It’s official…we have completed 779 kilometers (484 miles in total) to Santiago de Compostela!!!
We are both feeling mixed emotions. We’re so glad we made it and can finally let our feet recover from the trauma we’ve put them through, but at the same time we’re a little sad it’s over. It will take some time to process all the feelings.
The good news is after 60 days we didn’t kill each other. The Camino was not a leisurely stroll and we each had moments where our heart wasn’t 100% in it, but we supported each other and understood when space was needed.
We’re proud of ourselves and what we accomplished. We’re not signing up for another Camino just yet, but haven’t completely closed the door on the possibility of doing another route some day. We’ll see. Time will tell.
We will summarize everything and post later. For now, we have a new problem to solve which we will share soon.
Day 58 – Nov 2, 2022 – Boente to Salceda (19,45 km / 12.09 miles)
Oh boy, did we ever screw up today. The less than 20 km route turned into 23. The address for our hostal in our confirmation directed us incorrectly off the Camino and to different Hostal altogether, one THAT WAS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Once we figured it out and rerouted Google Maps, we had to walk an additional 2 km to the correct place – 100% of it on pavement. Our feet are absolutely hating us right now. I thought technology was supposed to help us?
Where’s Rex?
Day 59 – Nov 3, 2022 – Salceda to Labacolla (16,78 km / 10.43 miles)
We are so close now…we will post a video tomorrow!
Since we’ve had a few down days as we recover from some injuries, we thought we’d touch on a few security related topics and how we’re handling them as we travel.
Keeping valuable personal data secure while traveling…
Before we left on our adventure, we purchased a Virtual Private Network (VPN) package for our phones and computer so we can securely connect to the internet regardless of the WiFi network (pronounced “Wee-Fee” in Spain) we are connected to. We still need to manage our personal banking as well as our travel business, and this has allowed us to do both without the worry of our sensitive information being stolen over insecure networks. It’s also allowed us to watch TV shows and movies on our streaming apps just as we would from home since the VPN connection makes it seem like we are connecting from the US. That’s been a nice bonus on several occasions when we’ve had a lot of down time to fill after the chores were done.
What to do with all those receipts…
When at home, we always shred our credit card receipts once we no longer need them. Since Kara refused to carry the shredder in her pack, we’ve employed a different, but highly effective system. When we have a private hostel or hotel room, we fill the sink with water and soak all the accumulated receipts we no longer need for about an hour. Once thoroughly saturated, most of the ink will have bled out. We then take each receipt and basically make spit balls, squeezing as much water as possible out of each one. Then we place the cache of spit balls on the back of the sink or toilet to let them fully dry until it is time for us to check out. By this time, they have either dried into small rocks or would be so difficult to unroll, any would-be data thief would not be able to decipher the information within. Could a nation-state with unlimited resources be able to crack them? Maybe. But I’m pretty confident this is good enough for a couple of mild-manored world travelers to secure their latest purchases from prying eyes.
Being aware for emergency preparedness…
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals who are traveling or living abroad. STEP allows you to enter information about trips abroad so that the Department of State, via our embassies and consulates, can better assist you in an emergency. You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country.
What are your travel tips/hacks to stay secure while traveling? We’re always open to suggestions and would love to hear your ideas.
Greetings, fellow wanderers! We are Kara and Rex, the adventurous Roaming Rountrees!
At the heart of our journey lies a burning passion for embracing a nomadic lifestyle, where we wander purposefully and contribute through acts of service in every corner of the globe.
For many years, we were engrossed in the corporate grind, dutifully following the path of the American dream. Rex dedicated an impressive 25 years to his role as an IT Program Manager in a global technology company, while I, Kara, meandered through various career paths before finally finding my calling in program management. With comfortable paychecks, a house, new cars, and all the trappings of a well-paid corporate existence, we seemed to have it all.
Throughout those years, we squeezed in world travels, often embarking on multiple quick trips in a year just to satiate our thirst for exploration. Travel became our lifeblood. However, with the demands of our full-time jobs, we found it increasingly challenging to pursue our deep-seated yearnings for discovery, learning, and making a positive impact.
Driven by a shared desire for a more enriching existence, Rex and I immersed ourselves in countless calculations, determined to forge a path of intentional homelessness while traversing every inch of our wondrous planet. By no means are we considered wealthy, especially by US standards. Our endeavor demanded meticulous planning, relentless effort, and significant sacrifices from both of us. Our new way of life won’t be a walk in the park, and it certainly won’t appeal to everyone, but it promises to be an extraordinary adventure that will nourish our souls for the rest of our days.
So, dear reader, we invite you to join us on this thrilling escapade. Come, wander the world alongside the Roaming Rountrees, and together, let’s unlock the secrets of this remarkable planet we call home.
