Tag: camino de santiago

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. 

Piemont Route
Piemont Route

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.

Camino Arogones

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 16th 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/

Attitude of Gratitude

Three years ago today, I left Dallas for a 45 day journey which would change me in ways I could never have anticipated and I am grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to take that voyage of discovery.

I could not have done it without Susan’s buy in and if not understanding why it was important to me, she at least knew that it was important to me.

As a working American, taking 45 days off is unheard of.  I know my European friends think that we’re crazy and, we probably are but, Bob Reynolds allowed me to take this sort of sabbatical and I thank him for that.

My friends, some of whom joined me on my walk across Spain made my trip if not possible, certainly more pleasurable, they contributed to my spiritual journey and it’s much easier training for the Camino with friends who picked me up when I was down, I hope I did the same for them.  Thank you Leighton, Renee, Ann, Rick, Paul and Becky.

Mi familia Camino

I don’t think that most people ever think about all the moving parts there are for a journey like the Camino de Santiago.  We started planning our trip in 2015 and began organized training walks in September of 2016.  Looking back on it, my Camino started then.

When I arrived in Lisbon on May 17th and then Bordeaux the next day, it still all seemed so unreal.  The minute I stepped off the train in Saint Jean Pied de Port with dozens of other Pilgrims, it got very real, very fast.  The first steps of my Camino were the walk in the rain from the station to my first albergue, the Auberge du Pelerin.

I’m grateful for all of the people that I met, Leo, Brian, Chris and Steve, Donna, Madison, Sarah and Greg, Dawn and Nallie, Bernie and Nigel, Alex, the Canadians, Carol and Letena, the two French brothers that I can’t remember their names.  I’m particularly grateful to my friend and spiritual guide, Katja.  There are many, many others.  Thanks to them all.

What brought all this on was an article that I read online out of The Columbian a newspaper in Washington State.  The story is about an 80 year old woman who planned to walk the Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago and was in Portugal as that country and Spain began to shut down in March, the whole story is linked via the newspaper name.

What struck me was her belief in an “attitude of gratitude”.  She states, “Gratitude makes the world different” she said.  “I know I have become kinder and more helpful.  I’m not getting impatient the way I was.”

In this time of confusion, confinement, and fear, maybe we should all embrace the “attitude of gratitude.”

I’m grateful for what I have and will deal with what comes my way and I hope to do it with a smile on my face and love in my heart.  Thank you to everyone who helped me along this continuing journey.

Remember, be kind every day.