Dear FB and blog fans- we have some exciting news! We (Chris, Wendy, and 2 year old Sophie) are making final preparations for our family Camino. We begin in Ponferrada at the end of April and will cover the 130 miles to Santiago de Compostela as a family. Wendy and I will be walking while Sophie will ride in comfort in a specially designed chariot.
We are embarking on the Camino to celebrate all the great blessings in our lives and also to make a difference in the world. To the latter motivation, we are excited to partner with a great charity called Trekking for Kids (TFK). TFK funds capital improvements in some of the world's poorest orphanages and in doing so improves the lives of the children living there. TFK has generously set up a fundraising page for us and we are inviting all of our fans and site visitors to donate - any amount no matter how small will  improve the life of an orphaned child. CLICK HERE to donate. Also, stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to embark...and stay tuned for live updates from the Camino in late April! Buen Camino and thanks again for your support and encouragement! Chris, Wendy, and Sophie

Bed bugs have found their way to nearly all corners of the earth, including the cleanest and most expensive five star hotels. It should be no surprise then that the little critters have been spotted on the Camino de Santiago, where thousands of pilgrims sleep in close proximity communal dormitories each day. Though recent years have witnessed relatively few bed bug incidents (thanks in part to a concerted effort among albergue wardens and hoteliers), many pilgrims remain concerned. With this in mind, we’ve compiled two easy tips to help pilgrims avoid bed bugs while on the Camino.

Tip 1- Always inspect your sleeping area– the best preventative measure is to inspect the area in and around one’s bed before unpacking. Remember, bed bugs are active at night- they hide during the daytime. The places most often inhabited by bed bugs include: the creases of the mattress, crevices within the bed frame and headboard, cracks within the floor, and behind pictures or other wall hangings. Look for tiny black spots (excrement) which are smaller than poppy seeds, rusty or redish stains on bed linen, translucent light brown skins (bugs shed their skins), or live bugs (bed bugs are oval, brown and flat- they can be ¼” to about 3/8” long).

Tip 2- Pre-treat your gear and outerwear with a bed bug repellent- Permethrin is by far the most popular bed bug repellent (google it to find out more). Permethrin can be used to pre-treat sleeping bags/liners, back packs, fitted sheets, and clothing. It is safe and pre-treatment can withstand many launderings.

There are other precautions one can take to avoid bed bugs, with varying degrees of effectiveness and practicality in our view. These include storing one’s gear away from sleeping areas (not always possible), spraying one’s bed with insect repellent (which could be irritating to others and may not have an effect on the bed bugs anyway) and purchasing a so called “bed bug proof” sleeping sack (which is typically made of a heavier more tightly woven fabric and still offers no guarantee the bugs will not crawl through the opening at the top).

Have a suggestion on how to avoid bed bugs? Have an experience to share? Please leave a comment.

Buen Camino!