Welcome to my blog, One Footestep at a Time!
I walked the Camino Frances over the course of three pilgrimages: two in 2013 and one in 2015.
Camino 1.0 began in St. Jean Pied-de-Port on June 5, 2013. I had great intentions of walking the entire 790 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela in one journey of thirty-some days. However, my ankle gave out as I walked into San Juan de Ortega. After taking a bus through the Meseta, I ended up at the Parador in Leon, where I decided to return home to the Bay Area and continue the healing process.
After several weeks of rest, ice, elevation and Ibuprofen, my ankle slowly healed. I dreamed of returning to the Camino. At the end of the summer, I began to train again, and flew to Madrid for the month of October, 2013.
Camino 2.0 began at the Parador in Leon, on October 5. I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago on October 24.
Camino 3.0 began the week after Easter, 2015, and completed the “missing link” between Burgos and Leon that I’d skipped in 2013.
I wrote most of the posts on this blog via my iPhone, and they reflect what it was like to write about my experience in the moment. They reflect the joy of walking the Camino. I also wrote posts when I returned and had time to reflect on my experience as a pilgrim. Many of those are under “Reflections.”
Pilgrims say that their Camino continues once you’ve returned home. I think that’s true, and it’s certainly changed my view of life and enriched my faith. I’ve found that:
- Once you’ve walked the Camino, you’re always a Pilgrim. I will return to the Camino again.
- The experience of walking the Way of St. James continues to transform my life.
- The Camino is a rich genre for memoir, historical fiction, and guidebooks of all sorts. You can read my Book Reviews here.
- I am available to speak to groups or lead retreats about the Camino. Contact me via email: revbethfoote@gmail.com.
About me
I’m an Episcopal Priest and a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a trained Interim Rector, which means I lead Episcopal churches during the transition period between permanent clergy. I’m married to my college sweetheart and we are parents of three young adult children.
I welcome your comments and conversation.
Buen Camino!
xo, Beth+
One Footestep at a Time 
Hi Beth,
I’ve been following your blog with interest and has helped me in the writing my novel.
My novel, The Catching of the Camino Wind was published on the 31 July. It is available on Amazon.
I wrote this after completing my 800kl Camino Frances walk from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago on the west coast of Spain. Many who walk it write an article or blog about but I decided to make novel of it instead.
Here is the blurb for the novel:
Avril is walking the Camino Francés in the hope of ridding herself of an inner demon that has cursed her young life when she meets Giovanni who has suffered a personal tragedy. He is in a dark place and needs rescuing. He had a dream directing him to walk the Camino. He undertakes it, but is an awkward and reluctant pilgrim. Riku, a Japanese zoologist, has his normally calm and relaxed nature shaken when he meets Ella; a Bulgarian Environmentalist with a carefree and cheeky disposition – Zeeta, a Parisian poet is out to discover the secrets of the universe but finds the philosophy of a Greek prison officer more appealing. Geordie is out to test his strength and mental agility to mark his seventieth birthday and discovers more about himself on the Camino that he had in his entire life. What do these pilgrims and others walking the Camino Francés have in common? What is it that binds them together, making them reveal secrets to each other they have never reveal to their closest friends or family? Could it be love or is it just the magical charm of the Camino effect? Be humoured, shocked and surprised by this unusual love story that blossomed on the road to Santiago. Subscribe by Email
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Hi James: Thanks for your comment! I’m glad that my blog was helpful to you in writing your novel. There’s lots of material for a novel along the Camino, that’s for sure! So much history, so many characters! I’d like to read your book, and will look for it on Amazon. Blessings, Beth
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Thanks for your blog! It brought up so many memories of my Camino, like the silence you encountered in Calzada del Coto. I came across so many villages that were like empty movie sets for spaghetti westerns complete with a scrawny dog or two. My Camino, all the way in one go and alone, included an accident that laid me up for two years afterward. That doesn’t stop me from planning another walk though. I’d like to gift you a free ebook copy of my book if you are interested. I’m hoping you’ll be kind enough to leave me an honest review.
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Thanks for your comment! It’s always nice to know that people are reading the blog. I hope that your injury has completely healed! I’d be happy to read your ebook and give you some feedback. Please send it to revbethfoote@gmail.com
Blessings, Beth
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Dear Susan: Ahhh, how sweet to hear from you, and regarding RevGalBlog Pals, which has become very important to me in the past few months—-what a resource and what a community! I will consider it and be in touch via email. Blessings! Beth+
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Beth, how about going with me to the RevGalBlog Pals Big Event in Edinburgh next April. Check the website. I’m going. Would love to share a room with you. Another kind of pilgrimage.
Susan Allison-Hatch (sahcdsp@yahoo.com)
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, looking forward to reading through more of your blog before I embark on my Camino in 56 days! Loved the post about Brierley’s guidebook, and I have already been sensing it is just a guide . . . we are in charge of our own journey.
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Glad you enjoyed the post, and I hope the blog is helpful. How exciting that you’re about to embark on the Camino. Brierley is a very good guide. Use it like a compass to plan the overall scope of your journey if you want and then enter into Pilgrimage mode and walk as much as feels good that day. I often stopped mid-way on a “stage”…Foncebedon was one of my favorite stops and it was definitely in the middle of a stage.
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blog is looking good mama! love you
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I am so excited for you, Beth. I too, was deeply touched by the film, “the Way” and all it can represent.
I look forward to reading your blog- and living vicariously through your journey. Buen camino, dear Beth.
xo Pam
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Thanks, Pam! Excited and nervous about the journey in equal measure. Maybe more excited now that we’ve landed in Europe. Figuring out this blog thing on the fly. Hope you are well, and I’m happy you’re along for the ride.
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You are the best. This is going to be awesome. Can’t wait for stories. LOVE
Ps I’m 25 now don’t get it twisted. Xoxox
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just read this updated Camino 2.0 page. You inspire me. so much love!
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