people take a picture of their food BEFORE they eat it. The food looked so good and I was do hungry (and relatively new to this blogging thing) that I completely forgotもっと詳しく
Orthez, France 2

Wonderful little town! Just a short walk from the train station to our hotel—and dialysis location smack dab in the middle.
I’ll post some pics. Had a delightful dinner at a creperie—afterもっと詳しく
Miracle #2

While on dialysis today in Orthez the very kind and concerned nurses and technicians called ahead and arranged for me to receive dialysis in Pamplona! {Something that the Fresenius International teamもっと詳しく
What a first day!

This morning Sean and I set out from St.Jean Pied de port, after a small but welcome breakfast (first time I drank coffee French style—out of a bowl!) and a brief stop at the Pilgrim office to getもっと詳しく
Roncesvalles Albergue

Last night we stayed in the albergue at Roncesvalles. Not the one pictured in “The Way.” This is it’s modern replacement.
Still, built to house hundreds! They handed each of us a small clothもっと詳しく
First Day, part 2

(I appear to still have a character limit.)
I was very disappointed. All that preparation and I wasn’t prepared. First day of walking the Camino and I already had to take a taxi.
Sean was—andもっと詳しく
Je suis, Yo soy, I am…

I’m having a difficult time keeping my limited languages straight. I learned a bit of French when Nancy and I traveled to Paris and Colmar nearly 23 years ago. And I studied 3 years of Spanish inもっと詳しく
Zubiri…

Yesterday was far more difficult than expected. Think Fitbit exaggerates my mileage.
Today, Pamplona. Same distance as yesterday. Hopefully easier.
Beautiful medieval bridge here.
Keeping thisもっと詳しく
A very welcome lunch

More than halfway to Pamplona!
Pamplona

It may take another miracle to get dialysis tomorrow. I had forgotten to ask Orthez where and when and follow-up has yielded no answers.
The picture is of the bridge we crossed into Pamplona. Veryもっと詳しく
Beyond Pamplona…

Dialysis in Pamplona did not work out. A miscommunication on somebody’s part. Sean and I spent most of the morning chasing down possibilities. Long, difficult climb on tomorrow’s schedule so weもっと詳しく
Sean’s wisdom

My scallop shell is smashed to smithereens. I walked down to the church in this little village, to pray, and it was closed.
I mentioned to Sean that these were NOT good omens.
He told me that,もっと詳しく
Puenta de la Reina

“Crown of the Queen.” We arrived, right on schedule, so far. Feeling very sore and tired.
The first picture shows the loose, large rock that comprised our descent from the highest point today.もっと詳しく
Thank You God

Thank you God for flat terrain. For sure footing. For Nancy’s love and Sean’s patience.
Thank you God for shade and cool breezes. For respite from pain.
Thank you God for Your love andもっと詳しく
Day of Rest

I feel much improved this morning but have decided to take a day of rest—and what better day to do it than on the Sabbath day, and Father’s Day no less.
Our plan is to grab a good breakfast,もっと詳しく
We splurged!

Arrived safely, by bus, in Estella. Found an albergue, then got a PRIVATE room for 2 WITH a bathroom in the room!
Ooh la la!
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before leaving Puenta de la Reina weもっと詳しく