My 2000 Toyota Sienna

 I thought I had blogged about my 2000 Toyota Sienna build but I can't find the post so maybe I deleted it when I was cleaning up my blog. At any rate, here are the photos of Joe building out my van.

I can't take the time right now to write comments, but you can see I built the bed with 3 spaces under it. I used the bins I am USING to measure the height of the bed.  There is another older blog on here that I'll try to find that shows how I organize the van. You might do a search on Organizing My Van. It's an older post - I have gone through a lot of changes to get where I'm happy so many of those older posts are no longer valid. For example when I first had the kitchen built, I put a large cooler in the big space -  then that was where my propane went but now I'm using a smaller butane stove so that's where my 5 gallon water bottle goes. 

Packing for my 2025 Camino

 Here's my packing list for my two month trip:

https://youtu.be/t1n0S04_vZ0?si=wXcGEOWz7gCJNCmD

Looking for anniewalkers.com?

 

It's gone. 
They wanted over $900 to renew it and so I let it go.

You can find my same page at
https://anniewalkers.weebly.com/

No big trips planned. 
Just a smaller, slow Camino with 2-3 pilgrims for 2026, ending with two nights at the Parador in Santiago. 

Let me know if you're interested!

Love,

Annie

The GOOD Memories

 I realized today that I have complained a lot in the past few years about changes on the Camino and how almost always, there was at least one, maybe two people in my group who pulled me down.

HOWEVER... there have been SO many wonderful people in my groups or on the Camino!  Here are just a few that stand out.

2006. Our very first Camino and what a time we had in Azofra where we met Edeltraut and Enrique!  He was from Segovia and she was from Germany. We all stayed at the OLD parochial that night and there was a wine festival going on. My GOSH we had fun! We walked on and off with them for kilometers. Eventually Enrique fell in love and took off on a Camino romance!

Edeltraut (middle) was a kick! She was the first person we met using trekking poles. You could hear her coming 1/2 mile away, click click clicking and laughing loud! 

Several years later, while walking out of Ponferrada, we heard that laugh and that click click click and there she was again!

On our 2009 Camino, we were literally dying of thirst when we heard a man calling to us from a nearby field. He asked if we were thirsty and invited us into his home where he served us chilled homemade gazpacho. His name was Antonio and he reminded me of Zorba the Greek! He kept his motorcycle in his house.

My first group Caminos were in 2012. 
Several people in those groups stood out for me and we became friends.

Father Jeffrey was one. I hear he'll be on the Camino again in September when I'm walking and I sure hope to meet up with him while there!

 Eileen Ciluffo was so sweet!
She and I are still Facebook friends.
She is hugging Anita, who was also a joy!

Patricia Moak became a friend for many years.

She unfriended me after the last election.

I felt it was such a shame to let politics get in the way of friendship,

but I love her and valued her friendship for years.

She went on to walk several Caminos on her own.

We met Angela in Oregon. She walked with Joe and in Forest Park and picked our brains because she was going on the Camino. She went SUPER light, with a tiny pack and had a great time. Then in 2012 on our Camino from Lourdes and down the Aragones Route, we ran into her gain. She was hospitalera at Arres! It was so fun to see her again!

In 2012, I had an Aussie name Theresa in one of my groups.

That gal made me laugh so hard!
She kept in touch for a few years and sent me a lovely merino teeshirt from Australia. She had the most interesting pack that she wore both in front and in back!

I had a wonderful group in 2014!

The entire group was a joy to walk with!
They had a rough start in SJPP
fighting 70 kph winds to get to Orisson.

Barbara said "Enough!" after a day or two of that weather.
She ended up bussing much of the way and meeting us all at our destination, often with dinner cooked!

I took most of the group by taxi to Roncesvalles the second day because there was wind, rain, and snow!

Two of the women, Pat and Chantal, wanted to walk.
So Joe too them over the pass, while the rest of us waited by the fire at La Posada. I guess it was a pretty intense walk as the snow began falling at the summit.

The next morning I met these two,

who had started late and gotten caught on the mountain,

huddled under a bush when the snow started and their 
phone flashlights failed! I heard from them a few years later. They'd gotten married after their Camino experience.

Paul and Pat were always smiling and I was so excited when they signed up to be in Joe's group 10 years later.

In 2015, Joe took a group. 

He said they were great and had a wonderful time!
I'll see if he has photos.

That year, I stayed home to care for my brother until he passed away.

In 2016, I walked from Malaga to Cordoba, popped up to the Camino Madrid, then picked up my group in Pamplona.
Again, 

the whole group was a joy to walk with!

That was before the new owners took over Gite Compostelle.
The old owner, Pierre, always threw us a party on the night before we took off!

In 2018 I had another fun group of ladies!

There were lots of laughs on this trip.

There's always that 'one' . . . lol!

In June 2018 I walked a "Slow Camino" from Sarria to Santiago with these two pilgrims!  They were so much fun and are still in touch.

Carol and Diane

We made it to Santiago!

In 2019 I took a break to walk alone.

In 2020, Joe and I tried to finish the VDLP,
but our trip was aborted due to Covid.
Those were the years I discovered I had breast cancer, 

had a double mastectomy,

and moved my mother in with me.
It was quite a ride!

I cared for my mother until she passed away March 2022,

and left for the Camino in April. 
I was exhausted.
It was Holy Year and Joe and I spent a week in Logroño and then a week in Manresa. We were there for Holy Week and the 500th anniversary of Ignatius Loyola arriving in Manresa. 
I picked up my group in Pamplona.

The two that stood out for me this trip were Nic (far right, stooping) and Marcia (far left top). Those two were so delightful, so positive, and Nic kept me laughing when I felt like crying. 

I realized I had left far too soon after my mother's death.

I was exhausted.

It seemed this was the year things changed,

and tourists, rather than pilgrims, flooded the Camino.

May 2024 was my last Camino.

MOST of the people in this group were delightful  . . .

Yesterday I listened to a podcast.
Rebekah of Moratinos was the guest.
She spoke of The Ten Commandments of the Camino.

Wonderful podcast.
Every person planning the Camino should listen to it 

in my opinion.

Here is a link if you're interested:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-96-rebekah-scotts-ten-commandments/id1067605198?i=1000714519168

One of the best things she said was 

"The Camino doesn't owe you anything!"
I loved that!

'THE CAMINO DOES NOT OWE YOU ANYTHING!"

At any rate, time heals our soul

and I've been healing.

I've been spending time looking for the positive

in the years I've taken groups.

I've been thinking about the people who were so sweet,

so grateful, so funny, such a joy!

There were SO many!

And now I'm planning a long contemplative walk 

all by myself to think it all over.

I've signed up for the Ignatian Prayer app, 

and will try to walk in silence as much as possible.

I have a lot to think about.

I'll walk the whole route alone, 

from SJPP to Santiago,

taking a full two months.
I've booked a minimum of lodgings,

and I may cancel some of those if it doesn't look busy.

I'm really looking forward to it.

As far as groups go,

I might like to do a few more "Slow Caminos," 

and only take 2-3 pilgrims.

I really enjoyed the one with Carol and Diane.

We'll see.

Until then, I'm doing my best to spend more time remembering the fun, 

the laughter, and the joy.

And for those who pained me,

I'm burning incense, whispering their names and sending them off into the wind with a blessing.

It helps a lot.

See you on the trail.

Love,

Annie

Lodging is Booked

I spent the day yesterday planning my Camino and booking almost all of my lodging. September is one of the busiest months to walk the Camino and I discovered many places were already completo.

I love the idea of just walking and stopping when you're tired to sleep but I fear those days are nearly over if you walk during the busy season. I feel more confident now that I have lodging booked in those sections that could be a problem.

I'm starting out just doing half-stages or a little more - passing by places I've seen over and over, and trying new places. 

On the second half of the Camino, I've left more space for change.

I now have my flight, my train to Pamplona, my bus to SJPP, and lodgings where I feel I'll need them. I ordered a new ALTUS poncho after rethinking the weather in October. 

Next, I'll start considering what I'll pack.

I love, love, LOVE the idea of walking without a group. However,
I admit I'm considering another slooooow Camino with maybe just one or two pilgrims coming along instead of a group of 6-8. The Slow Camino I did a few years back with only two pilgrims was wonderful and we had a great time!  So, that may be something I do in the Spring. We'll see how I feel after this trip.  What was really difficult for me the last two group trips was the one or two tourists I took who either drank and acted out, causing issues with my landlords, or tourists who felt entitled and were just impossible to please. It's hard work putting together a pilgrimage, and having people misbehave, or complain about lodgings or food can take a toll. I think the next trip, if I do one, will be only for PILGRIMS - and maybe only for Catholics.

I've been going through photos this week and I realize how much I love Spain and the friends I've made there over the years. 

Cristina at Rabanal del Camino

My wonderful taxi driver into Molinaseca

Portomarin - one of my favorites!

and of course, there's LUCIFER at Santiago!

Thanks to my son for pushing me to do this.  

Thanks to Joe for agreeing to hold down the fort at home,

and thanks to God and the Universe for the opportunity.

Love,

Annie

Turning on a Dime - or Annie the Opportunist

August 2006 My First Camino

I spent 4th of July at my son's house in Vancouver, Washington. It was CRAZY good!  Those folks in Washington know how to put off a fireworks show! Just those in the neighborhood were as good as any professional show I've seen in my 72 years. 

While visiting with everyone, we were all sharing our upcoming trips. Shane, my son's partner, is going on a backpacking trip to Kurdistan.  John, my son's roommate,  is thinking about some shorter trips in the Gorge. I was sharing my plan to walk the Camino again next summer.

 Just for fun, John and I got online to check out airfares. And up popped a flight with Canada Air round trip to Spain for $575!  What?

We started poking around and I ended up finding a flight for less than $800 round trip in August. By the time I added my chosen seats it was more but dang, that's a good price from the West Coast. PLUS it was on Canada Air, so I wouldn't have to go through some of the East Coast airports or through London Heathrow.  

I said to my son, "This is sooooooo tempting!"

He said, "Mom... just DO it!"

I said, "Really? But I don't really have the cash."

He said, "Sell some things you've been talking about getting rid of and GO!"

I HAVE been planning a big garage sale and I have a lot to sell!

And so I booked my ticket!

I woke up in the middle of the night wondering if I was crazy but by morning, I was happy and excited!

I spent all day yesterday planning my walk and booking the cities I know I'll need to book, as I'm going during a busy time on the Camino. The weather will be warm so I can pack light. My plan is to walk from SJPP as far as I can, half stages, slowly, staying mostly in albergues, and drop down onto the Invierno to finish up. 

However, I know myself and plans can change on a dime!  I've been taking groups for so many years. When I do, it's for the first and last sections of the Camino. I usually go early and walk the middle or a different route, but it's been probably 20 years since I walked straight through - so I'm really looking forward to it. 

Stay tuned if you're interested!

Loving LIFE and loving you!

Annie

Walking Again . . . (Never Say Never)

Under the Pilgrim Tree

Soooooo... Lately I've really been missing the Camino. 

Not the bustling crowds. 

Not the rolling suitcases. 

Not the drunks. 

Not the entitled tourists who complain about $60 lodgings not being comparable to $200 lodgings in the USA. 

But the real Camino Santiago. 

The PILGRIMS. 

Those who are grateful for a roof and a bed and a bowl of soup. 

I miss the beauty of the Spanish landscape. 

The peace and quiet. 

The opportunity for contemplation. 

The long walking in nature. 
I miss the stars.

Sharing food and drink and stories.

The Spirit of the Camino that lingers when the noise dies down. 

Those are the things I miss. 

My grandson is graduating from Annapolis next May, and Joe and I have made reservations in Washington DC for about a week before his graduation. I want to visit the Smithsonian, which I haven't seen in 50 years (Holy HELL! Half a century!) 

Since I'll be on the East Coast, I thought, "Gosh, after graduation, I may as well fly to Spain!" 

My children just grinned. 

They know me. 

But which route to walk? 

I thought I might walk the Camino Ignaciano or one of the routes I hadn't finished, like the VDLP. 

But the more and more I thought about it, and the more I spoke with friends on the Camino Forum, the more I realized what I REALLY wanted was to walk the Camino Frances again, and walk it S.L.O.W. Maybe walk half stages to start, stopping whenever and wherever I wanted, taking my time, not having to care for anyone except myself. Honestly, I don't even think I want to walk with Joe and we've talked about flying to Madrid, going our separate ways, and meeting up to fly home. That works for me! 

And so right now, a year ahead of time, it's looking like I'll pop over to Spain after graduation, and walk the Camino Frances again, either from SJPP or Roncesvalles (I haven't yet decided that.) 

I've made my reservations in Pamplona. I needed to do that to make it real. 

I'll probably look at airfare after Thanksgiving. I won't buy a round trip ticket - because I'm not sure how long it will take me to walk, though my son suggests I go ahead and buy the ticket home and just be sure it's changeable or refundable. So I'm thinking about that. 

No more "Cheap-O-Air" though! Last trip they changed my flights (literally) both going and returning, right up to an hour before we were to fly and it was NUTS! 

I want to pack VERY light, and since I'll be walking in June, that's a real possibility. I bought a featherweight rain jacket today to carry instead of the heavy ALTUS poncho. Hopefully, the weather won't surprise me! 

At any rate, I feel I've healed from the disappointment of the Spring group trip and I'm getting excited! 

Maybe I'll see you on the trail! 

Love, Annie

Summer Begins

Hello friends!
This will be a long "catch-up" post since I haven't had the time to write. Between getting the garden in, Joe coming home from the desert, and my youngest son's move to Vancouver, life has been hectic!

The big news in our family was the Ring Ceremony at Annapolis that Hiathan, my grandson, attended with his girlfriend. We're already planning our visit to Annapolis and Washington DC this time next year for his graduation. I can't believe how fast time is flying!

Prices in Annapolis during graduation are CRAZY high! But we're going to be spending at least 3 nights there. We've made reservations in Washington DC for the week before in order to visit the Smithsonian. I've been there once before, when my eldest son was 18 months old. He's now 55! So it's been a minute!  

We're toying with the idea of walking the Camino again, just the two of us, after Annapolis, but haven't yet made a firm decision.

As summer gets it's start, the weather has been crazy here in Oregon. We've gone from 60 degree weather to 90 degree weather and back down to 65 in the matter of days. My garden is so confused!

I made the mistake of starting too early this year. I figured since I wasn't walking the Camino, I'd get my plants in the ground sooner. But what I ended up doing was stunting the growth of some. 

Tomatoes, lettuce, peas, garlic, and onions did fine. 

Tomatoes and Peppers. The peas will come out next week.

Onions are bulbing nicely

My little pear tree has pears this year!

Eggplant is barely making it.

Figs are looking great. Gauze bags are to keep Mr. Jay away!

Green beans had a rough start because of slugs,
but are doing ok now.

Dried leaves on garlic tells me I can harvest in the next 2 weeks.

My eggplant got eaten alive by slugs, and the cucumbers and squash were so stunted I've had to pull them up and start again.  I learned it's best to WAIT, not on a DATE, but for the weather to warm up consistently, which still has not happened here in my town.

Beets remain a mystery to me. They just refuse to grow for me. Turnips have nice full tops, but no bulbs and I'll be harvesting and freezing the greens next week. Yesterday I harvested peas and will freeze them today. I pulled up about half of the plants to make room for new cucumbers - and the rest will come up next week. 

Blackberries and Golden Raspberries and Strawberries are happy as can be, and producing a LOT!  I need to get out there today and harvest. We're picking them every other day now. We've already begun freezing them. My rhubarb is a lot larger this year and I've already made a couple of rhubarb/strawberry pies!  YUM!

Besides the garden, I've been doing a lot of art.  I've had fun creating needle felted animals. Here are a few photos of those:

My son's dog, Marley.

Hare

Raven

Fox

I tend to flit from project to project, so when was weary of needle-felting, I moved on to making greeting cards. Here are a couple of the latest. You can see more in my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnieCarvalhoArt

Well, I guess that's about it for now.  Michael is bringing my "grand-dog" Jean Luc over this morning for a couple of days. He's a beautiful (and funny) Golden Retriever who I love and it will be fun to have him here to keep me company (and keep me walking.)

I hope you're having a wonderful summer!

Stay cool!

Love,

Annie