I found myself on a pilgrimage of sounds. Disabled. Left out. Mobile. Podcasting in Spain from my wheelchair in 2019. Portugal Camino next. Anything different? Buen Camino

Proem

As I gear up for another international adventure, I feel my aging, disabled, optimistic, fearful white man of privilege self. Our insanely successful 2019 trip to the Spanish Camino opened my eyes even more to the possibilities of travel with disabilities. Our success as a travel team rested on our flexibility, compassion, and gratitude plus planning. Working with the Carly Camino Travel Agency we booked just barely accessible accommodations, drivers with translation apps so we could communicate, and GPS WhatsApp so drivers could find me when I got lost (twice). ‘We see you, stay where you are, we’ll find you.’

My cronies and I have all struggled through ailments, surgeries, infections, and pain over the past three years, so realism tempers our optimism. This time we’re pooling resources for a support van available whenever we’re not in lodging.

A theme of this reprised episode was feeling left out. Gratefully, feeling left out hasn’t lasted or resurfaced.

Eureka! It’s a Pilgrimage

I find myself on a pilgrimage. I thought I was tagging along with my wife’s hiking group through rural, Northern Spain as a disabled person. But one of our…