In May, 2022, Brenda and I set out to walk the Portuguese Camino, from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostella, with our friends, Anita and Ernie.
Although I missed the first part due to Covid, we all reached the finish line together, thirty days later.
The experience prompted Ernie to tackle the French Camino as a solo pilgrim one year later , and was the inspiration for Brenda and me to take on La Francigena this fall.
But it wasn't only Brenda and I making this journey.
Roughly two and a half years ago, Ernie was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive brain cancer. Despite his positive attitude, his will to survive, and everything modern medical science can offer, he succumbed to the disease last June.
With Ernie's love of travel, his wife, Anita, felt his journeys didn't have to come to an end with his passing. Before we left, she gave us a small vial containing his ashes labeled, "Captain Adventure Ernie".
Captain Adventure accompanied us every step of our 419 kilometers, and we left a little bit of the good Captain at over thirty places along our path where we thought he might like to spend some time, or do some good.
He has been with us every step of the way, and he remains in our hearts always. Wherever your ashes take you, buon camino, dear friend.Read more
October 19 in Italy