R.I.P. Patricia Wu-Murad

The news no wanted to hear however which is so very important for Patricia’s family and friends is summarized by her husband Kirk below.

Also included below are 3 links to blogposts detailing how my life intersected with Patricia’s on the 2022 Camino Primitivo and subsequently hours before her 2023 disappearance on the Kumano Kodo in Japan.

A brief summary 

   - Paulo and I (also Carmel & John, Pierre) met Patricia while walking our 2022 Camino Primitivo. As is common on Camino walks we walked together briefly initially…crossing paths later.

   - Patricia mentioned she had been interviewed for a Japanese Documentary and the running joke from then on was “Guy had to be in the documentary”.  Patricia even set up a sit down interview with the documentary team. In the end I had 12 seconds documentary exposure, Paulo 6, Carmel & John 2

L to R at table - me, Paulo, Patricia, documentary pilgrim walker 

   - Patricia mentioned she was planning the Shinkoku 88 walk in spring 2023. I mentioned the Dual Pilgrim designation (Kumano Kodo and Camino Frances) which I received in 2015. Patricia was intrigued.

   - April 8, 2023 Patricia sent me a text message at  20:21 Japanese time

Patricia at the start of the Kumano Kodo Kohechi route

“Hello, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted let you know I am on the Kumano Kodo Kohechi today. Im going to be dual Pilgrim just like you. I also wanted to

let you know that you made it into the Japanese documentary on Camino Santiago.”

   - I responded almost immediately 

“Great to hear from you Patricia. Enjoy the Kumano Kodo an amazing Walk! I have seen the Japanese documentary and you had a major role...well done!

Patricia a small favour when you get to the centre where you get your dual pilgrim could you take a peak at the table display of the initial Dual Pilgrims. I was told my picture would be there as #5...if this is true I would appreciate a picture. Enjoy”

   - April 9, 2023 Patricia responded at  5:51 Japanese time

“I will look and take picture at Hongu.”

    - April 9, 2023 I responded at 7:01 Japanese time to which Patricia gave me a thumbs up sometime on April 9th

“I am very curious to see if my picture is actually there or not? Have a wonderful beautiful walk!”

   - April 10, 2023 likely around 7:30 Patricia left her accommodation and was never heard from again or ~ 35 hours after her first upbeat text message to me 😢

Such an adventurous person…hit me hard that I was one of the last few people Patricia interacted with. 

Also buried deep was the initial thought that perhaps I planted the Dual Pilgrim idea in Patricia’s thinking…I have no idea whether I did or not…over time I accepted that isn’t something to dwell on. Patricia wasn’t a follower…she was an independent adventurous person making countless decisions following her passion for walking.

I do though remain thoughtful about the randomness of life.

Husband Kirk’s announcement

“On Friday, May 9, 2025, our family received confirmation that our beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, Aunt, and friend, Pattie Wu-Murad, is deceased.

This confirmation came more than two years after she went missing while hiking in Japan on April 10, 2023. 

Despite an extensive international search effort that involved 24 American search and rescue (SAR) professionals, local Japanese SAR experts, law enforcement, U.S. Embassy officials in both Japan and Washington, D.C., the FBI, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, no trace of Pattie was found in the months following her disappearance.

In September 2024, after almost a year and a half of no news and no clues, a fisherman discovered Pattie's backpack and one hiking shoe near a stream closer to a different trail from where we originally believed she was hiking. Upon this discovery, Japanese police conducted a search of that region for several days, but again, no further evidence was found.

Then, on April 27, 2025, a member of our original U.S. search team who was in Japan retraced the area near where the backpack had been found. During his hike, he discovered several of Pattie's personal items and what appeared to be a femur. He delivered the remains to the local Japanese police, who confirmed they were human. DNA testing was performed, and on May 9, we were notified that the remains were a match to Pattie, through comparison with our daughter's DNA.

Although we had tried to prepare ourselves for this outcome, the finality of this news is heartbreaking. It offers a measure of closure, but many questions remain unanswered, including the exact circumstances and cause of Pattie's death. We now begin the process of working through international protocols to bring her remains home.

We would like to express our profound gratitude to all those who supported us during this long and painful journey.

To the professional U.S. search teams - thank you for volunteering your time, skill, and compassion, risking your own safety and asking only for expense coverage in return.

To the Japanese SAR experts and volunteers - we are deeply grateful for your local knowledge, commitment, and kindness. You offered not only your expertise but also your humanity: providing meals, transportation, snacks, drones, and heartfelt companionship when we needed it most.

To our families who stood with us - thank you for your constant support, communication, and advocacy. Whether you helped spread the word on social media, reached out to search and rescue teams, or contacted news outlets, your dedication to helping us find Pattie went far beyond anything we could have hoped for. We are deeply grateful.

To the countless friends, colleagues, and strangers who reached out via social media, text messages, phone calls, and prayers - your encouragement and hope sustained us more than you can possibly know.

Pattie was an incredible woman whose light touched many lives. While we are devastated, we are also humbled by the global community that rallied to help find her. We will continue to honor her memory with love and gratitude in our hearts.

With love and thanks,

Kirk, Rachel, Murphy, and Bryce”

My previous blogposts

 Shocked and Very Saddened - April 19, 2023

Update April 29, 2023

Final Patricia Search Update - May 22, 2023

Post Kerry Way Walk - Dublin

In previous blogposts a post walk day and a half in Dublin. I considered many options…ok a ridiculous number…however in the end went with:

Afternoon May 23rd - Kilmainham Gaol

The Kilmainham Gaol website has the following summary description.

From Prison to National Monument

“Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. While most of the prisoners were common criminals, it also held political prisoners involved in Ireland’s struggle for independence. Included amongst those held here were Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, the Fenians, Charles Stewart Parnell, Countess Markievicz and the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, 14 of whom were executed by firing squad in the Stonebreaker’s yard. The Gaol was closed in 1924 but was preserved as a national monument in the 1960s and restored by the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee. It was handed over to the State in 1986 and today is run by the Office of Public Works.”

John was very very supportive with my choice to visit the Kilmainham Gaol as he saw it as an ideal way to get a sense of Irelands past including its fight for independence. “It will be a powerful experience Guy”

The Kilmainham Gaol visit was extremely well presented by our guide…very informative…to stand outside the cells where Irish leaders were held and subsequently executed in the Stonebreaker’s yard causes one to really stop and reflect.

I would encourage anyone visiting Dublin to visit the Kilmainham Gaol however keep in mind the tickets are very tough to come by…described in my May 12, 2025 blogpost.

Here are a few pictures:

Unique design adopted by other jails where guards on main level can monitor 96 cells from a central location

Individual cells where prominent political prisoners were kept before moving to a larger room on the night prior to execution

Stonebreaker’s Yard - The wall where 14 men from
the 1916 Irish uprising were lined up individually and shot by 12 guardsmen 6 kneeling and 6 standing up

May 24th - Bray Celtic Coastal Walk

I debated many alternatives for my “day off” 😉 in Dublin. There are clearly so many historical and other ways to experience this interesting city. In the end I knew what I really wanted to do…walk a Celtic Camino path so that’s what I set out to do.

With Google Maps as my friend I was out the door by 6am…local bus to Tara train station where I boarded the Dart train to Bray Station..arriving ~7:50am.

Shortly thereafter I was in Finnbees Coffee House where I collected my first stamp and had something to eat

The Bray Celtic Camino is mostly an urban walk with numerous ocean views. It has 5 designated locations for credential stamps…I could not find one location and most importantly there are no arrows (well I found one…see below) or way marking.

Route finding is completed either by following written instructions or a GPS route. I chose the GPS route. Without it no way I could have found my way back to Dublin…even with it there were a few backtracking steps required.

You might ask yourself “Guy can’t you follow a GPS route when Wikilocs beeps at you?” 

Not that easy as the author of the said GPS route clearly had a number of instances where she/he had his recording on pause. When recording is reestablished Wikilocs simply draws a straight line between the two points. End result “following” the pre established tracks might mean walking on water or through a building. I can do neither 🤣

Nothing of particular interest occurred until I reached St. James church and the Irish Camino Society Office.

Time flew by…no rain until the very end…I targeted to reach the Camino office before 3:30 closing (arrived 2:30). I walked super light…small daypack…no poles.

Felt strong and walked at a 5.6km pace over the 31.2kms…for sure my maximum possible effort 😅

A few pictures before the finish:

The start

Father in law had a number of Citroen’s

The only Camino arrow!

Christchurch Cathedral

An enjoyable experience and highlight of the day awaited me at the Irish Camino Society Information Office where I met volunteers Dee, John and Guy…all of whom have walked multiple Camino paths. So we chatted and swapped a few Camino stories and I was soon presented with my Celtic Camino Compostela based on my Passport credential stamps.

Upon my return to DCU All Hallows I updated my Camino Forum post on “what to do in Dublin for a day”. It turns out that Guy (who goes by Flog on the Camino Forum) designed the beautiful Coliemore Harbour Dalkey stamp with his son. A very special connection to that stamp has been made!

A walk from A Coruna Spain to Santiago de Compostela coupled with the Bray Celtic Coast Camino would

qualify for a unique additional Compostela.

Honestly many Camino walkers don’t even bother collecting Compostela’s…I get that as I have many at home in tubes. I am considering laminating them all and placing them in my self published books…why…just because 😊.

This is the official end to Kerry Way blogposts. Paulo sent a message indicating he will be discussing Fall 2025 Camino with family in preparation for a final go/no go decision a week for now. 

Paulo also let  me know he chose not to compete in State Ju Jitsu competition recently as a precautionary measure considering a Fall walk. Tough decision…4th potential

walk together…dating back to 2014…would be special!

Kerry Way May 22, 2025 Day 8 - Kenmare to Killarney

Hillwalk Tours Overview This walk is a lovely way to finish your tour. Follow the quiet Old Kenmare Road up into the mountains and then onwards into Esknamucky Glen, where you may even spot some Irish Red Deer. From here, the last 14km retrace your walk from Day 2 through the Glen, past Torc Waterfall, Muckross Abbey and onwards into Killarney.

Daily Information 

Distance:   26.4 Kms   [192 Kms]

Walking time:   5h 34m [41h 33m]

Avg walking speed:   4.8 Kms/hr  [4.6 Kms/hr]

Elevation G/L meters: 612:(619)  [4,207:(4,285)]

Total Daily Steps: 34,402 [256,330]

John and I have completed walking the Kerry Way 😊👍 

What an amazing walk this has been! Exceeded any and all possible expectations! While the GPS measured kilometers was 192 kms John and I walked with backpacks a number of kms further to/from accommodations.

So our official conservative total is 200 kms over 8 days…25 kms per day.

Today we worked hard over the first 10kms where the total days elevation gains were completed (note blue dot in elevation profile below)

We then made our way through the valley which was essentially backtracking day 1 walking until we reached Torc Falls and subsequently Muckross House. 

There we encountered the hordes arriving from tour buses…people coming up for the day etc. It was both nice to see people out and about enjoying nature but also a shock after the solitude of the Kerry Way. I can only compare it to a similar experience arriving in Melide Spain after walking the Camino Primitivo!

Torc Falls

Muckross House

An interesting finish to the walk…😳

We arrived at our accommodation at 2:15 and I sat on a bench outside uploading my Wikilocs track. Without a word of a lie I received a message from my son in law Steven at 2:15.

Steven professes that the timing of his message was a fluke! 😳

Félicitations pour ta marche!

I’m sure you can figure out the meaning. How could Steven have possibly known? John immediately suggested that a tracking device had been planted in my bag as my family was concerned for my well being 🤣

I assured John this was certainly not the case for sure…I then received a message from one of my daughters who will remain nameless (J*a*n*)

Great! Hope you enjoyed the biking! 

The Irish word for the day is Craic

Definition: A versatile term for fun, good times, gossip, or news, often used in the phrase "What's the craic?" to ask how someone is or what's happening

Sample Usage: After 8 tough days enjoying the Craic in Killarney 

I am thankful for so many things…

   - Dawn. We had airline credits that needed to be used…I mentioned my Kerry Walk idea to 🇮🇪. No hesitation…”Enjoy yourself”

   - Carmel and John for their warm welcome upon my arrival…delicious supper…great chatting…comfy room. Considering I had likely spoken to both of them only a few hours on the Camino Primitivo in 2022…quite a connection!

   - Various medical staff…none of whom would be reading this for their kind help as I struggled to get back on my feet post June 2024 surgery. Not a chance without their support! I felt strong throughout this walk.

   - No rain…sunny skies…8 days. Wow 😮 

   - Great food…Guinness and Apple cider

   - No injuries to either John or me…the old guys did just fine 😊

   - Hillwalk tours who created a challenging itinerary…chose superb accommodation for us…provided extensive trip material including eating recommendations. Yes we had a Day 1 problem…John and I will provide our feedback however one error does not obliterate all the positives.

   - Warm hearted people of Ireland 🇮🇪…over and over they welcomed us…helped us out…provided some great laughs.

   - John. For his friendship. An enjoyable experienced walking partner. John helped me so much in seeing and understanding Ireland that could only be achieved walking the country side. Great sense of humour, very strong walker and interpreter of the Irish people for me 🤣. Patiently explaining Gaelic Football, detective work associated with murders…restraining himself as he explained movies, history etc in thinking but not saying “Guy you have not heard of that…Guy what do you know?”

John’s two route suggestions on Day 1 and Day 6 were absolutely key in our successful walk. 

To close some pictures from the day…on to Kilmainham Gaol tomorrow and ??? the following day.

It has been an adventure to remember!

Two poached eggs and salmon…delicious 

CaesarSalad

Pork Medallions

Kerry Way May 21, 2025 Day 7 - Sneem to Kenmare

Hillwalk Tours Overview: Near Sneem you can visit an art gallery and cafe in a woodland setting before the route passes part of the Parknasilla Resort. Hillsides and woodlands guide you through an ancient landscape, dotted with tiny hamlets and you are never far from the sea. After crossing the fast-flowing Blackwater River, you descend through woodlands and forests to the shore of Kenmare Bay – a lovely setting for a picnic with views across to the Beara Peninsula. Continue along the hillsides to Kenmare, a pretty market-town with a lively pub scene and some fantastic places to eat.

Daily Information 

Distance:   27.9 Kms   [165.6 Kms]

Walking time:   5h 46m [35h 57m]

Avg walking speed:   4.8 Kms/hr  [4.6 Kms/hr]

Elevation G/L meters: 497:(505)  [3,605:(3,666)]

Total Daily Steps: 38,102 [221.928]

Carbon copy of the previous 6 days on the Kerry Way Walk…no rain…varied terrain…feeling strong however it was a long day at 27.9 kms. It really has been an exceptional walk! 😊.

The morning scenery was superb…the early afternoon walking started with a 5 km walk on a pleasant asphalt road surrounding a golf course. Surprisingly the golf course had many brown patches due to lack of rain and poor underlying soil conditions (as per a local woman we met)

Late day walking was much tougher up and down a hill on a sketchy rocky “Billy goat” path. This takes a lot of concentration given the length of the day and the tricky downhill terrain. 

Breakfast was interesting as our host Chris was not shy about broaching current troubling events. He was very knowledgeable about the particular challenges facing Canada 🇨🇦 even displaying the “elbows up” and how Mr T influenced in a significant way the outcome of our recent Federal election.

More reasonable portions today!

Once done breakfast we were greeted by our friendly shuttle driver to take us back to where we ended up yesterday on the trail. Amazing what a night’s sleep does to one's perspective…yesterday’s junk heap taxi seemed acceptable today. 

John found his seat buckle…”the ridiculous side door” could be slammed shut with a big time push from the inside and…well…we were looking forward to the day 😊

Note this is an “emergency door” 🤣

Now I received a little good natured dig from my good friend Paulo from 🇧🇷. He professed to be shocked 😮 that we would use a taxi!!!

Now to be perfectly clear at no time have John or I used a taxi to cut out a portion of the trail. The taxi’s are only used to get to/from our accommodation providers who are off trail. We are NOT CHEATING PAULO!

For some perspective on how serious this taxi ribbing is I am including a write up from the Camino Portuguese walk…

“Paulo and I had chosen Os Lambruns as our last night’s accommodation prior to our final day...a luxury which turns out is 3 kms out the Camino way. After a long day we decided to take a taxi from a specific Camino point to Os Lambruns and the next morning return to the same specific point and resume our walk. Totally kosher.

Seemed logical however hopping into a taxi might be misinterpreted by fellow pilgrims so I was determined to be careful. What followed in my recollection of events. We wanted a taxi...none to be found. We start walking in circles asking people. At one point we are directed to a booth to phone in front of a million pilgrims for a taxi!!!!

Telephone booth for Pilgrims

While walking around helplessly... estimate 2 kms, Paulo thinks 500 meters, so let’s say 1.75 kms we turn the corner and see Steffan and Allan wave to us from a bar. Panic sets in...if they see us entering a taxi we will NEVER hear the end of it no matter how logical our reasoning is!

During the walk which I estimate would be 30 to 45 minutes...Paulo might say 15 - 20 so let’s settle on 40 minutes it starts to rain!!! Monsoon like rain, Paulo might say light rain so let’s settle on a heavy downpour.

Finally a nice woman in a supermarket provides Paulo with a phone number and a taxi is there in a few minutes.

At this point I gave Paulo some very specific pilgrim avoidance instructions for the taxi...remove hats and slouch in our seats as low as possible...who cares what the taxi driver thinks! We must not get people who do not understand our logical plan providing FAKE NEWS to others!”

Today however had some challenges…the first one could have been a disaster…the second very unfortunate and the third a very pleasant surprise.

- #1 Breakfast completed we gather our stuff and hop in the taxi. Driver starts and I pad my pockets “NO PHONE”. Geez I hustle back to our table and there it is. Phew 😮‍💨 

- #2 We stop for a quick break…water guzzle or other. As I am leaving John says “missing something?” Have my wallet, phone, phone walking poles so??? John hands me my Fitbit watch. It has a band which uses magnetic click mechanism and it simply detached and fell to the ground. Geez no way would I have EVER found the watch! Merci John!

- #3 Somewhere on the trail I feel my iPhone vibrating in my pocket. What gives? I look at the screen and my oldest daughter Lise is there…then granddaughters  Elodie and Rose 🥰. Have a quick nice chat as they are off to school. Typical iPhone jiggling and somehow I FaceTimed them. Could have been anyone on my Contact List! Geez that was a lucky break for me.

The Irish word for the day is Sculling

Definition: A slang word for drinking down an alcoholic drink as fast as you can !

Sample Usage: We were banjaxed when we arrived in Kenmare so we sculled a pint of cider.  

We met again two walkers…a woman from the United States and a man from Israel. No idea how they managed to get ahead of use! John the detective suggested all manner of nefarious ways this might have happened.

John just came in…I was very concerned he had pulled a runner to solve the local murder case however he is back!

Walked 1.4km to downtown Kenmare for a great supper where we lucked out and listened to two women playing Irish music…another Ireland to do complete 😊

Kenmare Fish Cakes…so good!

Spirited Irish Music

A superb walk is coming to an end as tomorrow Day 8 we will walk into Killarney. I have a lot to be thankful for! Some pictures to give you some perspective on today.

Just to prove I am actually walking!

An impressive selfie post walk!