The Spiritual Path

The spiritual path for me, is the very essence of my journey, my journey on the Camino, and my journey on earth.  I have wrestled with the Roman Catholic Church for as long as I can remember.  Not in a bad way, (ok maybe a little)  but mostly in a healthy way, like the way I used to wrestle with my brothers on the living room floor when we were younger.  Or how our family of seven used to banter around the dining room table every night over current events, and politics.  No one really lost, everyone got in their licks in,  so to speak, and in the end, we still loved each other, and we knew our strengths and weaknesses when we were through.  We knew our differences and agreed to love anyway.  So it is with my relationship with the hierarchical, misogynistic, power sucking Holy Roman Catholic Church.  Oh, did I say that?  Sorry if I offended anyone.  Just my humble opinion.  Yet, I still love being Catholic and its Sacraments and traditions.  I pray for the Church every day, and I pray the Pope will have a change of heart, and remember the Spirit of Vatican II.  But none of it really matters, as my connectedness is with God, and not a fellow in a funny hat and shoes, who thinks he is. lol...
It is my prayer that on the Camino, my spiritual path will hopefully be one of forgiveness and renewal, of insight, and revelation.  Unlike others who seek to find themselves, I want to lose myself. I want to lose my self, and begin a new journey, in Spirit and truth.  (Hebrews 12; 1) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us."

What's in Your Rucksack? or The never ending list of stuff to take.

About 15 years ago, I found this lovely lightweight 3-day type backpack at Sam’s Club. It had lots of padding, a waist belt, a chest belt, and lots of pockets.  It was so cool.  I had to have it.  I have never used this pack.  I have saved it, knowing one day, it would carry my most modest bare necessities on a journey of a lifetime.  Now is the time.  I ordered a special badge from the Camino Forum, to identify me as a Camino Forum Pilgrim.  My mom will sew it on the pack this week.  (Thanks Mom!)  I will line the rucksack with a tough green garbage bag.  Additionally, I will contain all my items in baggies.  This will assist me in organizing my items, as well as protect them from the elements, should the rain/moisture seep into the rucksack. So below is a list of my stuff.  I have to eliminate half of it.  Oh Vey!

1.     “A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino” by John Bierley

2.     Camino passport

3.     American Passport

4.     Debit card/AE

5.     Shoes…still working on this, can’t find what I want yet!!!!

6.     Sarape

7.     Hat

8.     Headlamp

9.     Sunscreen

10. 2 pair undies 

11. 1 pair light cotton pants that button up to pedal pushers

12. 2 pair crop pants

13. 2 light breathable t-shirts

14. 1 long sleeve shirt

15. 1 lightweight rain/wind jacket

16. 2 bras

17. 1 pair silk long underwear (top and bottom)

18. 3 pair sock liners

19. 3 pair Thurlo hiking socks

20. 1 pair CROCS (yes they are ugly but very light and practical for after hiking and sub as shower shoes as well)

21. 1 rain poncho

22. 1 silk sleep sack

23. 1 pair knit gloves (I can toss these after the Pyrenees)

24. 1 “Lightload” beach towel 36 X 60 less than .5 oz

25. 1 deoderant

26. 1 toothbrush

27. 1 toothpaste

28. 1 floss

29. 1 JR Liggett Shampoo Bar (it is solid and is multi purpose, shampoo, body and clothes wash) Very cool!

30. 1 small travel box of Q-tips

31. 1 comb

32. 1 digital camera

33. 1 charger for camera

36. 1 European plug adapter

37. 1 Swiss Army knife with corkscrew ( for the vino tinto oh yeah!)

38. 1 small roll of duck tape

39. 1 emergency blanket

40. 1 box of Band Aids

41. 1 needle/thread sewing kit

42. 1 tube Neosporin

43. I bottle of Ibuprofen

44. 50 packs of EmergenC

45. 200 pairs of disposable Earplugs

46. Baggy full of Safety pins

47. Gel tube toes for blisters

48. Whistle

49. Bandana

50. Plastic zip lock baggies, all sizes to pack all items

51. Plastic grocery bag (other pilgrims say these are handy)

52. Large garbage bag to line ricksack

53. Cigars – a tin (ya just never know)

54. Lighter

55. HP Netbook with charger (4 lbs! ouch)

To be continued….

The Physical Path

I will begin in a little town named Saint Jean Pied du Port near the French border, in the Pyrenees. The Camino runs roughly 500 miles across northern Spain through some of the most beautifully preserved medieval villages rich in heritage and some of the most scenic countryside and mountains of Europe. I will walk on average between 5 to 8 hours each day, carrying my rucksack. I'm also taking two walking poles. I think they will be helpful going down the mountains. I will sleep in Pilgrim hostels, albergues (pronounced al-BEAR-kays) which are located about every 10 km or so along the path. They are said to be rather minimal with a communal dorm, showers and toilets. I have my ear plugs packed for such a place. :) I will probably find a nice little hotel every third day or so, just to pamper myself. It is my hope to continue on to Finesterre (which is on the coast) and where traditionally, pilgrims who completed their journey burned their clothing on a rock overlooking the sea. Many still do this ritual. Not being a slave to fashion, I suppose I could too, who would notice lol...

"Life is either a daring adventure, or it's nothing " Helen Keller

“The Historical Path”

Legend has it that after Jesus was crucified, Saint James, one of the 12 Apostles, went to Spain to convert the local people. Upon his return to Jerusalem he was promptly beheaded by King Herod Agrippa, making him the first Apostle to be martyred. James' followers secreted his body away in a boat, and sent it back to Spain where they buried it. It lay hidden for several hundred years.

In 813 AD a curious hermit followed "sweet music and twinkling stars (The Milky Way) to a remote field in Galicia, in northern Spain. There he discovered what was to be identified as the tomb of Saint James. King Alphonso II of Spain visited the site, built a church and monastery over the tomb and declared St. James (Santiago) the patron saint of Spain.

Pilgrimages to the site began, and by the ninth century, the number of Pilgrims rose over the years, and peaked in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when about a half million people made the pilgrimage. Many of the towns and cities along the Camino were built at that time. Most of these ancient villages have changed very little over the centuries. Around 1500AD the number of Pilgrims dropped off significantly because of reformation, political reasons and other factures. But In 1982 Pope John Paul II visited Santiago de Compostela and popularity soared once again and has grown steadily since then.

The Gospel tells us that James, son of Zebedee, was in his boat mending nets with his brother John, when Jesus summoned them, saying, "Follow me and I will make you a fishers of men". James and his brother did follow Jesus. If one considers that today 100,000 people a year make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela to visit his burial place, it would seem that James is still "a fisher of men" over 2000 years later. It is my hope to follow in St. James' footsteps.

So with this in mind, I seek out the “Santiago Spirit.”

A Pilgrim's Prayer by Thomas Merton

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end....
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you,
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road, though
I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem lost in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

To Carry the Netbook or Not?

I am less than a month away from beginning my journey and I am still wrestling with how I will post my daily blog.  My blog will not only relay my journey to family and friends, but also be my daily record, that I hope will become part of my Master's work when I return.  I don't want to carry paper and pen.  (too easily lost/damaged)  I don't want to carry additional weight, yet I want the convenience of writing my thoughts daily, not just when an internt cafe is available.  I have read they are crowded, and limted.  Yet WiFi is present in most towns.  I have considered taking my smartphone, while great for an occasional blog or note, it is extremely small.  I don't think my eyes or fingers would be happy writing on it for 35-40 days.  I have thought about the I PAD, but it is glass!  Glass! What was Steve Jobs thinking here?  I love my MacPro, but I gotta think the IPAD needs some re-thinking and it's not that light Anneways.  I use Anneways instead of anyway in honor of my daughter Anne (Pronounced Annee)  Anneways, that's all I have to say about that.  :)  I'm thinking I will bite the bullet and take my little HP netbook.  Total weight with case and plug 4.0 lbs.  I have decided if I need to lighten up, I will lose 4lbs. of me.  No one would even notice at this point.  Oh Vey!
I also have yet to find the perfdect footwear...This is a biggy.  I hate boots.  I wore boots everyday as a Peace Officer.  When I retired, I swore I would never wear them again!  My feet are still recovering.  I am mostly concerned about the journey over the Pyrenees.  After that, who cares?  I am leaning towards my good old tennis shoes.  They are comfy, they breathe, and they even accomodate two pair of socks! (This should prevent blisters)  So hey, why fix it if it ain't broke.
Yesterday I received my official Pilgrim Forum Patch and my mom is sewing it on my rucksack.  Thanks Mom.  Nothing much else to do now, but walk, and walk, and climb, and walk, and walk, and climb...
Chairs,(that's Irish for cheers) Joni out.