A conversation with writer Maggie Espinosa, on her quest to visit all 21 California missions, from San Diego to Sonoma.
A growing number of people of all ages are taking up the challenge of walking the entire California mission trail. For many, it is an adventure, a spiritual pilgrimage, a scenic tour, a way to get to know themselves, or all of the above.
Maggie Espinosa is a journalist, travel writer and blogger, who decided to set off on a quest to visit all 21 of California missions. Along the way, she overcame challenges, made friends, and learned about herself. The story of her journey is detailed in the book, On a Mission: An 800-mile Walk to Discover California’s El Camino Real
. On a Mission is a wonderful, personal account of her life on the mission trail. When I read it, I new that I had to somehow interview Maggie and hear her story.
Maggie was happy to answer my questions about her journey. She’s a lively and engaging person, and I know you are going to enjoy our conversation. In it, I ask her about what prompted her to hit the trail, the challenges she met along the way, her favorite mission, and advice for people who would like to walk the Camino Real like she did. She provides a whole lot of great information and talks about the California Mission Walkers, an organization that supports people like Maggie who want to take up the challenge of walking El Camino Real. I’ve met some of the group’s members, and they all have great stories from the trail.
Links for this episode:
- Maggie’s website: travelwithmaggie.com
- Maggie’s book on Amazon: On a Mission: An 800-mile Walk to Discover California’s El Camino Real
- Videos about Maggie’s mission journey:
- The California Mission Walkers Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/californiamissionwalkers
- List of all 21 California missions
