2026 Camino Frances Schedule

Here is the file in .pdf form.
Half Stage Camino Doc

A Little Glitch

 Sooooo... I've made my flight reservations from home to Pamplona in August, only to find I have cysts in my lungs that may prevent me from flying.

Apparently the cysts can pop and cause a lung to collapse. 
Sheesh!

This is after a year of complaining to my Primary Care Physician that I was having trouble breathing and pain in my upper chest. I finally had AI write a letter and requested it be put in my chart and THAT lit a fire under them!  Within 24 hours I had referrals for a plethora of tests. 

The CT with contrast showed a lot of cysts in my lungs and one large on on my liver. I'm request another CT of my right kidney as well, because I've also had pain on that side for over a year.  My grandmother and HER mother both had a kidney removed - so hopefully the CT will be approved. 

Who knows how long these cysts have been there. I've always had difficulties with my lungs, especially after a cold or flu - so this may be nothing new - but I'd like to at least know. I tried walking the Camino last Autumn and had to return because I just couldn't catch my breath. After an emergency room visit, was told everything looked fine. 
Riiiiggggghhhht!

It seems when you're over 70, the doctor just figures you're old and going to die anyway, so why bother!?  At least that's how it feels. 
Well up theirs!
I plan on living to be a healthy 103 at least!

I have appointments with my Oncologist and a Pulmonary specialist next week.

Keeping my fingers crossed. 
I REALLY want to take this trip

Stay tuned,

Annie

Back to the Camino!

I've decided to try to complete the Camino I began last year. I had to leave the trail early because of illness and an odd feeling of impending doom, which was so strange.  I just returned from a doctor's appointment and things look fine. A growth turned out to be a benign cyst. Things like that are scary when you've had breast cancer (or any cancer I imagine.)  

I haven't yet decided if I'll start again in SJPP or if I'll just pick up in Los Arcos where I left off.  I'll have up to 3 months to finish and plan on walking slow. 

I'm thinking I'll begin sometime in mid to late August.

Stay tuned.

Love,

Annie

SOLAR on my Van!

A couple of weeks ago, I drove down to Langlois to a vanning friend's house to have solar put on my van!

I have been pretty much homebound during the winters since my mother passed away. This last winter, though mild, was hard on me. As I age, arthritis flares up more often and I ache for some sunshine during the winter. So this coming winter, I plan on taking the van to the desert for a few months. I'll hire a housesitter and follow the sun!

I do have a couple of solar suitcases, but that requires heavier lifting than I'm comfortably capable of these days to set them up. So I bought a 200 watt panel and had it installed on top of the van. It works GREAT! Here are some photos:

Now I have my small propane AND my water in my kitchen

My fridge will live under my bed until destination. Then I'll move it into the side tent.

I had a catalytic heater installed on the back of the kitchen wall.

I also had a CO2 and Propane detector installed

The solar panel itself is very low profile

He used flat wires that to right into the kitchen area

Wiring

Battery

Other wiring. This all fits in the bottom cubby of my kitchen.

My fridge is a Bouge 23 quart fridge. I got purple because it was on sale. 

My battery:

Other items that make vanning comfortable for me include the following items. All of the "electrical" items are rechargeable by USB.

For washing clothes

I love these Eclipse shades!

My Luggable Loo - I've covered it with pretty cloth so it can also be used as a seat. 

For baking 

Both propane and butane

For hot nights

Jet Boil for quick boiling water

My rechargeable shower.

Water pump for my 5 gallon jug

My Jackery for even more power when needed

Side tent for shade and privacy. 
The sides drop.

My chair. I wove this myself.

Window film gives privacy and is pretty

I made these screens

For taking baths

I love this mattress!

TONS of uses for these magnets

For charging phone if my other USBs are full

For light and bug control

Motion lights for safety

Multiple uses including filling with water for window film and vinegar for dish washing

A new screen and backup camera

Just because I love cows!

For making coffee

I had two of these installed for charging USB items

Lightweight, foldable storage

LOONA Urinary device for nights and traveling

I'm set up now and very happy!
I'm looking forward to more van trips.
And... this winter will be a test.

I'll either love it or hate it. 
If I don't like it, then I'm not out much...

but if I LOVE it,

I'll be in the market for a larger van next year
so I can stand up cooking!

Also in the future for Joe and I is ONE. MORE. CAMINO!
We are discussing a very slow Camino.
We'd like to walk 

the Camino Frances again 

and just walk half stages, 

taking around two months to finish.
I'd like to do it Spring 2027 

but that is a HOLY YEAR 

and sure to be busy.
But we may do it.
It's on the burner, 

slow cooking...

SO...

Stay tuned 

and enjoy your life!

Love,

Annie

Breitenbush

Joe W got home on Monday and has been settling in. 

I am so happy he is home. 

I've been busy getting my van ready 

for my upcoming retreat to Breitenbush. 

Yesterday we tested my new heater. I LOVE it! 

This trip I'm taking my wee 1 pound propane tank 

because I'll only be gone for 3 nights, 

but when I go to Quartzsite next winter, 

I will take my larger tank. 

It is amazing what a great job this little guy does heating!

Also, yesterday my new Bouge RV fridge arrived!
I will use it once I get my solar installed this summer.

I bought the violet color because it was less cash.
We had to let it sit for 12 hours before turning it on.

This morning I turned it on. 

I bought the 23 quart size.

It looks perfect!

Today I'll get my food packed 

and make sure I'm not missing anything.
I've heard there could be snow on Tuesday night,

so good thing I bought the heater. 

Joe will be here to watch the house and garden.
I feel blessed.

I will leave tomorrow.
I need this...

Hello Spring!

Well, it's been a long rough winter, 

and Spring has finally sprung!
The buds on my beautiful giant Norwegian Maple 

are a welcome sight!

Joe Walsh, my housemate and best friend 
has started on his trip back home 

from the California desert

today and should arrive home tomorrow.
I'm baking a rack of ribs and a loaf of sourdough

to welcome him home.
It will be good to have company again!

We are chatting about a solo trip to the Camino.
We'll see how that pans out.
He's worried about the war.
I reminded him we traveled there 

during the Iraq war.

The news on Joe Barry, 

my childrens' father, is sad. 

He still has not passed, 

but today I was told he is talking to people

who are not there, in the room.

I believe our ancestors and dead relatives

come back to help us cross over

and I believe this is what is happening. 
The nurse has told us he most likely has

less than two weeks left.
He sleeps much of the time now.

My son, Rob, and his girlfriend,

are exhausted. 
It takes a LOT 

to care for a dying person at home.

I know . . . 
I cared for my stepfather, my brother, 

and my mother.
Then I took the trip to Georgia 

to set up hospice for my ex.

Sometimes I wonder if I should change my name

to the "Death Doula!"

I hope this is the last of that job.
It's rewarding, but sad, and emotionally draining.

On another note, 

I've started my garden plants!
The tiny tomatoes are doing great,

but the bell peppers are slow to start.

I spent several hours yesterday doing cleanup outside,

and transplanting my sweet potato slips into water.
I have spinach and collards coming up

in the garden.

I tore out the last of the giant kale 

and will be planting new seed this week. 

My strawberries did fine overwintering.

My garlic and onions are doing great!

The golden raspberries are putting on leaves and buds.

The peas are up and happy!

The flowers are all blooming!

Even the rosemary is blooming.

One branch of my grafted pear tree is blooming. 
I wonder which pears these will be?
I have 5 varieties on this tree.

And about Vanlife:

I'm planning a trip to Breitenbush next week.
I need a break after the stress of this past winter.

I'm talking to Vern, a van friend,

about putting a solar panel on the roof of my van.
I'm pretty excited about that!
I don't use a lot of electricity but it will mean 

no longer having to carry a heavy folding solar suitcase.

My friend Carol is sewing a cover for my

Luggable Loo. 
I'm going to make it into a usable stool.
It's good to have multi-use objects 

in such a small space.

I bought a catalytic heater to replace my Buddy Heater.
It is safer and uses less propane. 

I also have replaced my little Butane one burner stove

with a stove that takes both butane and propane. 
I'm dropping the Coleman 2-burner stove.
It is just extra weight and I never use two burners.
Also, since the influx of homeless and druggie van people,

you can no longer leave your propane or stove set up outside

without worrying about someone stealing it.
So the small one-burner makes more sense.

Once I get all set up, I will do a video of my van.
I had a tripcheck done this past week 

and it's in great shape.
I'm looking forward to more trips this summer

to the coast,

and spending the winter in Quartzsite. 

What else?
Well, today I'm getting ready for Joe's return.
I started the morning off by breaking a glass

in the living room,

so I have to clean up that mess.
Then I'm baking a loaf of sourdough

After that, 
I need to think about where I'll plant

the three artichoke plants I picked up this week.

Life continues to be GREAT!
More later.

Love,

Annie