Some Camino Reflections: Arriving in St. Jean Pied de Port, France

After a half year and more of support from the American Pilgrims on the Camino group which meets monthly at the Cary REI store to offer training hikes, reports from their experiences on the Camino, advice on equipment and hiking shoes, answers to questions, and warm encouragement for those wanting to hike the Camino too...

...we attended Masses at St. Mary Magdalene in Apex, NC in thanksgiving for our upcoming trip...

 ... and accepted gracious prayers and advice offered by our many friends...



My Camino companions and I had met just nine months ago as we gathered around the teachings of a wonderful priest who had led retreats for us in previous years, indeed one of which centered on his own time on the Camino Frances several years ago.

  Bolstered by all of the good wishes and support of my family and friends, I handed them Tiny St. James medals and offered to carry their intentions and prayers to the feet of St. James, Apostle of Jesus and brother of John when I had come to the completion of my Camino.

 Sharing this pilgrimage with others was a great joy for me, and after deciding to walk to get closer to God and find out who I am in His eyes, and also "walking for all of the James' in my life", walking for them was my highest priority.

Pictured are my Uncle Jimmy Troy wearing his new Tiny Saint James and his brother (my Dad) who was Ronald James Joseph Troy. 

More James in our family:  their father James E. Troy, their sister Sr. James Therese,  my brother Barry James Joseph Troy, his son Brandon James, my husband James Joseph Watts and our son Connor James.

I teased some of them that "they should try be good" so that I would not suffer too much on my pilgrimage!

 After traveling from noon Sunday from Apex, NC until 4:00 PM Monday in SJPP, France, Paula, Laura and I settled in to the cozy Beilari Pilgrim Hotel for two nights, meeting fellow pilgrims and getting rested until departing for the trail across the Pyrenees on Wednesday morning.

Bien Camino/Good Way!

With love and joy,

Ronda