About Us

About Diana:

I don’t know when or where I got bit by the travel bug – Could have been in Panama when I was two?  On Taiwan when I was six? Or in Lebanon when I was newly wed at the age of twenty-one?  Getting married did nothing to cure me of it, infact, the bug got worse.  My husband traveled a lot for work and sometimes I got to go along, like the trips we took to Washington DC, Hawaii and Scotland.  Having children didn’t cure me of the bug either.  In fact, in 1986, I traveled with our first born daughter (Rhiana) on a trip around Europe by train for four weeks exploring Italy, France and Spain.  The following year we traveled to Lebanon for the second time and got the chance to see the Holy Land in Israel.  The arrival of our second daughter (Christina) in 1987 did nothing to slow my travel bug down either.  In 1990, with a three & seven year old along for the next adventure;  we spent several weeks exploring the French Riviera; beautiful Cannes, St. Tropez, Toulon and Monoco.  we were lucky to have my Mother along for this trip, and our daughters really enjoyed the stories their Grandma would tell them.  Unfortunately, being divorced at thirty-nine did nothing to cure me of the travel bug either.  It was then that I rode my bike across country leaving San Diego in mid May of 1999 and arriving in Jacksonville Florida about 6 weeks later.  Traveling by bike was a whole new experience, the fresh air, the sunshine, the rain and all the sights right up close and personal.  It was an amazing experience!

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 I discovered I had developed a fear of flying.  Watching the footage of the airplane crashing into the Twin Towers and the buildings collapsing to the ground squashed my travel bug.  For nearly 10 years I avoided flying and drove everywhere I needed to go; sadly my world became very small. I missed out on a lot of opportunities and invites to visit friends and relatives around the country because it was simply too far to drive.  While my bug was healing and waiting to be woke up again; I slowly forced myself into taking short flights to Northern California to visit family.  Finally in 2011, I took a longer trip to Costa Rica with the help of my dear friends Lee and Linda.  I was hooked and my travel bug was fired up and ready to soar once again!  In 2012 I took my first solo trip to Washington DC to visit my daughter and explore our nations capitol.  In Spring of 2013 we traveled to Thailand and Cambodia.  I am not ready to say that I longer have a fear of flying, but that little “travel bug” tells me to do it anyway.

About ten years ago I read Shirley MacLaine’s book “Camino, Journey of the Spirit” and it resonated with me and my desire to someday walk the Camino began.  The more books I read on the subject the more my desire to walk the Camino grew.  I began walking 5K’s, marathons, Avon 3-day walks and hiked a lot on the Pacific Crest Trail.  I had a physical set back a few years ago and needed to have a partial knee replacement and of course some recovery time.  Now that it’s healed I am good to go!

I am so excited after all these years to be able to go on this journey across Spain and experience all it has to offer.  It will be a challenge, I am expecting that; but I am still going because it’s been a dream of mine and I’m crossing this one off “my list”.  I am especially excited to inspire each of you to follow your dreams and not let anything get in your way.  You can do anything as long as you set your mind and heart to it and I'm out to prove that one more time!

 

About Lee:

Although most of you know me as Lee, my real name is Carlita Marie Durand.  I am from the Pacific Northwest and born into a pioneer logging family from Shelton, Washington.

As a kid I had polio and my mother (Mayme) made sure I would walk again and be strong. She did something called "Sister Kenny Treatments" which were hot oil massages on my leg muscles.  It must have worked because it started a wonderful life of adventure and I haven't stopped walking since! I love to travel, hike, be adventurous.  

I was an ultra marathon runner and used to train by running from Point Loma to La Jolla everyday to/from work.  I have run in numerous marathons around San Diego and my all time favorite was the New York City Marathon.  In addition to running, I have enjoyed long distance swimming and have held a long distance record in my age group (60-64) for swimming in the February Fitness Challenge at the YMCA.  I swam 10 miles a day Monday-Friday and 3 miles on both Saturday & Sunday for the entire month of February 2003 for a total of 390,720 total yards or 130 miles! 

I retired at the age of 55 from U.C.S.D Medical School where I had the privilege of working for Dr. John West & Peter Wagner in medical research.  One of our research projects was working with NASA on an experiment where I was able to ride in a Lear Jet that made 5 parabolic arches at Zero G's.  That was a thrilling ride!  

I was privileged to meet Sir Edmond Hillary who was the adviser of Dr. John West's medical expedition to Mt. Everst.  I fell in love with what he did for the people of Nepal and wanted to visit his schools, hospitals and forestry program there.  I have been to Nepal twice and have gone trekking in the Ana Purna's and the Everest side.  I spent my 63rd birthday overlooking the Base Camp of Mt. Everest on Kala Pattar at 18,223 feet.  

I have been privileged in my lifetime to travel to six continent's; the seventh is still on my "bucket list".  I am also passionate about serving my community by volunteering, at the Red Cross, Dignity Delivery, Standup for Kids, Family Matters and the Food Bank to name a few.

I believe The Camino will be one my biggest challenge's now considering my age.   I will celebrate my 76th birthday along The Way of Saint James and I am really looking forward to this next adventure!  Somehow I just know Mayme will be right there with me in spirit making sure I don't give up.

Wish me luck!