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Presented By: The Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. This program is free and open to the public. Bring a friend.Program: Walking the Way of St. James: A Camino de Santiago Adventure
Presenter: Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp
Description: Join Andy Niekamp as he relives his 35-day journey of culture, friendship, and faith on the Camino de Santiago during the fall of 2023. His route, the classic and most popular route, the 480-mile French Way, stretches from St. Jean, France over the Pyrenees Mountains to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the final resting place of the Apostle Saint James.
The Camino is Spain, past and present. His route took us through medieval cities and areas of natural beauty such as Pamplona, famous for its bull run; La Rioja wine region; Burgos with its magnificent cathedral; elegant Leon and Ponferrada with its Templars Castle. From Ponferrada, the Camino continues through Galicia over the mountains and picturesque village of O Cebreiro.
As a pilgrim, he endured the extremes of heat, cold, wind, and rain over steep mountains, on wooded paths, rolling farmland, and paved roads. He stayed in picturesque towns and villages, pensions, hostels, hotels and an alburgue. Learn why the Camino de Santiago, a thousand-year-old footpath, is often called a journey for the body, mind, and soul. Come to hear why so many people from around the world embark on the Camino de Santiago.
Bio: Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp, a Western Gate chapter member and snowbird from Dayton, Ohio, has been a wilderness adventurer for more than 30 years. This IT professional, turned long-distance hiker has logged over 20,000 miles of backpacking from the East Coast to the West Coast and from Minnesota to Florida including five end-to-end hikes on the Appalachian Trail and 2,000 miles on the Florida Trail. Back home Captain Blue is the founder and organizer of Dayton Hikers, a Meetup group with 9,000+ members. He is the Chief Adventure Officer of Outdoor Adventure Connection, a backcountry guide service based. While snowbirding in Pensacola, Andy supports the FTA by leading hikes and volunteering for trail maintenance outings.
Required Disclaimer: This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the West Florida Public Libraries or Escambia County.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring St, Pensacola, FL 32502, United States
