While Carla and I finished our Camino last year, the experience seems to be pulling me back. I need to return. Things will be quite different this journey. Most importantly, Carla is passing on this trip and I don’t blame her one bit. This route is 100 miles longer. I am carrying all my gear in a backpack and I have no hotels reservations except my first night in Seville. So I am not on any schedule. Only about 7,000 Pilgrims a year walk this route compared to the 500,000 Pilgrims who walk the French Way. The route, The Via de la Plata, starts in Seville and then heads north through the planes. I’ve heard the rain in Spain falls mainly in the planes- so I will probably get wet. It includes a lot of desolate sections and generally not a lot to see. So it will mostly be me, God and my thoughts for 625 miles- plus you all who check this site out from time to time. Human interaction will be scarce. I hope to be inspired to fill this blog with content worth reading. Please know I greatly appreciate and value people reading my blog and showing support. It really helps so keep those comments coming. I fly to Spain tomorrow. I am to arrive in Seville on the 5th and my walk starts April 6. Then the next chapter begins.

I want to describe this journey as honestly as possible, noting both the good and bad. If you follow this I want to present to you an unvarnished account. That being said, I’ve already been challenged. As some of you know I have chronic bronchitis and asthma so my lungs are easily susceptible to attack. I got hit with a bout this past week. I missed all of Easter and have not left the house since Saturday. I will be lugging steroids, antibiotics, pills, pills and more pills. Then there’s the everpresent cough. My lungs are getting better but still full of gunk. I wasn’t sure I’d make it but God willing I will even with the extra challenge. I look forward to posting better news.

The items above are some comforts I am bringing with me. From my dad is a prayer book and a St. Christopher medal, a photo of my family and just like last year and always- a photo of Fr. Bill King, a Jesuit teacher at Xavier who became a friend for life.