St. James, the Greater

June - July 2022

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. It’s known as the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and the alleged burial site of the Biblical apostle St. James. His remains reputedly lie within. Read more

List of countries

England
Spain
Portugal
United States

Categories

Spirituality

11.3kmiles traveled

Means of transport

Flight10.8kkilometers
Walking-kilometers
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Horse-kilometers
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Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Friday, June 17, 2022 at 10:45 PM
- 🌙 82 °F
- Altitude: 1,227 ft
- United States Postoak Creek 29.747692, -98.62571729°44’52” N 98°37’33” W
Not yet
June 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 82 °F
10 day countdown to start the Camino. Covid test is Wednesday night at 7:30. Just a little inside the 72 hour window. It’s before we fly to New York City on Thursday morning. I wanted to get it done before I went to the airport and got on the plane to fly to NYC with all those people increasing the chance I would test positive. Then I just have to worry about the plane ride being canceled.

I say we because my sister, Claudia, is going with me. She’s the experienced one, having done the most popular route across Spain several years ago.

We will be in NYC for a couple of days staying with my brother Jerry and family and also seeing Seeley.

We arrive in Porto on Sunday and start walking on Monday. The excitement Is finally building.Read more
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 7:10 AM
- ⛅ 72 °F
- Altitude: 1,227 ft
- United States Postoak Creek 29.747625, -98.62582429°44’51” N 98°37’33” W
Getting closer
June 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Happy Father’s Day! One week from today we will be landing in Madrid before flying on to Porto. I am getting a rush of emails from VeriFLY, AA and/or Spain with various confusing instructions about what needs to be filled out, submitted and reviewed before we leave.

Because we are arriving from a country that does not belong to the EU or does not have the “status of SCHENGEN” (Is that a Monte Python reference?😂) I have to complete the SpTH Health Control Form and obtain a QR code for entry into Spain. I started it this morning, but it requires me to wait until I’m within 72 hours of departure before finishing. One more detail to remember. 🙄Read more
TravelerYou can do it! It’s all a pain but airport travel has never been easy. It’s your first test of the Camino. 😀
6/19/22Reply
TravelerYeah. I’m supposed to be praying, meditating and cogitating, not cussing and fussing. 😬
6/19/22Reply
TravelerOk, mother. ❤️❤️❤️
6/19/22Reply
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM
- ☀️ 88 °F
- Altitude: 955 ft
- United States Lorence Creek Lake 29.60899, -98.47278629°36’32” N 98°28’22” W
Send off and Prayers
June 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
In addition to Father’s Day, we went to church. Kathleen suggested I fill out one of the prayer cards to put in the Offering plate. I did. Never have before. I asked for prayer support for my journey, however it may go. The only expectation I have is to finish. What the experience will be, I will learn as it unfolds.

She also suggested I go into the chapel off of the nave after communion. Members of the Order of St. Luke will greet you in the chapel and pray with you wherever it may be needed. Of course I did that too. Never done before either. Kinda stepping out of my Episcopal comfort zone. Happy to have done so. They sat with me as I explained the almost 5 year journey to get this close to finally going. 3rd time’s the charm. We prayed and it was a very supportive and thoughtful. I appreciated it and look forward to having those thoughts and prayers follow me.

THEN WE WENT TO GUADALUPE BREWERY FOR LUNCH AND DELICIOUS HONEY ALE BREW!!

A great day!Read more
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 5:26 AM
- 🌙 77 °F
- Altitude: 807 ft
- United States San Antonio International Airport 29.526849, -98.47073729°31’37” N 98°28’15” W
Negative Test - Flight NOT Canceled
June 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 77 °F
I haven’t been this nervous about a test since the Bar Exam. Good news. The Covid test was NEGATIVE! Not without some trauma. First, I had to pay. Wasn’t expecting that. Insurance doesn’t cover testing for travel. I had two choices. Pay $160 and get the results between 48 and 72 hours, maybe. Or, I could pay $300 and get the results in an hour. Not much of a choice since I needed the results before I fly out. Duh.

I’m not even 100% sure I need it, but all the rules are so convoluted . And I can’t trust the person welcoming me into Spain or Portugal would have the same interpretation of the rules as I do. So, I have the printout showing the negative results. Thank God. (Religious reference for the day. It is a pilgrimage.)

And we are at the airport waiting for the plane to take-off, as you can tell from the location. Next stop, New York City to spend some time with my brother Jerry and see my daughter Seeley. We, Claudia and I, fly out of there Saturday night the 25th.Read more
TravelerI was wicked nervous before we left for Scotland & then the return so much so I wouldn’t look at either test results. So I get it. Congrats on your first step on the pilgrimage!
6/23/22Reply
TravelerNo testing anymore. A little disappointed about that. There are worse places to be stuck waiting for a negative test.
6/23/22Reply
TravelerGlad you’re on your way, Charlie! Please tell Jerry I said hi! I met him via Zoom on Virtual Band Day in 2020. I was thrilled that he joined us from New York! I knew the minute I saw him there that y’all were brothers! Nice fellow!!
6/23/22Reply
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 12:00 PM
- 🌧 63 °F
- Altitude: 56 ft
- United States Corporal Ruoff Square 40.680435, -73.84456640°40’50” N 73°50’40” W
New York City
June 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
We made it to New York! Sketchy beginning waiting 45 minutes boarded at the gate for a Technician to come and push the re-set button. Apparently the lynchpin for the whole operation. Everything went fine after that. And we are now at my brother’s household in Queens enjoying the day.

The highlight of the day was watching our niece, Jerianne, practice her equestrian skills at The Jamaica Bay Riding Academy. She and her horse, Summer, worked masterfully together.

Preparations for the Camino will pick up steam tomorrow.Read more
TravelerI’m so excited for you! Blessings for a safe and successful trip.
6/24/22Reply
TravelerExcellent fun!
6/24/22Reply
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Friday, June 24, 2022 at 1:30 PM
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 98 ft
- United States Jacob Riis Playground 40.700733, -73.83539640°42’3” N 73°50’7” W
Shake Down!
June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Today, Claudia and I finally took the time to go through our backpacks together and compare notes. I had a lot of questions about minutia that needed to be answered, and we talked mostly about whether we needed certain items. For example, I’m not taking the raincoat, but am taking my rain jacket. Throwing caution to the wind there, but what the hell, you only go around once. No listerine or liquid soap. Que horror! Correct plugs for Portugal and Spain. Etc. etc. etc.

In the end, we both feel very good about minimizing our backpack footprint and very well prepared for our experience. Time will tell. Prayers are gratuitously accepted.Read more
TravelerWe sprayed our backpacks with premetherin (to prevent bedbugs hopping on board) and I washed my socks with “earth sheets.” Now, having a beer!
6/24/22Reply
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- Friday, June 24, 2022 at 4:06 PM
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 105 ft
- United States Jacob Riis Playground 40.700676, -73.83540340°42’2” N 73°50’7” W
Past Journal Entries
June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
So, as most of you may know, this is not the first time we have scheduled this pilgrimage. It was one of my birthday gifts when I turned 60, ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO. This is the third time. In the past, as I prepared to go in 2018 and 2020, I tried to start journaling. For the most part I didn’t get that far, but I did some. I have them and decided that I would try to re-create them (read my writing) here and publish for what they are worth. It’s an effort to bring everything full circle.

I will post them as separate entries so if you are interested in reading them you may.Read more
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- Friday, June 24, 2022 at 5:23 PM
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 105 ft
- United States Jacob Riis Playground 40.700705, -73.83547540°42’3” N 73°50’8” W
Camino Portugues - 2018
June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
1/23/2018

“Walk” began with the purchase of the Camino guidebook by John Brierley. Trying to read through it to gain as much knowledge as possible before the actual walk in May/June.

So far I have learned that at least part of the C.P. was actually part of St. James’ path during his teachings about Christ.

Being the one who really enjoys tech stuff, I have the latest in high tech gear - backpack, poles, towel, etc. So, I plan on training with that as I go forward.

Claudia, who is taking me, took me on a trial walk at the Balcones Canyon Lands Wildlife Refuge near Marble Falls, Texas. Cloudy and cool, but overall a good start. The equipment worked well, including the GoPro. Actually, too well. I recorded our voices too, which I didn’t expect. We had a good time talking and not talking. And I believe we will be fairly well compatible during our 2 week Camino. So, things have begun on a very positive note. No real fears. Just anticipation.Read more
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Traveler St. James, the Greater
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- Friday, June 24, 2022 at 5:25 PM
- ☀️ 79 °F
- Altitude: 105 ft
- United States Jacob Riis Playground 40.700722, -73.83541940°42’3” N 73°50’8” W
February 20, 2021
June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Walking - Saturday - Feb. 20, 2021

Walked 1.19 miles. (Tot. 1.19) Decided to take Biscuit with me just to start. Short walk, so not a lot to say. Just great to be out after the winter of the Century and spending the last 10 days inside, a fair amount with Scott, Elizabeth and their kids - Lucy (7), Ada (4) Briggs (almost 2). Beautiful but windy day. I decided I would try to walk on the weekends as much as possible and hope to get 2+ miles in during lunch @ work.Read more
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- Friday, June 24, 2022 at 5:35 PM
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 98 ft
- United States Jacob Riis Playground 40.70071, -73.83541140°42’3” N 73°50’7” W
February 22, 2021
June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Walking - February 22, 2021

Yes 2021. My walk to the Camino has been a WALK TO THE CAMINO. 2018 was the year! Bowel obstructions shut me down. 2020, the St. James’ birthday lands on a Sunday - a special Jubilee Year. NOPE COVID 19 - which has now stretched into 2021 with many, too many unknowns. So, no Camino in Spain this year. Now looking forward to 2022.

So, hope springs eternal and other Camino opportunities. St. James - Dallas is having a “Camino to St. James” during Lent. The goal to complete 100 km by Palm Sunday.Read more
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