A Pirates' Life I Lead!

As a runt of a kid with learning difficulties, no athletic skills and a college dropout; I never dreamed I would have an opportunity to discover the beauty and fascination of the world and it’s people outside Southeast Alabama.

However, aptitude offset the liabilities and I was able to become a U. S. Air Force officer at the young age of 21. In 1962 I made my first visit to Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Thailand and South Vietnam. By 1966, I had been to every continent on the planet. But, I was too young (or immature) to appreciate what I had experienced.

In 1969 and 1970, I flew F-100’s and OV-10”s in Vietnam. That was when I learned that we military members {fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, grunts, whatever} were brothers. Any of us would sacrifice our lives if necessary to save a brother in danger. That pledge continues until death.

By the mid-80’s, the urge to travel began to grow. However, most of that travel was on scuba diving trips to the Caribbean and Central America. In the early 90’s, the trips expanded to Jordan, Egypt, England, Scotland and Ireland. By 2005, those destinations included the rest of Western Europe.

While on a 30 day automobile trip around the Iberian peninsula in 2014 with Nan Bosworth and Jerry Stein, I met some pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela, Spain who had just finished walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James pilgrimage). I immediately decided that I was going to St. Jean Pied de Port (SJPP), France in 2015 and walk the 800 kilometer French Camino.

In the fall of 2015, I did go SJPP and walked the entire French Camino. By the end of 2019, I had walked the del Norte Camino (beginning in Irun), the Portuguese Camino (beginning in Lisbon) and the French Camino three times (two times beginning in SJPP and once beginning in Roncesvalles, Spain). During the same period, I was able to make two extended trips completely around the planet.

In 2020; Angela Hatton, Alison Kelly and I made plans to go back to Irun and walk the del Norte. However, the COVID pandemic prevented us from fulfilling those plans.

With age becoming a major factor, my opportunities to hike across Europe will be limited. Therefore, on 1 September 2021, I will be returning to SJPP to attempt to walk the French Camino for the 4th time. Although I would prefer to walk the Norte Camino again, I think the terrain is much too difficult for me to attempt without someone to walk with. As a solo pilgrim, I will feel much more comfortable on the French route.

Hopefully this Camino will be successful, painless and rewarding.

Buen Camino and happy trails!