A beautiful Earth Day in every way!

Oh my ... I really must remember to take a camera with me on these long jaunts! We walked for 5 hrs today and covered 23 kms. On this earth day, the sun was shining, the flowers were absolutely incredible and the greens seemed brighter than usual. The mountains in the distance were magestic with their snow peaked tops and the sky above them was as blue as blue could be, with just a few strands of cotton-batton clouds scattered here and there. The ocean, a little bit turbulent and yet perfect I suppose for the sailboat which skimmed along the top. As I said to Martin, we will see a vast variety of scenery on our trip ... but, none can beat what we have right here on our doorstep! We indeed are very blessed.

We stopped at a golf course in Qualicum and had a pre-planned lunch with a group from the women's bible study of our church. It was great to have this little get-together, I will miss my friends while I am gone. God has blessed us and enriched us as we have become closely connected throughout these past couple of years on our collective spiritual formation journey.

On our return walk to Parksville, I was once again so pleased to see another group of fellow runners. I think it is God's way of allowing me to say my goodbyes in such a way as this; I have no doubt that their well-wishes will go with us and help to carry us during the more challenging times of our Camino.

Beatitudes of the Pilgrim

Will we experience these sights? Perhaps, and if not these exact ones, similar ones to them. I have recently come to know a fellow Camino pilgrim, through our common connection with the Oblate formation group of The House of Bread Monastery in Nanaimo. Anne, has given to Martin and I a handcrafted booklet of pilgrim poetry and writings, a copy of the Pilgrim's Beatitudes is part of this collection.

Beatitudes of the Pilgrim

1. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you find that the Camino opens your eyes to the unseen
2. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if what concerns you most is not arriving, but arriving with others.
3. Blessed are you, pilgrim, when you contemplate the sights of the Camino and find them full of names and of new dawns
4. Blessed are you, pilgrim, because you have discovered that the true Camino begins at its end
5. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if your backpack empties of things as your heart doesn’t know how to fit so many emotions
6. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you discover that a step backwards to help another is more valuable that a hundred forward without awareness of those at your side
7. Blessed are you, pilgrim, when you have no words to give thanks for all the wonders in every nook of the Camino
8. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you search for the truth and make of your Camino a life, and of your life a Camino, after Him who is the Way, the Truth and the life
9. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if on the Camino you meet yourself and make yourself a gift of time without hurry, so that you may not neglect the image of your heart
10. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you find that the Camino is rich with silence and the silence is rich with prayer and the prayers are encounters with the Father that awaits you.

(Hospitalera of the refuge of pilgrims “los Padres Reparadores” from Puente Reina)

As stated by another pilgrim:

"There was sun, wind, snow, sleet, hail and rain, not necessarily in that order, and sometimes keeping positive was difficult and prayer became very basic, ‘Bed please God’, ‘Please get me to the top of this hill’! But walking towards the goal of Santiago, following yellow arrows, remembering that for centuries others have walked on these paths, was a tremendous experience, allowing the physical experience to become the prayer – the weight of the rucksack, the aches and pains, the warmth of the sun, the beautiful and bountiful wild flowers, birds, choruses of frogs, amazing storks, sharing a meal, sharing a burden, realizing that the 50+ nationalities all have one thing in common - we were all pilgrims ..."

Thank you to Anne and others who have created the pathway we will walk. As for now we continue to train here at home. This morning we completed 2.5 hours and will go out for several more hours this evening or early tomorrow morning. The following day (the 22nd) we will walk to uptown Qualicum, have lunch with some friends, and walk home again. That will be our longest training walk to date ... perhaps 7 hours. As a runner, I have yet to become accustomed to this slower mode of travel - I am still learning to walk in a relaxed manner, but, I suspect it will come and then the challenge will be to run once again, when I return home from Europe!

Map, Photos and Info of the Camino Frances Route

The Camino Frances is the route from St. Jean Pied de Port, on the French side of the Pyrenee Mountains to Santiago de Compestela, the city where all Camino travels end.

In 1985, 2,491 pilgrims completed the Camino. In 1995, 19,821; in 2005 93,921; and last year there were 145,877, These numbers account for only the pilgrims that asked for, and received, a Compostela (certificate of accomplishment for the last 100 kms with official stamps in a 'Camino Passport' as official proof). Not all would have had a 'passport' stamped; as such, many more actually completed the routes to Santiago de Compostela than these numbers account for.

The year of 2010 is holy year; therefore, it is said that the refugios (hostels), also known as albergues, will be that much more crowded (first come - first served basis). This will mean many very early mornings in order to reach the albergues as early as possible! Whenever St James's day (25th of July) falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year - 2010 is such a year as this. I am sure that it will make the entire experience just that much more interesting.

A little map certainly makes it look less than 800 km's!

A beautiful walk and delicious lunch in Errington ...

Yesterday was perfect walking weather!

I am still finding it interesting anda bit frustrating too how little distance is covered, in the same space of time, compared to if we were running. Hmmm, I know that this is a mindset that will soon change; but, for now it is what it is. I guess that’s to be expected when I have never really gone out, on purpose, to 'just' walk and yet I cannot count how many times I have gone out for a run.

Yesterday's route:



When we reached Errington, we stopped at Backroads Java for a bite of lunch (the owner’s mom, Grace Salter - a really nice lady, attends our church). I have been there several times previously, as this is the spot where my running group (ORCA - Oceanside Running Club Association) congregates following an Errington run. We park our vehicles in the parking lot, head out on a run and then come back for a well-deserved cup of coffee prior to heading home. This was Martin’s first time here and he swears that his wrap (the Clubhouse) was the very best wrap that he has ever had! So, what a neat unexpected gift along the way.

By the time we were over half way back, just at the underpass coming into the city ... my left foot (at the base of the toes) started to cause me grief, to the point that I knew this was serious stuff taking place! With arthritis and bunions, it is not that I am unused to pain in my feet, but, this was very different! All I could think of was my sister Mary’s stress fracture, a couple years ago, after she completed a half-marathon in Banff. I immediately had this vision of wearing a big black air-cast boot in Spain, while Martin did the Camino without me. In fact, we started to discuss what we would do in case this should happen ... but, psychologically I was/am not ready for the possibility of having to drop out and so we changed the subject! Martin suggested we sit for a minute on a log beside the road - a really good idea. Hopefully, now with a couple days off from walking things will subside. Sadly, to rest my feet ... this meant that I missed my group run this morning. :( All in all, we were gone for 4.25 hours.

When we got home our precious grandsons Jesse (8) and Jonas (5) and our daughter Tianna (who was celebrating a birthday/April 16th) and her hubby Ray (whose birthday is next week – April 22nd) and their Golddendoodle dog Yankee were there. We are looking after our grandchildren as birthday gifts for the parents, but, mostly because we will really miss them when we are gone to Europe. We love them dearly (as all you grandparents would know) and there isn’t much time left now to see them and so it is necessary to squeeze what time in that we can!

I am part of the Oblate formation program at The House of Bread Monestary in Nanaimo and so I will be away tomorrow for a day of prayer using the format of Lectio Divina (praying the bible). My wonderful husband will be holding down the fort at home.

New Backpack and New Trail Runners

Well, it has taken me five months to finally put my pack on ... these things take time don't you know. :) First of all I needed to get the last half-marathon out of the way and then I was certain that I would get serious about my training. So hard to believe that 3 1/2 weeks have passed since the half! Oh my, where does time go?! So, with less than 3 weeks to go, it was necessary tonight to try out this integral part of my equipment, a Gregory Jade 60 pack; a piece that will hopefully become like a second-skin. It felt good! Mind you I didn't put anything but a water bottle in it, no sense in rushing it too much.

As for my new trail shoes ... didn't have them quite so long; as this is the third pair of shoes purchased. I began with Merrell's and then la Sportiva's, fortunately I hadn't stepped outside in either pair; as neither shoe had the necessary instep support for my over-pronation issue. You would think that as a runner I would have had this well under control! However, I am so used to my good 'ol Brooks Adrenalines that I had no idea what to get in the way of anything else. So, I have settled on Salomon Wings XT 2's in baby blue ... (ugggg, not by choice, this was the only colour available) ... and to think that I almost got them filthy on their trial trail run tonight. So, just in case any area runners read this, Springwood is really boggy in patches right now. On a good note, I did find out that walking poles will come in real handy when traversing logs!

Martin is thrilled with his new boots and gleefully reports this to me! He is also very happy with his new Gregory pack (in navy). He has donned these items many times now going back and forth to the office, home and the church. Our little hike only ended up being 1 1/2 hrs long tonight, but, we are planning for four hours tomorrow. Then, I hope to do a run with my buddies tomorrow night (sure have missed them since the half). I will keep you posted. :)

New Walking Sticks

Tried out the walking sticks today for a 3 hr 20 min walk. We headed out at 7:30 a.m. and returned at 10:50. Went through town to the estuary and back. The little ducks diving down with just their tails up in the air is so funny!

I don't have much time now to get some heavy duty training in! Hopefully it will go smoothly and no injuries. Mind you still feeling the sore shoulder/arm for almost a year now. I do hope that it will not cause me too much grief when I start training with backpack on. Decided not to wear my new Solomon Wings 2 trail runners yet, as I haven't really checked them out well enough indoors. Must get at that this week, so that I can start checking them out on the roads/trails before heading to Spain - in exactly 3 weeks today! Oh my!

March 11, 2010 ... a new year ahead!

Personal Update:

Well, here it is the day before my birthday and I have to think that with this major trip on the horizon that this year will indeed be a significant one. Likely in many ways.

I plan to run what will be my seventh half-marathon in just over a week (March 21st) and likely will be the first of two half-marathons to complete during the coming year. I will also set out on my first bike ride next week with the triathalon club that I now belong to. When I return from Spain I will work on my swimming - with a view to a triathalon at some point in the future.

I still haven't entirely settled the flour/sugar issue that was to be my New Year's resolution. So here I am with another resolve and hopefully a birthday anniversary date for 'letting go' once and for all (one day at a time of course!).

It will be interesting to look back a year from now to see what actually has transpired. God is so good and will be with me/us every step of the way, of this I have complete assurance.

With my dear mom being 92 1/2, I always wonder when I will be walking the journey of grief. I am not sure why it is heavier on my mind these days, perhaps because so many of mom's friends have passed away and are passing on a regular basis. I will miss her, as a child she was my world and of course I will always be her child.

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Martin has begun his training with walking to and from the office and the church with his backpack and boots on. It is cool to see him getting started. Once this half-marathon is complete I will be doing the same.

Will keep you posted as the journey continues!