26 Octobre, 2010

I arrived in Santiago de Compostela after walking from Redondela via Camino Portuguese. I will do this route again, hopefully from Oporto or Lisbon. It was beatiful. The last 100km seemed to me much less commercial than the last 100 on the Camino Frances route. I will write and post pictures soon.

I had buen viaje!

Manana: Santiago de Compostela Dos

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ My pack is packed, it's ready to go. It's standing there, right by the door. It's waiting for 3am to come 'round. I'm leaving on a jet plane and then practically walking home again. ♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Gathering The Important Stuff

I still haven't packed my pack. My pile of goods to go this time, is very small. No doubts about weight or volume. I hate to, but I have to, check my pack. It exceeds the ever charging Ryan Air's length. That's OK too, because coming home I'll have room for cans tuna fish with vegetables, almond cookies, a nativity scene, etc.

The important stuff is taking my thoughts of family. friends, current and estranged, my loves, my losses, my triumphs and my hurts and tucking them in a space in my bag. As I walk, I contemplate all these wonderful people and events, focusing on each one for an hour or two. With each step happiness grows, pain diminishes. At the end of the journey is an unbelievable peace.

I love my life. I am grateful for all the splendid opportunities that I've been afforded. I have the most wonderful children. All of these great and wonderful gifts will be rejoiced. I will reflect and rejoice in my sorrows too. For if any of them were absent, the journey would have been different, today's destination would be altered.

Peace, namaste, joy.

Preparing For The Journey

Today, I went through all the things I'd gathered to take. When I have a major trip or event of some sort, I start gathering or listing things that I think I might need or need to do. As the time gets closer, I weed out what isn't really needed and review what is. Having done the camino before, I did a LOT of weeding. My pack is going to be totally managable. (Not that it wasn't before).

Today, whilst walking in England's crisp fall air, I realised that I needed a converter for my phone charger. Chances are, I won't need to charge my phone, but that's one of those things, I just don't take a chance with.

I'm debating about my Kindle. I will have plenty of time to read on the plane (not as much as last time -hahahahaha!) I HATE not having a book to read when I travel.

I stood in front of the mirror whilst wearing my pack. Oh my dear friend, I have missed you. I'm so glad that I spent the $$ on a good one before. It was like putting on a favorite glove today. My boots, bought earlier this year in Scotland, have become part of my feet. I look forward to hiking with them. I'm strapping my walking sticks to my pack this time. I'm taking two, but learnt last time that one is better. I may even leave one behind. I wish I could take the one from my last Camino, but it didn't bring it to England with me. Too valuable.

I found the route to meet up with my friend. A train ride will get me there quickly and cheaply. I'll be there before he is that day. I may walk to him just to get some hiking the first day. I may go straight to the alburgue and take a nap. Who knows?

So close. I'm so anxious. I'm so ready.

See you soon my dear Santiago.

Camino on my mind

I leave a week from today to do a little Camino on the Portuguese Route. I'll meet up with Joop and walk for a few days with him.

I received my 2011 Camino Calendar.

Ready for nature. Ready for my heart to swell. Ready to be filled again.

13 Days

In thirteen days my feet will touch the Camino once again. My body is electric thinking about it. I'm wondering if it will feel the same or different. Whether I'll feel all novice again or "experienced". Will walking with a friend enhance it, ruin it, or just be different? Will the bedbugs bite? Etc., etc.

The different season will be interesting to see.

The Camino changed me. I'm excited to experience it again. (And without two days flying!)

All Roads Lead to Santiago

While back in Utah, I found some time and inspiration to pull a piece together. It was not to be a Camino piece, but, it happened anyway. The theme went deeper and deeper and linked things further and futher into my past.
 
Teri Cuts and Pastes

The irony or coincidence (don't believe in that any more) packing for my move to England last week, I was going through saved boxes. I have a special mementos box that every now and then I stroll down memory lane with it. This stroll landed on a sub-package that had my pictures and souvinirs of Portugal in it. (It was before my scrapbooking time....one of these days.) In the bundle was a National Geographic map that Dwidget gave me before the trip....to Portugal. The map is of Portugal AND Spain. On the "cover" is  a drawing of St. James/Santiago and many places that I passed during my Camino. It has all the places we visited in Portugal.

And I thought it all started in a bookstore in Seattle.....

All Roads Lead To Santiago

Once one has journeyed to Santiago de Compostella, you will most likely find that the journey never ends. You will find to, on later journeys that the Camino is never far from your periphery, as shown below.

King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland  and Colchester Castle/Museum, Colchester, England.

One Foot In Front Of The Other

Gerry and Lilly begin  to finish their Camino on Friday. Gerry to finish his. Lilly to start and finish hers. His stride is so long, Lilly's going to have to have to wear roller skates! He'd find me in the morning, walk a few kilometres with me and then stride off into the sunrise.

He's written with his itinerary and to let me know the little feet will be with them.

I hope their path is lined with a million roses.

Blessings my dear friend. I will forever remember your kindness and the prayer card you so gently pressed into my hand that morning.

Buen Camino

Another Camino

Sometime this summer, I'll be embarking on another Camino. A short one.

Joop has a credential for me and we're going to do a short run from Amsterdam. It's nice to be so close to the Camino - a short flight and I'm there.

I don't know how long I'll be blessed with living in the UK/Europe, but I sure am enjoying it.

Every day is a Camino of sorts right now.

Buen Camino - where ever it may take you.