I had only 5 days to fall in love with the people of Colombia and Venezuela – I needed only one. All too soon, I was packing my backpack for the next leg in my journey (with a little extra packing space after delivering spice containers to the volunteer house; I felt a bit like…

My time with OTGI in Pamplona, Colombia has been packed. Moto rides up the mountain to inspect a transition house for caminantes, volunteer family dinners, more mobile aid trips up and down the mountain with sandwiches & eggs and rides for walkers (and Jess getting a little queasy and dehydrated on the winding mountain roads).…

I wake up to the sound of cars and trucks roaring by, lying on a stiff mattress with a picky wool blanket making my back sweat. But I only hear the rain on the roof tiles; I don't feel it. My mattress doesn't hold the memories of thousands of hikers before me, and my feet…