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.

Counting Down

 

I am counting down the days until I board the big flying ship for Espania!  The target date is May 19, 2010.  That is about 67 days from today.  Friends who have made this epic journey caution me to "travel light" and wear the proper foot gear.  This will be a good exercise for me.  To travel light will be to give up all the creature comforts I have grown accustomed to having in my life.  No hair dryer, no makeup, no MacPro,   How do I shed the sense of self that I have created the last 55 years?  How do I rebirth a new me? As I sit with my list of things to pack (47 items so far) I fear I cannot bear to be without any of them, yet, could I?  67 days...

Pursue the Virtue of Contentment by Max Lucado

I found this today, and the message could not be more purposeful for me.  Hope you like it.

Pursue the Virtue of Contentment
by Max Lucado

A businessman bought popcorn from an old street vendor each day after lunch. He once arrived to find the peddler closing up his stand at noon. "Is something wrong?" he asked. A smile wrinkled the seller's leathery face. "By no means. All is well."
"Then why are you closing your popcorn stand?"
"So I can go to my house, sit on my porch, and sip tea with my wife."
The man of commerce objected. "But the day is still young. You can still sell."
"No need to," the stand owner replied. "I've made enough money for today."
"Enough? Absurd. You should keep working."
The spry old man stopped and stared at his well-dressed visitor. "And why should I keep working?"
"To sell more popcorn."
"And why sell more popcorn?"
"Because the more popcorn you sell, the more money you make. The more money you make, the richer you are. The richer you are, the more popcorn stands you can buy. The more popcorn stands you buy, the more peddlers sell your product, and the richer you become. And when you have enough, you can stop working, sell your popcorn stands, stay home, and sit on the porch with your wife and drink tea."
The popcorn man smiled. "I can do that today. I guess I have enough."
Wise was the one who wrote, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income" (Eccles. 5:10 NIV).

A New Skin

I turned in my badge today.  I have officially left the pursuit of Community Peace, for my own.  There was a moment when I felt just a tinge of sadness, but it was fleeting.   Taking off the uniform for the last time, it felt as if I was shedding an old skin, to begin anew; a rebirth of sorts.   I still feel 16, even though the double nickel birthday is fast approaching.   I served my community well, and perhaps had a hand in changing a life somewhere.  But the Camino is calling me.  Come, come walk with me.  Tell me your stories and I will tell you mine.  I will come.