My name is the Rev. Bob Hooper. I am a fifty-something Episcopal priest (closer to 60 at this point) who enjoys trekking, hiking, walking and exploring local food and culture just about everywhere. I have been married to my wonderful wife, Priscilla, since 1988. We have three adult children, Rob, Henry and Maddy and a fantastic daughter in law, Katy (Rob’s wife) and an amazing granddaughter, Millie. My wife and I met oh, so long ago at an Episcopal camp when we were 16. The rest is history.

As the rector of St. James’s, I have the privilege and pleasure to take a sabbatical every five years. This is a time for learning, relaxation, refreshment, reconnection and fun. In 2014 I was on sabbatical for 3+ months, the cornerstone of my time away was my walking the Camino de Santiago–the ancient pilgrim trail leading to the Cathedral of Santiago (St. James) in Santiago de Compostela. This is the traditional resting spot of the relics of St. James the Apostle–a long and interesting story, google it sometime!

While in Spain, I shared some of my experiences with family, friend and parishioners through this blog. The encouragement that I received and the interest in my travels got me thinking that it might be fun to share other experiences as well. The hope of this blog is to share my experiences and some lessons learned along the way. I would like to thank my wife, for her patience and encouragement in taking time to travel and the parish for doing the same.