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Our Camino family was the "special sauce" of the Camino experience. We've gone our separate ways - but they will always be part of our lives. We miss them.

Our Camino Family: Camino Friends

We all live very different lives, and we arrive on the Camino for different reasons, but Camino walkers share this wonderful and unique experience.  Some folks we met on the walk day after day. But paces differ, and we often walk alone.  Others we would meet at the end of the day’s walk and visit and share a meal.  This page includes a few of the folks we spent the most time with on our Camino.  We are truly happy that we’ve had the opportunity to meet and enjoy these wonderful folks. We will remember you and hope to see you again in the not too distant future.

This is where it all began. Our first night on the Camino - in Orrison. Our Camino family begins here and continues to grow as we meet others and as some people leave and others join. Around the table with us are Janine, Gil, Greg and Tom. Jody is taking the photo.
Greg and Jody (Boston) - we met Greg and Jody in St. Jean Pied de Port on the day before we began walking. And, as it turned out we were "bunkmates" the first night in Orrison. We walked on the same schedule for a few days. Although we didn't see them again after the 3rd day, we've kept in touch.
Janine and Gil (Australia) - we met Janine and Gil in Orrison on the first night. We would cross paths while walking and often ended up in the same cafe during the day and in the same town at night. We had great fun with them in LoGrono bar hopping and eating Pinchos (tapas) and in Burgos sharing a pitcher of sangria and having a meal together. This photo is taken at the entry of St Gil's Church. Janine and Gil were ending their Camino in Burgos this time. They had previously walked another portion of the Camino . We were really sad to see them leave. However, I'm sure we will see them again in New York and/or Australia in the future.
Jerry (on the left) and Tom (Maryland/DC area) We met Tom and Jerry on our first night in Orrison . And, they were our bunkmates on the third night. Evan has a separate post about Tom and Jerry from Day 3 or 4. It's the story of how Jerry got his black eyes (see photo) and the inspiriation of Tom's pilgrimage. We walked together frequently for the first. 4-5 days. Tom was meeting his wife on a specific date - so they continued on at a quicker pace than we did. We didn't see them after that but kept in touch. They were both a legend during our time on the Camino and we feel fortunate to have had time getting to know them.
Catherine and Hans Peter (Seatlle) - We met Catherine and HP on our second day, in Roncevalles . We had just finished a very long, grueling walk over the Pyranees that day and were sitting at a table drinking wine. They were at the table next to us and we quickly realized that we were all Americans. Eventually, we moved to their table and continued talking. We didn't see them again until Pamplona. Catherine and HP had pre-booked their accommodations and were very kind to share their list with us. It was our go-to list when we were booking ahead and didn't want to stay in an alburgue with a shared bathroom and bedroom. We were very grateful for that list! Although we didn't see Catherine and HP after Pamplona - we always seemed to be a day or two behind them - we kept in touch the entire time. I'm sure we will see them again in Washington when we visit our daughter, Meliisa, and her family in the Seattle area.
Sanne (Denmark) - We can't remember exactly where we first met Sanne, but it was sometime around Pamplona. We crossed paths frequently after we met. We often stayed at the same alburgue, stopped at the same cafes for breakfast or coffee/tea and we shared many meals together. We walked together almost every day during the last week and entered the square at Santiago together. Sanne is one of the kindest individuals I've ever known. I'm so happy to have shared so much of the Camino experience with her and look forward to meeting and walking together again. (see next photo for more about Sanne)
More on Sanne - Sanne has walked the Camino (both the Frances and others) 14 times (I think that's the right number - but a lot). Sanne (on the right in the blue jacket) takes women from Denmark on the Camino. Often it's women who might not be comfortable walking solo. She helps them prepare and helps organize the actual walk. Then she walks with them. The women in the picture above walked with Sanne to Logronno and then headed home. Many people walk the Camino in smaller stages instead of all at once. They didn't know each other until a short time before they met in St Jean Pied de Port to begin the Camino. This isn't something she gets paid to do - she does it because she loves the Camino and wants others to have the experience that she so enjoys. It is truly an act of love and giving of herself.
Peri and Brian (Missouri) - We met Peri and Brian (and their friend Mercy) in Puenta la Reina on our 5th day. We were all walking down the sidewalk looking for someplace to have dinner. There was only one restaurant that was serving dinner BEFORE 8pm - so that's where we all stopped. Peri was a little distressed that evening because she had just realzed that her passport was missing. (We didn't know that until days later). Peri and Brian had walked the Camino in 2016 and were drawn back to walk it again. We talked and talked and talked about books, about the Camino and their experiences,. They gave us lots of suggestions about places to stay and what towns and cities they loved. We stayed at several alburgues that they suggested along the way that were wonderful. We walked together, had meals together for about a week. And we talked and talked about our families, books, religion and so much more. Then we didn't see them again until we arrived at Santiago. On the Camino, this happens - you walk with someone for a week or two - and then you get on different walk schedules - but often meet again down the road.
Karen (Australia) Karen was walking the Camino in honor of her daughter, Bree, who passed away at the age of 3. Now, 20 years later, Karen is walking the camino in memory of and for Bree - leaving hearts with messages along the way. . you can read more about Karen's journey on BagOfHearts.com . We met Karein Villamahor Monjardin. We were staying at the same alburgue and sat together during a community meal. We continued crossing paths every few days and sometimes daily all the way to Santiago. Our schedules would diverge and then come back together again. Our walking schedules/stages changed based on how many miles we were walkng in a particular day or if we decided to stay an extra day in a town/city. This is one of the great gifts of the Camino - meeting people like Karen and becoming "family". It's amazing how strong the bonds of friendship can become in such a short period of time.
Riley (Australia) - Karen's 19 year old son, Riley, joined his mom on the Camino for the last 9-10 days of her walk. It was great to walk with both of them. They were fortunate to be able to ride the horses up the mountain to O'Cebreiro the day after we got rained out! I still giggle when I think about the day Karen and Riley got separated. And, I will never forget watching them walk into the square at Santiaga in their "pink tutus"in honor of Bree. Oh, and then there were the gin and tonics.
Karen and Riley walking into the square in their pink tutus.
Jitty and Margreet (Holland) - They started their Camino in Mont de Marsan, France. It's 115 KM from St Jean Pied de Port. That's about 75 miles. We met Jitty and Margreet on our 5th day in Puente La Reina. We had dinner in the same cafe (with Brian and Peri). We were drinking one of the best Sangrias! We would see them often over the next few weeks - usually at a cafe or in the same town at the end of the day.
This is a photo of Margreet and Jitty crossing the Pyrnaees. They have been friends for years! We had such fun with them. They were always smiling and laughing. We were sorry to see them leave early. Margreet had just found out that her mom was very ill, so she wanted to be with her. We hope to see them in Holland and perhaps walk part of the Camino that starts there.