Help Irma with lodging expenses on the Camino de Santiago!

Irma Selby Start Date: May 16, 2022 - End Date: Sep 15, 2022
  • France
  • Spain
  • Le Puy-en-Velay, France
  • Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Muxía, Spain
  • Finisterre, Spain
  • Lyon, France
  • Saugues, France
  • Aumont-Aubrac, Peyre en Aubrac, France
  • Espalion, France
  • Conques, Conques-en-Rouergue, France
  • Figeac, France
  • Cahors, France
  • Moissac, France
  • Condom, France
  • Navarrenx, France
  • Rocamadour, France
  • Roncesvalles, Spain
  • Pamplona, Spain
  • Logroño, Spain
  • Burgos, Spain
  • León, Spain
  • Astorga, Spain
  • O Cebreiro, Spain
  • Sarria, Spain
  • Vega de Valcarce, Spain
  • Sahagún, Spain
  • Ponferrada, Spain

My Travel Story

by: Irma Selby Start Date: May 16, 2022 - End Date: Sep 15, 2022
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S Lewis
"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come" - Zig Ziglar
"The hardest walk is walking alone, but it's also the walk that makes you the strongest' - Anonymous
"The journey not the arrival matters." - T.S. Eliot

This summer, I’m walking the Camino de Santiago, aka The Way of St. James, to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, to celebrate a milestone birthday and take a much-needed break as a caregiver. I have my flights booked and some spending money covered, but I hope to get funding for lodging, travel insurance, and train travel in France and Spain. I’ll use any extra funds to complete this 3-month journey.

 I’ll begin my journey on Camino Podiensis in Le Puy en Velay, France, walking for around 500 miles. Then I’ll proceed along the Camino Frances, beginning in St Jean Pied de Port (in 2018, I took the latter path) for another 500 miles. I’ll end my Camino in Muxia and Finisterre, Spain, aka “The End of The World,” after walking a total of 1,000 miles, sharing that special bond with fellow pilgrims along the way. I’ll be staying in albergues, hostels, pensions, gites, and the occasional hotel when cheaper accommodation isn’t available. Sleeping in dormitory-style accommodations is all part of the Camino experience!

For over a thousand years, pilgrims have been walking the Camino de Santiago, ever since the remains of St James the Apostle were first discovered in Northern Spain. As a Catholic, I've known about the Camino most of my life, but never actually wanted to walk it until rewatching the movie The Way (2011) with Martin Sheen and his son, Emilio Estevez. On Christmas Day in 2017, I told my family about my plans to take my first pilgrimage. There are many reasons to walk a Camino, but my motivation was bittersweet. I wanted to mentally prepare myself for my most rewarding and challenging job to date--being my mom's caregiver.

Four years after I started caring for Mom full-time, I’ve decided to challenge myself and walk the Camino de Santiago again to continue my personal and spiritual journey in life. And to reset, restart, re-adjust, and re-focus my mind.

Becoming Mom’s caregiver has been a defining moment in life. It’s made me realize my entire existence and experience are based upon my ability to make decisions in this life, honoring what it means to be human and care for an ailing parent. The Camino is not a walk in the park. I experienced so much joy and hardship on my first Camino, which took 49 days to complete but also taught me some invaluable life lessons. Namely, life is challenging, so I must learn to adapt and keep moving. 

It's a meaningful experience worth repeating. The benefits of walking and clearing my mind are a privilege. It makes me so happy planning and organizing my next Camino. So in the spirit of my Grandma Selby who would put a $5 bill inside my birthday cards, I hope you consider making a $5 donation. 

Please know that any amount is received with gratitude and goes toward my pilgrimage goals. I will pay it forward and leave extra euros for the next pilgrim in need.

With gratitude,

Irma Selby
  • France
  • Spain
  • Le Puy-en-Velay, France
  • Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Muxía, Spain
  • Finisterre, Spain
  • Lyon, France
  • Saugues, France
  • Aumont-Aubrac, Peyre en Aubrac, France
  • Espalion, France
  • Conques, Conques-en-Rouergue, France
  • Figeac, France
  • Cahors, France
  • Moissac, France
  • Condom, France
  • Navarrenx, France
  • Rocamadour, France
  • Roncesvalles, Spain
  • Pamplona, Spain
  • Logroño, Spain
  • Burgos, Spain
  • León, Spain
  • Astorga, Spain
  • O Cebreiro, Spain
  • Sarria, Spain
  • Vega de Valcarce, Spain
  • Sahagún, Spain
  • Ponferrada, Spain

Updates

6

  • My Journey Begins

    My journey begins
    Thanks again to everyone who has donated and or given advice to my campaign. I truly appreciate it.
    I am heading to my starting point, Le Puy en Velay, France from Barcelona, Spain. I've got all my gear ready to head out on my spiritual pilgrimage. I am very grateful for the love and friendship of my family, friends, and acquaintances cheering me on. Taking a mental health break is what a lot of people are in need of, including me.
    With gratitude,

    Irma

  • Why Walk Another Camino?

    Why walk another Camino?
    I've been asked why I choose to walk another Camino and the answer is: I love a challenge and I need a mental break from being a caregiver 24/7. My most challenging, rewarding, and bittersweet job is like most jobs, at will. At any given moment my Mom will leave us. I'll be left to find a "real" job quickly and I need leverage. I'm not a robot. I don't want pity. I need a contingency plan. I'll need to show what I did during the years I was out of the workforce. Aside from all of my caregiving duties, I will be able to show how I successfully argued two 90-day sabbaticals with my sisters and walked a few Caminos. They are not a small or easy feat.