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It's Your Camino: One Couple's 500-mile Pilgrimage across Spain
The Camino de Santiago is both quest and pilgrimage, goal and process. It is not a journey for the faint of heart or the soft of foot.
People embark on the five-hundred mile, thirty-one day trek from the Pyrenees Mountains in France to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain for all sorts of reasons--religious, spiritual, physical, and personal. For author Kenneth R. Strange Jr. and his wife, Aurora, walking the Camino is about adventure and a lifelong love of Spain, both of which shine through in "It's Your Camino."
"Reliving their journey in "It's Your Camino" is an inspiration, a joy and a must read!"
-- Martin Sheen, actor in the movie "The Way."
People embark on the five-hundred mile, thirty-one day trek from the Pyrenees Mountains in France to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain for all sorts of reasons--religious, spiritual, physical, and personal. For author Kenneth R. Strange Jr. and his wife, Aurora, walking the Camino is about adventure and a lifelong love of Spain, both of which shine through in "It's Your Camino."
"Reliving their journey in "It's Your Camino" is an inspiration, a joy and a must read!"
-- Martin Sheen, actor in the movie "The Way."
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2019
23 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth R. Strange Jr.
1 book12 followersKenneth R. Strange Jr. (1955- ) was born in Brooklyn, New York. He spent a Junior Year abroad in Spain studying at the University of Madrid, Facultad de Letras y Filosofia. Ken later taught high school Spanish and English as a Second Language in New York and the Middle East.
Following in the law enforcement shoes of his father, Ken served as Special Agent with the FBI and DOJ OIG in Newark, NJ, Washington DC, Costa Rica, El Salvador, El Paso, TX and Los Angeles, California.
A lifelong writer, Ken's first book "It's Your Camino: One Couple's 500-mile Pilgrimage Across Spain" was a 2021 IPPY award winner (Silver) in the Travel Essay category and a 2022 Catholic Association Award (CMA) winner as well as earning a #2 spot in the Top 10 Camino Books of All Time by 'Follow the Camino' travel and tourism company in Dublin. Ken has followed this award-winning book with a second one, "A Cop's Son: One G-Man's Fight Against Jihad, Global Fraud and the Cartels."
"Being kissed by author Ray Bradbury at a book signing event in Los Angeles was one of the great highlights of my life. I told him (Bradbury) he was my childhood favorite and that I spent hours on end at the public library reading his works. Tears welled up in his eyes and he kissed me. Wow! Never saw that coming."
Following in the law enforcement shoes of his father, Ken served as Special Agent with the FBI and DOJ OIG in Newark, NJ, Washington DC, Costa Rica, El Salvador, El Paso, TX and Los Angeles, California.
A lifelong writer, Ken's first book "It's Your Camino: One Couple's 500-mile Pilgrimage Across Spain" was a 2021 IPPY award winner (Silver) in the Travel Essay category and a 2022 Catholic Association Award (CMA) winner as well as earning a #2 spot in the Top 10 Camino Books of All Time by 'Follow the Camino' travel and tourism company in Dublin. Ken has followed this award-winning book with a second one, "A Cop's Son: One G-Man's Fight Against Jihad, Global Fraud and the Cartels."
"Being kissed by author Ray Bradbury at a book signing event in Los Angeles was one of the great highlights of my life. I told him (Bradbury) he was my childhood favorite and that I spent hours on end at the public library reading his works. Tears welled up in his eyes and he kissed me. Wow! Never saw that coming."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 16, 2022
“It’s Your Camino – One Couple’s 500 Mile Pilgrimage Across Spain” by Kenneth Strange recounts the author and his wife Aurora’s difficult but very joyous and rewarding hike of the Camino de Santiago, making tons of friends along the way. The reader is swept along with the tenacious, slow but steady couple as they meet a wonderful variety of fellow travellers from all over the world, plus colorful locals as they cover a bit of France and a lot of Northern Spain.
I read widely, but for some reason had avoided travel books. This was the first travel book that I have ever read, and I loved it.
No matter what language a person speaks, “¡Buen Camino!” or the less excited, but equally heartfelt and nice “Buen Camino”, is the standard greeting and happy bond between Camino travellers. The Spanish phrase means good road, good pilgrimage, or good journey along the Camino de Santiago. For some, this was the only Spanish they know. Between them, Ken and Aurora speak English, Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog, which – to the reader’s delight - enabled them to get to know a wide variety of people during their journey.
The Camino de Santiago is an ancient path believed to have been travelled by the Apostle James. It leads to a cathedral containing Saint James’ remains and dedicated to him. The path is a UNESCO world heritage site. Alexander VI (Pope from 1492-1503) declared it to be one of the three great pilgrimages of Christendom. According to Wikipedia “Since 2013, the Camino de Santiago has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims each year, with an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent”. Most walk, many bicycle, a few go by horseback. People travel it for many and varied reasons: spirituality, scenery, love of Spain, exercise, a self-test, and/or they like long challenging hikes. Some do it all at once, some do it a bit at a time. Many have also hiked other world-famous trails.
You become enveloped in the author’s world: the mostly beautiful scenery (meadows, forests, rivers, mountains, birds, cows, farmlands, etc.), the architecture (towns, bridges, castles, churches), the weather (mostly great, sometimes daunting), the people he and his wife met and got to know (entertaining vignettes, stories, and backgrounds), the external challenge (500 miles up and down mountains in 31 days), the internal challenge (leg circulation, sore knee, desire to stop vs. continue), being helped by others, and helping others.
The description of some key stops along the way includes short interesting historical context involving the Knights Templar, St. James, El Cid, the Spanish Civil War, and Ernest Hemmingway.
From the book: “This is not a journey for the faint of heart or soft of foot… The Iberian landscape was spectacular, and the churches and cathedrals astounded. But it was the people along the way – the pilgrims and non-pilgrims – who were ‘Our Camino’ and inspired us everyday… Each had a unique story to share, a deeply personal reason, or not, for walking…”
Ken’s final three paragraphs provide an insightful recap/summary:
“I never did find divine inspiration or discover the inner me. We didn’t lose weight (the contrary, thanks to a never-ending supply of custard flan from the Pilgram’s Menu) or find love (I already had that).
Our journey on the Camino involved both the physical and the symbolic paths – the latter one of introspection and renewal so that upon completion, we might be reborn with a newfound sense of inner peace.
If we learned anything, it was that the Camino, like life, was a personal journey, a journey which was meant to help the traveller reflect upon the other world, breathe in the air, and wait in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It all seemed so simple.”
I am glad that Ken and Aurora successfully completed the Camino, and I enjoyed being impressed intrigued by their hike and learning about the trail, the history, and the people they met. “It’s Your Camino” is a fun meandering read.
I read widely, but for some reason had avoided travel books. This was the first travel book that I have ever read, and I loved it.
No matter what language a person speaks, “¡Buen Camino!” or the less excited, but equally heartfelt and nice “Buen Camino”, is the standard greeting and happy bond between Camino travellers. The Spanish phrase means good road, good pilgrimage, or good journey along the Camino de Santiago. For some, this was the only Spanish they know. Between them, Ken and Aurora speak English, Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog, which – to the reader’s delight - enabled them to get to know a wide variety of people during their journey.
The Camino de Santiago is an ancient path believed to have been travelled by the Apostle James. It leads to a cathedral containing Saint James’ remains and dedicated to him. The path is a UNESCO world heritage site. Alexander VI (Pope from 1492-1503) declared it to be one of the three great pilgrimages of Christendom. According to Wikipedia “Since 2013, the Camino de Santiago has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims each year, with an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent”. Most walk, many bicycle, a few go by horseback. People travel it for many and varied reasons: spirituality, scenery, love of Spain, exercise, a self-test, and/or they like long challenging hikes. Some do it all at once, some do it a bit at a time. Many have also hiked other world-famous trails.
You become enveloped in the author’s world: the mostly beautiful scenery (meadows, forests, rivers, mountains, birds, cows, farmlands, etc.), the architecture (towns, bridges, castles, churches), the weather (mostly great, sometimes daunting), the people he and his wife met and got to know (entertaining vignettes, stories, and backgrounds), the external challenge (500 miles up and down mountains in 31 days), the internal challenge (leg circulation, sore knee, desire to stop vs. continue), being helped by others, and helping others.
The description of some key stops along the way includes short interesting historical context involving the Knights Templar, St. James, El Cid, the Spanish Civil War, and Ernest Hemmingway.
From the book: “This is not a journey for the faint of heart or soft of foot… The Iberian landscape was spectacular, and the churches and cathedrals astounded. But it was the people along the way – the pilgrims and non-pilgrims – who were ‘Our Camino’ and inspired us everyday… Each had a unique story to share, a deeply personal reason, or not, for walking…”
Ken’s final three paragraphs provide an insightful recap/summary:
“I never did find divine inspiration or discover the inner me. We didn’t lose weight (the contrary, thanks to a never-ending supply of custard flan from the Pilgram’s Menu) or find love (I already had that).
Our journey on the Camino involved both the physical and the symbolic paths – the latter one of introspection and renewal so that upon completion, we might be reborn with a newfound sense of inner peace.
If we learned anything, it was that the Camino, like life, was a personal journey, a journey which was meant to help the traveller reflect upon the other world, breathe in the air, and wait in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It all seemed so simple.”
I am glad that Ken and Aurora successfully completed the Camino, and I enjoyed being impressed intrigued by their hike and learning about the trail, the history, and the people they met. “It’s Your Camino” is a fun meandering read.
February 18, 2020
I am not a hiker. I have little interest in going on a pilgrimage. I have even less interest in going to Europe. So what attracted me to It’s Your Camino by Kenneth R. Strange Jr.?
Well, I promised Ken I would read it. And I was pleasantly surprised. It is a travelogue — and then some — of one couple’s 31-day journey along the Camino Trail from the snow-capped Pyrenees in France to Galicia, a region in the northwestern corner of Spain in the Celtic region, filled with incredible ups and downs. You can feel the pain of walking almost 500 miles, experience the majesty of snow capped mountain vistas, share the camaraderie with fellow travelers, enjoy the humor and pathos of the trip, visit with shepherds with their flocks, see storks in church belfries, and finally feel the awe of little country churches to majestic cathedrals. It started with their first steps through the clocktower arch in the Basque village of Saint-Jean-Piedde-Port and was capped with a visit to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
But it’s more than a travelogue. It is a once-in-a-lifetime, five star adventure made even more attractive because it included his wife and best friend, Aurora. It was their journey, not only in steps, but in self-awareness as well.
In his acknowledgments, Ken noted, “She’s [Aurora] had to listen to my half-baked plans about hiking the Camino for years until she finally threw up her arms and said, ‘Let’s just do it!'”
Ken is no stranger to hiking. As a kid, he often ventured to the edge of the beach, the end of the road, or to an opening in the forest. So it was natural his wanderlust included hiking the Adirondacks of New York, Sierra Nevada of California, volcanoes of Mexico, Rub Al Khali desert in Saudi Arabia, or the hill behind his house. During his life, these places have become his refuge — places where he could reflect and listen to his heart. And what better place on earth to seek freedom and spiritual meaning than on the Camino.
Aurora, with her deep faith and love for the outdoors, was a perfect companion for the adventure. Ken readily admits it was not that easy to wake up every day and walk mile after mile with your spouse for 31 straight days. “It can test even the best relationship. But she is, above all, my best friend, and that is a solid foundation.”
The stories and interactions with their fellow pilgrims is worth the price of the book. Finding out what they were thinking, what motivated them to overcome the physical and mental challenges, to walk day in and day out, in the sun and in the rain, are part of the story within a story — compelling, inspiring, genuine. It was the people along the way — the pilgrims and non-pilgrims — who were “Their Camino” and inspired them every day: Russell and Lori, the blind couple from Minnesota; Frank, the 89 year old Basque cyclist, broken and battered but not defeated; and Karla, the Dutch woman who dreamed about the Camino and found the courage to strike out alone, an experience she found liberating. These were just a few. Each had a unique story to share, a deeply personal reason, or not, for walking to Compostela, something which compelled them either spiritually or for some other reason to endure the blisters, aches, rain, and fatigue.
Without them, the Camino is just another road meandering through Europe. It is their story too.
The reader will also vicariously share in the experience of visiting the many historic towns, villages, and cities along the Camino; tour medieval churches, castles, and cathedrals; and ponder Spanish history — El Cid, the Knights Templar, the haunting Spanish Civil War, and modern-day Spain.
Ken came to the Camino hoping to accomplish several goals: travel and discover the allure of Pamplona, lose weight, come up with enough material for a book, take a break from life, and perhaps, just maybe, learn something about himself. As he notes, “these goals revolved around me.”
But it ended differently. The Camino was greater than any one person’s personal goals or cutting another notch in a belt full of achievements. It was about putting oneself out there for other people — for one’s fellow pilgrims. It was no longer about me; it was about them.
He noted, “If I could translate something in Spanish for a fellow pilgrim, or put my arm around a young man to console him, or rescue a young Chinese girl on a mountain top, I did so willingly. When my wife tended to a Japanese woman’s blisters or gave advice on how to care for a college student’s injured knee, she did so with genuine love and concern. In telling this story about my brother and sister pilgrims, I learned more about humanity. And in learning more about humanity, I could better understand that my reason for living was to serve others.”
Ken never did find divine inspiration or discover the inner him. They didn’t lose weight (the contrary, thanks to a never-ending supply of custard flan from the Pilgrim’s Menu) or find love (I already had that). Instead, their journey on the Camino involved both the physical and the symbolic paths — the latter one of introspection and renewal so upon completion, they might be reborn with a newfound sense of inner peace.
Or as Ken sums it up, “If we learned anything, it was the Camino, like life, was a personal journey, a journey which was meant to help the traveler reflect upon the other world, breathe in the air, and wait in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It all seemed so simple.”
I still have no desire to hike or go on a pilgrimage, especially to Europe. But I know what Ken is talking about. Being on the road … traveling the back roads … stopping at off beat sites … taking in the mountain, valley, or ocean vistas … reflecting on life … breathing fresh air … waiting in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It really is that simple.
Well, I promised Ken I would read it. And I was pleasantly surprised. It is a travelogue — and then some — of one couple’s 31-day journey along the Camino Trail from the snow-capped Pyrenees in France to Galicia, a region in the northwestern corner of Spain in the Celtic region, filled with incredible ups and downs. You can feel the pain of walking almost 500 miles, experience the majesty of snow capped mountain vistas, share the camaraderie with fellow travelers, enjoy the humor and pathos of the trip, visit with shepherds with their flocks, see storks in church belfries, and finally feel the awe of little country churches to majestic cathedrals. It started with their first steps through the clocktower arch in the Basque village of Saint-Jean-Piedde-Port and was capped with a visit to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
But it’s more than a travelogue. It is a once-in-a-lifetime, five star adventure made even more attractive because it included his wife and best friend, Aurora. It was their journey, not only in steps, but in self-awareness as well.
In his acknowledgments, Ken noted, “She’s [Aurora] had to listen to my half-baked plans about hiking the Camino for years until she finally threw up her arms and said, ‘Let’s just do it!'”
Ken is no stranger to hiking. As a kid, he often ventured to the edge of the beach, the end of the road, or to an opening in the forest. So it was natural his wanderlust included hiking the Adirondacks of New York, Sierra Nevada of California, volcanoes of Mexico, Rub Al Khali desert in Saudi Arabia, or the hill behind his house. During his life, these places have become his refuge — places where he could reflect and listen to his heart. And what better place on earth to seek freedom and spiritual meaning than on the Camino.
Aurora, with her deep faith and love for the outdoors, was a perfect companion for the adventure. Ken readily admits it was not that easy to wake up every day and walk mile after mile with your spouse for 31 straight days. “It can test even the best relationship. But she is, above all, my best friend, and that is a solid foundation.”
The stories and interactions with their fellow pilgrims is worth the price of the book. Finding out what they were thinking, what motivated them to overcome the physical and mental challenges, to walk day in and day out, in the sun and in the rain, are part of the story within a story — compelling, inspiring, genuine. It was the people along the way — the pilgrims and non-pilgrims — who were “Their Camino” and inspired them every day: Russell and Lori, the blind couple from Minnesota; Frank, the 89 year old Basque cyclist, broken and battered but not defeated; and Karla, the Dutch woman who dreamed about the Camino and found the courage to strike out alone, an experience she found liberating. These were just a few. Each had a unique story to share, a deeply personal reason, or not, for walking to Compostela, something which compelled them either spiritually or for some other reason to endure the blisters, aches, rain, and fatigue.
Without them, the Camino is just another road meandering through Europe. It is their story too.
The reader will also vicariously share in the experience of visiting the many historic towns, villages, and cities along the Camino; tour medieval churches, castles, and cathedrals; and ponder Spanish history — El Cid, the Knights Templar, the haunting Spanish Civil War, and modern-day Spain.
Ken came to the Camino hoping to accomplish several goals: travel and discover the allure of Pamplona, lose weight, come up with enough material for a book, take a break from life, and perhaps, just maybe, learn something about himself. As he notes, “these goals revolved around me.”
But it ended differently. The Camino was greater than any one person’s personal goals or cutting another notch in a belt full of achievements. It was about putting oneself out there for other people — for one’s fellow pilgrims. It was no longer about me; it was about them.
He noted, “If I could translate something in Spanish for a fellow pilgrim, or put my arm around a young man to console him, or rescue a young Chinese girl on a mountain top, I did so willingly. When my wife tended to a Japanese woman’s blisters or gave advice on how to care for a college student’s injured knee, she did so with genuine love and concern. In telling this story about my brother and sister pilgrims, I learned more about humanity. And in learning more about humanity, I could better understand that my reason for living was to serve others.”
Ken never did find divine inspiration or discover the inner him. They didn’t lose weight (the contrary, thanks to a never-ending supply of custard flan from the Pilgrim’s Menu) or find love (I already had that). Instead, their journey on the Camino involved both the physical and the symbolic paths — the latter one of introspection and renewal so upon completion, they might be reborn with a newfound sense of inner peace.
Or as Ken sums it up, “If we learned anything, it was the Camino, like life, was a personal journey, a journey which was meant to help the traveler reflect upon the other world, breathe in the air, and wait in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It all seemed so simple.”
I still have no desire to hike or go on a pilgrimage, especially to Europe. But I know what Ken is talking about. Being on the road … traveling the back roads … stopping at off beat sites … taking in the mountain, valley, or ocean vistas … reflecting on life … breathing fresh air … waiting in joyous expectation for what might be around the corner. It really is that simple.
October 18, 2019
It's Your Camino is a fun book that recounts the highs and lows of walking the Way of St. James. There is no dearth of literature on the Camino as it is traveled by thousands of people every year. However, it is clear Ken Strange has a writer's eye and an outgoing personality that creates many memorable events along the way. His Spanish ability and love for the country are clear in the text, but what is most memorable is his genuine interactions with pilgrims from all over the world. Ken and his wife are exactly the sort of people you hope to walk with on the Camino.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to walk the Camino de Santiago, especially if you are concerned about your ability to complete the journey after an injury or find the prospect of walking 500 miles especially daunting. It is fast flowing and easy to read, but most importantly a great snapshot of the highs and lows of walking the Camino today.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Ken about his book and much more on my podcast here: https://www.hourofhistory.com/its-you...
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to walk the Camino de Santiago, especially if you are concerned about your ability to complete the journey after an injury or find the prospect of walking 500 miles especially daunting. It is fast flowing and easy to read, but most importantly a great snapshot of the highs and lows of walking the Camino today.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Ken about his book and much more on my podcast here: https://www.hourofhistory.com/its-you...
May 10, 2020
A highly engaging journey that takes you with Ken and Aurora along a century's old route of Christian pilgrims that has forever captivated the imaginations of adventurous travelers, myself among them. The Camino Frances, the most popular route of the Camino de Santiago, is an arduous trek of nearly five hundred miles, beginning in France and ending in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in western Spain. Walking more than fifteen miles a day over mountains, through valleys, across plains in weather that is highly unpredictable is not for the faint of heart (or body). That the Strange's accomplished this feat at an age that would cause most to only dream of undertaking it is a remarkable testament to human endurance and will. While I enjoyed "It's Your Camino" as a travelogue, it was the personal aspects that kept me turning the pages. The wonderfully odd assortment of people they encountered on The Way and the significance of those personal connections was put me in each vignette as a fascinated observer. Add to this the author's introspective moments and insights and you have a terrific way to spend a day as a pilgrim on the Camino.
November 6, 2019
A lighthearted book you need to read now!
Just last September I spent 11 very memorable days hiking the Camino with my church group. We covered 114.5 km of the Portuguese Way. Ken (can I mention that you're my brother in law?...well I just did!) and (my sister) aurora aka Rory Strange were influential in my decision to walk this journey. It was also my lifelong dream to visit Galicia, Spain.
After having experienced walking the Camino I can proclaim that every chapter in Ken's book is right on the money. His recounting of historic churches and places, local experiences and his "characters" of the Camino were all so unbelievably precise and not to mention very FUNNY!
Reading his book brought me back to my Camino. If you have hiked in any way or none at all, you need to read this book and you will be enlightened and might even start your own Camino adventure! It's a wonderful read that will leave you lighthearted. 💙
Just last September I spent 11 very memorable days hiking the Camino with my church group. We covered 114.5 km of the Portuguese Way. Ken (can I mention that you're my brother in law?...well I just did!) and (my sister) aurora aka Rory Strange were influential in my decision to walk this journey. It was also my lifelong dream to visit Galicia, Spain.
After having experienced walking the Camino I can proclaim that every chapter in Ken's book is right on the money. His recounting of historic churches and places, local experiences and his "characters" of the Camino were all so unbelievably precise and not to mention very FUNNY!
Reading his book brought me back to my Camino. If you have hiked in any way or none at all, you need to read this book and you will be enlightened and might even start your own Camino adventure! It's a wonderful read that will leave you lighthearted. 💙
November 8, 2022
Having myself walked the Camino de Santiago when I was sixty two years old (just like the author!) I very much enjoyed this book.
Reading It’s Your Camino gave me the opportunity to vicariously share in Ken’s journey visiting once again the ancient villages, the historic towns and the magnificent cities along this 500 mile pilgrim trail in northern Spain.
I liked Ken’’s easy going style of writing – describing the not only the churches, castles and cathedrals but also the people that he and his wife Aurora met along their journey. I totally agree with his observation that ‘the landscapes were spectacular – but it was the people along the Way who made Our Camino’. One finds along the Camino so many folk with whom one has a lot in common – and that there is more in this world that unites us rather than divides us.
I liked too his description of the Camino as a being an opportunity to experience the joy and exhilaration of hiking and being one with Nature - and of detaching oneself from the mundane world. It is a place where your priorities change, where you can “reflect – and listen to your heart”.
The author emphasises the value of proper preparation before undertaking this journey - how he and his wife trained by hiking in the Santa Monica mountains near their home and how they found out practical information such as what to wear and how to pack before embarking on their Camino.
Ken Strange’s genuine love for foreign countries, languages and people is clearly manifest in his narrative.
I certainly enjoyed reading It’s Your Camino – and I am sure you will too.
Reading It’s Your Camino gave me the opportunity to vicariously share in Ken’s journey visiting once again the ancient villages, the historic towns and the magnificent cities along this 500 mile pilgrim trail in northern Spain.
I liked Ken’’s easy going style of writing – describing the not only the churches, castles and cathedrals but also the people that he and his wife Aurora met along their journey. I totally agree with his observation that ‘the landscapes were spectacular – but it was the people along the Way who made Our Camino’. One finds along the Camino so many folk with whom one has a lot in common – and that there is more in this world that unites us rather than divides us.
I liked too his description of the Camino as a being an opportunity to experience the joy and exhilaration of hiking and being one with Nature - and of detaching oneself from the mundane world. It is a place where your priorities change, where you can “reflect – and listen to your heart”.
The author emphasises the value of proper preparation before undertaking this journey - how he and his wife trained by hiking in the Santa Monica mountains near their home and how they found out practical information such as what to wear and how to pack before embarking on their Camino.
Ken Strange’s genuine love for foreign countries, languages and people is clearly manifest in his narrative.
I certainly enjoyed reading It’s Your Camino – and I am sure you will too.
March 4, 2024
2024 bk 121. I seem to be one of the few non-relatives or friends writing a review. Let me say - I live half a continent from the Strange family and do not know them. That said, after reading this book I have come to know their spirit of perseverance, love of meeting and coming to know new people and places, and their joy in life. This is their tale of walking the camino. I'll only do it virtually through the Conqueror's Challenge, and this book has very much enhanced my knowledge of the places I pass on our google map. They re-created the feeling of community in pilgrimage so well that I recognized that is what I'm doing with the virtual community that is helping me walk my challenge. Thank you for such a well-written, descriptive book. Gracias.
November 8, 2021
It's Your Camino is a fun retelling of Kenneth's journey on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino is known for being a cultural experience, as well as a human one. Strange makes a point to recount the variety of humanity he encountered along the way. And to share his perspective on how the trail brings strangers together in a unique way.
March 30, 2023
the stories gathered
I have watched videos, documentaries, and movies on the Camino. The thematic journey of life is ever present in each. Mr. Strange inquires of each pilgrim and person he meets and obtains their inner thoughts. He translates them well feeling the pages with the scenery of their souls.
I have watched videos, documentaries, and movies on the Camino. The thematic journey of life is ever present in each. Mr. Strange inquires of each pilgrim and person he meets and obtains their inner thoughts. He translates them well feeling the pages with the scenery of their souls.
January 31, 2022
I enjoyed reading about the journey along the French Way. I traveled the Portuguese Way in 2019 and this renewed my memories and made me want to continue the pilgrimage!
March 5, 2022
Not a bad book but I found it unexpectedly folksy and a bit bland. I guess I thought it would have a bit more flair, as it was written by a former FBI agent.
June 3, 2025
Good account of what to expect when walking the Camino Francais.
May 10, 2021
I was surprised but happy to learn that Ken included me as one of the acknowleged person in his first book, thank you! I guess it's because my husband and I have first walked the Camino 7 years ago, but... only the last "official" 111 kms from Sarria, and so for only 5 days - nothing to compare with what they have walked ;) It may also be because, like Ken, Spain has a special place in our hearts. My husband & our 3 children & I lived there for 13 year,s and like having walked the Camino (whichever way one took) the beauty and magic of Spain surely will stay with you forever .
I confess, it took me long to read this book. I inadvertenly lost hold of it for a year and a half, while constructing a new library in our home where we just moved into, and when I received a copy of the book (my sincere apologies ;)
But the intention of reading it was imbedded in my mind. But of course, I owe it beng acknowledged in the book (!)
And so finally at last I finished it this weekend - just "in time". "In time" since I have been planning another walk for the *Jacobean Year 2021! Though once again the Sarria way only. This time to experience the Jubilee Year!
*( Jacobea or Jubilee year, are years in which St. James’ Day (July 25) falls on a Sunday. Jacobean years occur cyclically every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. The last was in 2010 and so this year 2021, July 25 falls on a Sunday).
I enjoyed the anecdotes in each part of The Way. My favorite characters were Russell and Lori. They gave us a strong message that, there are no physical bounderies in doing The Camino.
We all know so well that ups and downs will be encountered on long journeys like in the famous Camino. Ken had recounted their personal experiences with flare and humour. That the highs are most significant and the lows are very much a part of the adventure.
You have walked Your Camino, and be proud of it ! Hats off 🧢👌
I confess, it took me long to read this book. I inadvertenly lost hold of it for a year and a half, while constructing a new library in our home where we just moved into, and when I received a copy of the book (my sincere apologies ;)
But the intention of reading it was imbedded in my mind. But of course, I owe it beng acknowledged in the book (!)
And so finally at last I finished it this weekend - just "in time". "In time" since I have been planning another walk for the *Jacobean Year 2021! Though once again the Sarria way only. This time to experience the Jubilee Year!
*( Jacobea or Jubilee year, are years in which St. James’ Day (July 25) falls on a Sunday. Jacobean years occur cyclically every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. The last was in 2010 and so this year 2021, July 25 falls on a Sunday).
I enjoyed the anecdotes in each part of The Way. My favorite characters were Russell and Lori. They gave us a strong message that, there are no physical bounderies in doing The Camino.
We all know so well that ups and downs will be encountered on long journeys like in the famous Camino. Ken had recounted their personal experiences with flare and humour. That the highs are most significant and the lows are very much a part of the adventure.
You have walked Your Camino, and be proud of it ! Hats off 🧢👌
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