News at St. Catherine's

MS Teacher Backpacks Through Europe

9/19/2012

History teacher Katie Yohe spent the summer hiking across Europe, including the completion of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago.

By Katie Yohe

Middle School History Teacher

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain

When people ask me if I had a good summer, I sometimes laugh a little before answering, “Yes.” When I hear that question, a hundred images flash through my head. Images of the people I met, the things I saw, the roads I walked and the adventures I had are hard to put together to answer that question in under an hour.

You see, I spent my summer with just my backpack and together we embarked on the trip of a lifetime.

I opened my summer by completing the Camino de Santiago or “Way of St. James,” a religious pilgrimage walking across Northern Spain. The 800-kilometer trek, or 500-miles, was definitely the highlight of my summer. Starting in France and finishing in Santiago de Compostela, Spain 30 days later, it was a journey that had me questioning if I would ever see the finish line.

The Bible Verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” was definitely motivation as I focused on my faith and continued to walk over 20 miles each day. Arriving in Santiago and standing at the footsteps of the cathedral was a moment in my life that I will remember forever. As I sat in the church pew during mass replaying the events of the entire journey, my heart was filled with excitement and a rejuvenated faith that is beyond explanation.

My summer was only just beginning which was hard to believe. I had no real plan, just some destinations I wanted to explore, some dreams I wanted to reach, and new things I wanted to discover. My first stop after Spain was Morocco.

From Morocco I went to Interlaken, Switzerland; Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. From my adventures in the Alps I headed south to Italy. Venice, Florence and Rome had me captivated with art and history. I finished up my journey with stops in Paris and Dublin.

After a trip like this many people would think it would be boring to be home. But I have to argue that assumption, there is nothing more exciting than starting a new school year at St. Catherine’s School.

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Katie Yohe crossing the Pyrenees on her first day hiking on the Camino de Santiago.
A typical day walking along the Camino de Santiago.
Passing through Galicia, Spain.
Yohe at the end of the Camino de Santiago.
Yohe in Santiago de Compostela, Spain where she finished the Camino de Santiago, received her completion certificate and showed off her pilgrim passport that was stamped every day.
Posing in front of the Burgos Cathedral in Burgos, Spain.
Posing in front of the Eiffel Tower during a stop in Paris.
Yohe traveled to Merzouga, Morocco and even rode a camel in Sahara Desert.
Yohe visited Venice during the trip.
Her trip also included a visit to Interlaken, Switzerland where Yoke hiked up and around the Alps.

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Richmond, Virginia 23226
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Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.