A Message From Joel;
Last winter I made the commitment to walk the Camino de Santiago. This is a 800 KM, 490 mile walk that starts in St. Jean de Port, France. This is in the south of France. The hike soon crosses the border into Spain and the Pyrenees Mountain, through Northern Spain Basque country ending at the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. This was originally a Roman Catholic Pilgrimage dating back 500 years. The last 40 years or so the Camino has been discovered by Catholics and Non-Catholics alike. People use this as a time for reflection, an internal spiritual journey or just an experience. For myself, I am going to start the walk with no expectations, but with an open mind to what God, other people and the trail chooses to share with me.
This started as a bucket list over two years ago when our friend's daughter who has adopted up as her Uncle & Aunt walked the Camino. As a single woman, she walked the entire Camino and shared her experiences along the way. Later, we watched a movie with 4 of our friends while in Mazatlán called "The Way". This movie starred Martin Sheen and Emillio Estavez. Also our friends from Mazatlán; Guy and Nicole had hiked part of the Camino and along with othe friends, met together and shared their experiences.
I had a surprise stroke on 2011 that reminded me of my mortality. As a former Marathon and Ultra Runner I had the delusion that I was indestructible. Interesting how the stroke cured me of that notion. I also had been on a cane for the past 2 1/2 years due to arthritis in the ankle, before the stroke and had gained weight. After the stroke I started walking as much as I could. In April 2012 I had the ankle operated on. After a time of recovery I started running again and in 2013 I entered in the Missoula Marathon. At about 1/3 of the way through the Marathon I discovered that long distance was no longer working for me and I slowed to a power walk and finished the 26 miles in 6 hours. Since then I have concentrated on walking.
I made my decision, and March of 2015 I purchased my airline ticket from Spokane to Pamplona, Spain. Once this fiscally conservative (tight) man has spent money, he is committed. Pamplona is about 30 some miles from the start of the Camino and I have been assured that there is regular transportation to St. Jean many times a day.
I have been purchasing equipment for the Camino. From Sportsman's Warehouse, with the assistance of Janice, I purchased a backpack, poncho, waterproof hiking boots and a zip up sheet. Janice was able to purchase walking poles from E-Bay. I purchased a guide to The Pilgrimage de Santiago from Amazon. Janice and daughter Joanne bought me hiking socks from Coeur d' Alene. Then I returned to Sportsman's Warehouse and bought two pair of cargo pants, the quick drying kind. I have had several tech shirts from Marathons that I will wear, plus my hoodie from The Colbert Classic. I also got a first aid kit at the Windermere Marathon. This along with refillable water bottles and money will be what I will take with me. I'm hoping that is about all I'll need.
In preparation, I have been walking everywhere and often putting on my loaded backpack and my walking sticks and walking ten to twelve miles. I am also preparing for this spiritually by accepting that I am no longer young and soon will have completed my three score and seventy, so no longer consider myself indestructible. I am putting myself into God's hands with no expectations, as God knows better than I what I will gain from the Camino, I plan on being open to the people from all around the world that also will walk this. I've read that every person that comes across our paths will be placed there for some reason. Exciting to think about.
I will fly out the morning of September 23 and arrive in Pamplona, Spain the morning of September 24. I will then arrive at St. Jean the afternoon of the 24th and secure my Pilgrim's Passport. Every village I will pass and every place I will stay will stamp this passport and by the time I reach Santiago the Passport will be full and will be a keepsake.
I will take a iPod and daily call Janice on Skype. I will call her every morning Washington time, which will be late afternoon Spanish time. Hopefully, I will have completed the day's walk by then. I plan on averaging 15 miles a day and plan a day a week of rest time. This will be adjusted as the Camino progresses. I plan on staying in basic hostels most days, but I might stay at a hotel on my day of rest. I ask for prayers, encouragement and your checking on Janice and Ollie while I am gone. Feel free to ask any questions. Adios, soon.
[From Janice: I will attempt to update this blog regularly while he's gone. If you wish to be updated regularly please sign up to follow us here on the blog]
