Required Reading for Explorers: F. A. Worsley’s Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure

Last night I finished F. A. Worsley’s 1931 publication of Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure (Norton, 2000). It was terrific! The author, Frank Worsley, was a New Zealand sea captain who saw action in WW1, did merchant work around Iceland, but most famously, skippered the Endurance. The Endurance was the ill-fated ship used by Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916. It is also a fitting theme for this book.

Wisemen Wafers: Ancient Pilgrims and the Dust of the Magoi

Discover the fascinating history of eulogia—ancient holy tokens and "wisemen wafers" that allowed pilgrims to literally swallow the dust of the Bible lands. Explore how these tiny artifacts may preserve lost mosaics of the Magoi and the legends that saved the Church of the Nativity from destruction.

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Why the Magi Terrified Herod: A Geopolitical Nativity Story

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Discover how the Magi’s arrival sparked a Cold War crisis in Jerusalem. Explore the historical reputation of these "king-makers" and why Herod feared them.

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The Surprises of O Cebreiro

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A hike up the Camino de Santiago leads to O Cebreiro, where a 14th-century miracle and a warm cup of coffee offer a lesson in the surprises of God.

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How to Survive the Camino in Midsummer Heat: 5 Gear Essentials

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From ultralight gear hacks to "petroleum jelly salvation," discover five indispensable items that proved their worth on an 800km Camino summer trek. This guide offers practical, battle-tested advice for maximizing comfort and efficiency on long-distance walks.

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How the Sparking Tomb of James was Discovered by a Hermit

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The men cleared away the dense vegetation and discovered something amazing: the tomb of James. This is the heart of “the Golden Legend” and the beginning of the story of Santiago de Compostela.

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The Long Ball: Hispania is Way Out There

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Cold, rugged, tribal, self-sufficient, full of hardship, and barbaric. Hispania sounds like a long ball for a church plant. It also sounds like a job for a ‘Thunderboy.’ Discover the story of the Apostle James in Spain.

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James Goes West (part 3)

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Explore the complex legacy of Saint James the Great, from the biblical "Son of Thunder" to the legendary "Moor-slayer" on the white stallion of Clavijo.

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Rabies is not the way to go (part 6)

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Not so long ago the treatment for rabies consisted of twenty or more painful shots into the abdomen delivered by a needle the size of a fencepost. This treatment is now obsolete, as I have (thankfully) discovered.

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Rabies is not the way to go (part 3)

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Rabies is not the way to go (part 3)

I rinsed with water from a hose. The clear imprint of teeth on my thigh would have made a dentist proud. But the wounds were also deep so they took a while to stop bleeding. Red streaks mixed with the water and dribbled down my leg and forearms.

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Stork swarm

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Stork swarm

Swarms of giant storks were suddenly everywhere. They were beyond counting. In the hundreds? For sure. Thousands? Maybe. Some circled slowly overhead, great wings outstretched. Many more rested, nested, and clattered their bills from poo-spangled trees.