A Journey of 820 Miles—and Countless Smiles
After trekking 2,190 miles on the Appalachian Trail and sharing that story in It’s Just Walking, I wasn’t quite ready to hang up my hiking boots. So I turned my eyes to Spain and Portugal—and set out on the Camino de Santiago.
It’s Just sMiles chronicles my adventure along ancient pilgrim paths, winding through sunlit coasts, quiet villages, bustling cities, and countless cafés and plazas where stories and laughter are shared among travelers from around the world.
But this book isn’t just about miles. It’s about smiles.
Along the Camino, I discovered how a simple smile can bridge language barriers, connect strangers, and lift the spirit—even on the hardest days. In a world that sometimes feels divided, those small moments of shared humanity became the real treasures of my journey.
Whether you’re a past or future pilgrim, a lover of travel tales, or someone who simply enjoys a good laugh at another person’s misadventures, I hope It’s Just sMiles will bring you joy, inspiration, and maybe even a nudge to set off on your own path.
Buen Camino… and keep smiling.
The Journey
Chapter 1 — Camino de Santiago
Chapter 2 — Basque Country
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, to Bilbao, Spain
Chapter 3 — Cantabria
Bilbao to Peral, Spain
Chapter 4 — Asturias
Peral to Tapia de Casariego, Spain
Chapter 5 — Galicia
Tapia de Casariego to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Chapter 6 — Camino Finisterre
Santiago de Compostela to Fisterra, Spain
Chapter 7 — Camino dos Faros
Fisterra to Cereixo, Spain
Chapter 8 — Portuguese Coastal Camino
Santiago de Compostela to Lavra, Portugal
Chapter 9 — Smiles, Miles, and Meaning
The miles took me across Spain and Portugal. The smiles made the journey unforgettable.