Adventure

Pushing Out

As I mentioned in my last post, a tease I called it, I do have plans to do many things in the next couple years all wrapped around my retiring next year.

It’s been a very difficult thing for me to accept and I know that for some, it’s hard for them to understand how retiring could be a difficult thing. For some, maybe, not for me, it’s been a difficult journey to acceptance.

Understand that as an American male Baby Boomer, we were taught by our Silent Generation parents to work hard. Remember, my parents’, in their lives went through the Great Depression as well as WWII, so they knew hardship. They definitely did not want us to experience the financial hardships that they’d seen.

So, when I was younger, if you were male, you went to school for some that included College for others they went into a trade but whichever route you took, the expectation was that you’d work hard, get married, buy a house, etc., etc. Most of all, you would save for tough times, be prepared. What they didn’t tell you was when you had kids, all the saving part got much more difficult.

So, like a Kentucky thoroughbred that had been trained to run, we were trained to work and I (we) did. Often gone too much and for too long, many times distracted and probably neglectful at home. But we were doing what we thought we were supposed to do.

Suddenly, or so it seemed to me, I was contemplating retirement. I felt and still feel selfish thinking about not working, it’s an alien concept. After all, I started working officially, where I was taxed and paid Social Security, when I was 14 and I worked mowing yards, bailing hay or something else probably since I was 8.

How could I just stop? How can I on Friday be at work and on Monday, not? How does one just turn that off? I have friends that have very successfully done this, and they’ve managed to enjoy themselves and stay busy, I expect that I will too.

There’s also the financial security that working brings, now, you’re on your own and you hope that you’ve saved, invested and planned properly. My luck, some financial planner will stumble across this and I’ll be inundated with solicitations with offers to help, for a fee.

So now, I wasted your time explaining my retirement angst all of which changes nothing so as I’ve thought about it over these many months, if I’m going to do this, there’s no point in agonizing over it and boring my friends to tears.

Years ago, I took skydiving lessons. As a SCUBA Instructor and diver, you have to trust your training and equipment. The difference between the two are that gravity is real. I’ve done swimming assents from over 60 feet, and I could probably could have made it from deeper in a pinch.

I told a friend about stepping up to the door on the plane the first time you’re not jumping tandem. At some point, you must trust that you’ve prepared and that your equipment is good and push out of the plane. So, late next year, I’ll be pushing out.

Hopefully, that will free me up to pursue other more exciting (in a good way) things that I’ve wanted to do but never had the time because suddenly, time won’t be an impediment anymore.

On a positive note, I’m healthy, adventurous, willing, and hopefully in a financial situation that will allow me to enjoy my retirement and contribute in some meaningful way during that time.

Finally, why this in a blog that started out about the Camino? Because for some of us, life is the Camino. We’re all on the Way.

Free at last!

For the first time since Covid-19 became a reality here in the U.S., I’m beginning to experience something that approximates normalcy or at least something that passes for normal.

The weekend before last, my friend of 40 years, Leighton, had his birthday. It would be impolite to say which birthday but, he’s had a lot of them. Renee, his wife, had planned a kayaking trip down the Trinity River and a box lunch picnic afterwards. Even though everyone attending had be vaccinated, it was still planned to be outdoors.

The weather on the 20^th was cool and windy, not ideal for kayaking so we postponed that event, but she did still have a birthday celebration on the 21^st with all of his friends and family who could make it.

As I mentioned, everyone in attendance had be vaccinated by this time so we decided that for this event it would be mask optional. I guess as some point, you just have to let go and step out the door of the airplane and trust your parachute, which we all did.

Many of these people were in the last group meeting that we had the first weekend of March in 2020, just before the stay-at-home order and all of the other joy of the past year.

What I missed most during this time was being close to my friends. Hugging, touching and being within close proximity to them. I’d lost the sense of community over the last 12 months. This lunch was a huge emotional release for me, them too, I think.

This past weekend, we finally took that kayak trip down the Trinity river. I told my friend Katja via a text that it was the most normal day I’d had in over a year. For a brief time, a group of friends who enjoy being outside, together, were able to do just that.

Kayaking by its nature is spatially distancing but, it didn’t feel contrived or forced. We wore our masks in the van to the put in but then, free at last! We laughed, enjoyed one another’s company and soaked in the glorious sunshine. For 2.5 hours, Covid-19 never entered my thoughts. This trip was an emotional and psychological cleansing. One that was long past due.

We finished up with burgers and beers at Twisted Root Burger and if anyone is counting, I had the Vegebond (that’s for MGS the vegetarian vagabond). More importantly, even though we wore masks inside, sitting there on the patio with my friends talking about anything and everything (except CV-19), we all agreed this felt as close to normal as it gets.

I hope I have many more days like this, so many that we’ll forget about the loneliness and isolation of the past year. I hope that my friends around the world will soon also enjoy days like this.

And, if I were a person who prayed, I would pray that this is not an illusion and that we never return to the sadness and despair of the past year. I’m not but hopefully my friends can pick me up here.

Lost Maples…found self

After months of almost no outdoor activity, I finally got a long weekend of hiking in the Hill Country of Texas. For those who don’t know, the Hill Country is in south-central Texas west of Austin and San Antonio. It’s rough but beautiful country which looks dry but has many natural springs and spring fed rivers running through deep cuts and canyons. I think you either love it or hate it. I love it.

We spent our long weekend at the Lost Maples State Natural Area which is near Vanderpool. Vanderpool is basically a crossroads with a Post Office and a Catholic Church and that’s it.

Our cabin was about a mile from the park entrance and my friends, The Professors (Chris & Steve) were staying in their RV they call Ted about 3 miles away. The general social hub was our cabin which my friend and hiking buddy Ann shared.

This time of year, the weather is variable, and it certainly was on this trip. Friday was warm, 85/30 and partly cloudy. The clouds did burn off later in the day and the Texas sun did make its presence known.

The park is not huge, relatively, and has two primary trails, the West Trail and the East Trail with a smaller West Loop Trail and the East-West Trail which connects the trails. A short trail, the Maple Trail is the very scenic trail with a grove of Maple trees which are beautiful during the Fall. We started our day Friday on the Maple trail which parallels part of the East Trail before merging with it. A small stream and the Maple grove separates the two.

The beginning of the hike was relatively level as you walk along the very rocky path, limestone rocks and boulders are tread on, over and around. A fall would be painful, and your feet feel each step, even in good boots.

In Texas, you always have to keep your eyes open

This part of the hike rewarded us with getting to see Monkey Rock. This is a totally naturally occurring formation created by the limestone being eroded by both wind and water…it really does look like a monkey.

From there, we began a steep uphill climb, more like a scramble and over a relatively short distance, we climbed about 500 feet/150 m up the rocky face to the plateau. We discovered or, accepted that we were not in the condition that we once were. I was happy though that I did well and that my right knee gave me no problems.

From this high plateau, we could take in the incredible views in all directions with almost nothing man-made to interrupt the scene. This is what the Native Americans saw and what the Spaniards feared as they crossed this part of Texas looking for El Dorado.

The descent was more treacherous than the ascent and the trail that we saw from the top which looked easy, was not. The trail ended at a clear pool created by several springs making their way to the Sabinal River. The East-West trail took us to our car marking the end to an adventurous 4.5-hour hike. We were tired, a bit sore, hungry and I was looking for the best beer I’d ever had in the world, today.

As I mentioned before, the weather in Texas is quite variable this time of year and later in the evening, as we prepared fajitas and margaritas as cold front that was supposed to stall further north moved through the area bringing some mist, gusting winds and much cooler weather. The morning was going to be quite cool, about 49/10.

As promised, the weather was cool with low clouds and some light winds. A breakfrast of Gallo Pinot would be just what was called for. Gallo Pinto is a hearty rice and black bean staple from Costa Rica, its good. Becky and her friend Joy joined us and after breakfast, we left for the park.

To begin this hike, we would retrace part of our hike the day before up the East-West trail where we would branch off on to the West Trail. We’d walk gently up hill following a dry creek bed through a canopy of Oak, Big Tooth Maple, Bald Cypress and Sycamore trees.

As always, there was a steep climb up to the plateau and a short walk across the mesa and then a sharp decent into the Mystic Canyon, it is appropriately named. Deep down, in the quiet, you could hear the gentle gurgle of a hidden spring fed creek as it ran down the canyon. The limestone was carved by eons of water rushing past illustrating how dangerous it would be to be caught in a downpour and flash flood.

As we made our way gently downhill, through the trees and under-story, we came across a beautiful spring and pool with crystal clear, cool water. In this part of Texas, water meant life for all creatures and I’m sure this area was visited by all type of creatures including humans.

We relaxed and enjoyed the simple beauty and enjoyed the soothing sound of water running over the rocks and falling lyrically into the pool.

We could see through the trees that the sun was beginning to burn through the clouds, and it threw gentle shadows on the leaves of the forest floor. Light flickering here and there and darting from place to place. Lending more credence to the name, Mystic Canyon.

We began our walk out of this canyon with streams and fern lined grottos following the well-worn path to the spring pool where we once again found the East-West Trail and on to the parking area.

We sat and talked for a while, Becky and Joy left to explore the area and we left to clean up, have some lunch and figure out how to spend the rest of what had become a beautiful day.

Some may find it strange that Texas is the number 2 producer of grapes for wine after California and this are is full of vineyards and wineries. The area is very rocky and like parts of southwest France except it gets much hotter and the harvest occurs in July.

Near our cabin, the Lost Maples Winery called to us. Outdoors, in a shaded and physically distanced setting, we purchased a couple bottles of wine and wiled away the afternoon enjoying the autumn day, the sunshine and company, it was time well spent.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Lost Maples, and I hope to return there soon, maybe with Leighton and Renee who stayed home and were working as volunteers at a voting place.

I needed this escape physically, mentally and emotionally. 2020 with CV-19 and the election here in the U.S. has taken its toll. A year lost to CV-19, separation and fear add up to a lot of stress.

But, with that said, I want to leave you with 10 seconds of calm…

10 Seconds of Calm

Back into the light

After what seems like a time of furious posting, I took a little time off to refocus. During the last several months, with CV-19, the illness of my father and other personal disruptions, I think I poured all of my anxiety into my blog as a type of therapy. For that, I apologize.

The day my father died, I spent an hour or so with him. I held his hand and we talked, yes, I believe he was talking to me too. I told him about my 2017 Camino, we’d discussed it a bit in the past, but I went into more detail. It seemed very natural because life is very much like the Camino even in the sense that some believe that both life and the Camino continue after the physical end.

I also told my father about my return to Spain, a very different trip this past year. I told him about placing a rock for my grandmother, his mother, on the way up to O’Cebreiro one of the days I walked with my friend Katja.

I also told him that when I return some day, I will place a rock for him someplace along the Way. I think, he’ll enjoy the spot I choose, and I will always remember where it is. I think he’ll enjoy watching the sun rise and set, the seasons changing and all the Pilgrims as they walk by.

This past year, I left a note and 2 talismans in a special place for my grandsons, Layden and Archer. I’ve written a note with directions on where it is and how to find it, besides that note, only 2 people actually know where it is. My hope is that they go to Spain and walk the Camino in search of my message and on their way, they remember their great-grandfather and his mother not knowing where their stones are so, I guess they are everywhere.

I hope I’m around to hear their stories.

Tread Softly

As Europe begins to open its borders and Pilgrims once again walk the Camino masked and physically distanced of course, I’m curious what the experience will be like.

The Camino, by its nature, is for most people a highly social event. Will the smiles of joy be hidden away behind masks? Will the laughter or the familiar greeting of Buen Camino be muffled beyond recognition?

Albergue life, always a close quarter activity will certainly become very much less so. Communal kitchens and meals, are they for the time being a thing of the past? Will the new fragrance of the Camino become the scent of hand sanitizer?

There’s a lot of physical contact on the Way, handshakes and hugs most notably and for those of faith, how will the Mass and communion experience change? Will the very nature of the Camino as we knew it pre-Covid-19 be forever changed?

What about the weary and probably wary Spaniards, the hosts for all Pilgrims, how will they fare? Understandably, I expect that most interactions will be a bit distant, certainly physically. Will there be resentment towards the possibly infected visitors? I hope not but I guess I can understand their fear and caution. And how does one even begin to understand what must be a shocked populous of Santo Domingo de la Calzada? With great care, I hope.

Finally, how will the 2020 Pilgrims act? Will they be responsible, careful, thoughtful, sensitive, and respectful? We all owe it to the people of Spain and those along the ancient Way to be all that and to tread softly.

I don’t have answers to any of these questions, I don’t think anyone does. Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela this year and quite possibly next is going to require more than physical stamina.

The entire world is being impacted by Covid-19. We’ve all endured stay at home, social isolation, illness and far too many deaths. Some have dealt with it better than others and are receiving a small reward in the form of an intermission between the first wave and the inevitable second. Here in the U.S., not so much so we just pretend that all is good and our President creates some other controversy to distract.

The difference between Spain and the rest of Europe and specifically the Camino in northern Spain is that unlike other places, the world in not marching through your towns every day. So, I believe that we all owe them our best. We do in the best of times too.

I believe that most people who are drawn to the Camino are big hearted, thoughtful, helpful, sensitive, and generous (however they can be). I hope that as the Camino once again hosts people from Europe first and then the rest of the world, we all amplify those good traits when dealing with everyone but most especially the people whose lives we have or will walk through each day.

Finally, whatever it may be currently, the Camino lives first in our hearts I believe and we as humans have been adapting from the beginning. Enjoy the experience, whatever it happens to be. Enjoy the outdoors and your physically distanced Camino family. And, be kind every day.

These next couple of years will be very telling for us all, I hope as we look back one day, it somehow becomes a shining moment in our history as people and how we treated one another during these trying times.

Be safe and, Buen Camino.

Also posted on the Casa Ivar blog.

Always Dreaming

The bottle of wine pictured above caught my attention and my mind was off to the races. Ever the optimist and always dreaming, I spent some time this past weekend thinking about my return to France and Spain for what will probably be my last walk on the Way. While it’s given me so much, there are still other quests calling out to me, one of them are countries which begin with ‘S’.

My friend and fellow pilgrim, Ann, and I have talked about going back after we retire to take a slower walk, maybe a saunter, down the Camino. While driving back from our Huntsville State Park walk with the Professors and Chris’s students, I told her about maybe starting further in France and then walking to Saint Jean Pied de Port before tackling the Camino Francés or, skipping SJPP altogether.

I’m researching two options. First would be the Piemont Route or Pyrenean Route from Lourdes across the French Pyrenees to SJPP.

The second would be the Camino Arogonés from Somport in France to Puente la Reina skipping Pamplona all together. Maybe visiting Lourdes before hitting the Camino Arogonés.

We also talked about taking it more slowly and travelling more of the side routes. With option one instead of taking on the Pyrenees in one day, maybe stopping in Orisson for a short day and a new experience for me. Those of us who have done SJPP to Roncesvalles, we know that getting to Orisson is half the battle even though it’s only about ¼ of the distance, it’s like climbing a ladder. Option two would eliminate Pamplona altogether.

Besides the side routes, I’d like to possibly spend a day in Pamplona (Option 1), we didn’t do that last time. I’d skip Los Arcos and maybe continue on to Torres del Rio and push through Logorño to Navarrete. Or maybe, just toss the book and do whatever we want each day. Some of my friends’ question if I’m capable of that. I think not having time constraints will help me overcome some of that need to plan…we’ll see.

I was thinking 8 weeks for this venture but, that all depends upon what Susan says, I have little doubt that she will not be interested in joining us but, you never now. To quote Father Frank from the movie The Way, “it’s said that miracles occur out here, on the Camino”. While I don’t believe in miracles…

Fifty-six days on the Camino, 4 days for travel, I like the sound of that. Ann and I also discussed going during a different time of year, late summer into early fall sounds very appealing. Watching the seasons change in Spain, especially later along the way in the mountains heading into Galicia sounds wonderful. Maybe start on my birthday, September 16^th with a finish in mid-November.

Retirement is still a way off but, it gives a fellow something to dream about. More as it develops.

P.s. If you’re interested, John LLoyd, a regular contributor to the Casa Ivar blog has taken his journal and published it along with pictures from his 2018 Camino. I’ve just started it, it’s an interesting read so far and brings back a lot of good memories. Available on Amazon (what isn’t?), the link is to Casa Ivar and some info. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/go-your-own-way-following-in-the-footsteps-of-martin-sheen-on-the-way-of-st-james.67429/

Then the Wheels Came Off

Anyone who knows me will attest that when it comes to travel, I am an enthusiastic planner. I mentioned some months ago that the planning is part of the journey for me. And this year was going to be no different.

Then, the wheels came off the wagon that is our world. Our trip to France to cruise the Canal du Midi which was originally planned for early May and getting us back yesterday (May 21st) had to be rescheduled for September but, Mother Nature in the form or CV-19 had other plans. You may have noticed, I’ve added a new category, Whining. Should have done it long ago.

I’ve mentioned several times that mi Amiga, Katja was scheduled to come visit and would have arrived today but, that is not to be. We’d talked about the timing of her visit, earlier rather than later because it gets hot fast in Texas this time of year. Last week, it was already 103/40 in parts of west Texas where Big Bend is located.

Another cruel trick has been played upon us, the weather for the Big Bend is forecast to be beautiful next week which is why I used that as my featured image, who doesn’t need a little more torment? Temps like that this time of year are rare. Mother Nature piling on.

So, how does one remain positive when the wheels come off? After 2.5 months of stay at home, virtual Happy Hours and mask wearing, it’s tough. Even a 10 hour drive to west Texas sounds really good right now but, Big Bend National Park won’t reopen until June 1st.

So, I listen to people who are far wiser than I am. They said like the Camino, Texas will not go away, nor will Big Bend and, true friendships endure.

So, to everyone who was planning to make the trek out to Big Bend, there’s always next year or, the one after and so on…

Ultreia!

The Stars at Night…

This week was supposed to be the beginning of a great couple of weeks. One of my Camino friends, my Omega friend from my 2017 Camino Frances, Katja was scheduled to fly in to Dallas to begin her first trip to the United States and the great State of Texas.

She was to arrive on Friday and after a short visit in Dallas including a Katy Trail walk, we (most of the Texas Pilgrims) were headed to the Big Bend and Big Bend National Park. We scheduled an overnight in Marfa for a little culture (west Texas style) and maybe the Marfa Lights.

After that, 3 days of hiking and outdoor adventures in a part of Texas that is remote, wild, beautiful and very different. When they wrote the lyrics to Deep in the heart of Texas, they were surely thinking of the Big Bend when they wrote, “the stars at night are big and bright“, there are few places in America that have so little light pollution.

The Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, Emory Peak, Pinnacles Trail and many more. It would have been an excellent adventure and probably something the likes of which she’d never seen. Many Texan’s haven’t either, including Becky who was going to be part of the posse.

After our trek to Big Bend, Katja was heading off on her own to see Carlsbad Caverns, San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country then, back to Dallas and home to Germany. The Texas Pilgrims could not join her on this adventure as we had to be back in Dallas for the wedding of another Pilgrim, Mr. G to Christina. That wedding date unfortunately had to be rescheduled.

Life is a funny thing and it reminds me regularly just how little control we have in the big picture. A virus, the novel CoVid-19, something that I heard described as being the closest thing there is to being both biological and chemical, has killed hundreds of thousands, about 1/3 of them here in the U.S. Besides the loss of life, economies are in tatters, friends and families separated, weddings postponed and yes, holidays cancelled. But, we will get through this. Friendships will endure, holidays and weddings can be rescheduled and hopefully jobs regained. For those who lost loved ones, we collectively grieve for them.

For my friend Katja, I hope we can one day show her the wonders of the Big Bend. If not, I hope that we meet again somewhere with dusty boots and big smiles but, that may not be. So my sister, your presence will be missed, Texas would not have known what hit it. Be strong, your Ziegen Bruder will miss you as will all your other Texas friends. ¡Hasta luego!

Here’s a taste of what awaits you Big Bend.

Speed Trippin SJPP to Roncesvalles

A veteran member of the Casa Ivar blog, @davebugg, has posted a well done video of Day 1 of the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles which includes the full walking video with maps, elevation and incline information (although apparently it only went to 15% when some of it is almost 22%). For the wannabe or the hard core, it’s worth a look. https://youtu.be/RvFCv8aJKcQ

For those who have never done it, the video is about 1.5 hours, my trip took me about 9.5 hours. I hope you enjoy their work.

The Camino Spirit

I don’t normally post twice in one day, but I saw this while eating my lunch. A retired doctor in Northern Ireland decided to walk a virtual portion of the Camino Francés to raise money for a local charity. The section he chose was from Logorño to Burgos, a very nice section in my opinion. The link will take you to the whole story. Enjoy!