Author: mybuencamino

Got up a 3:00 AM , ouch. Checked the standby list last night and the flight that had 25+ seats available was now oversold. Did the mad scramble to buy a full fair ticket to SFO. Got the last seat for $ 75 not bad. Renee took me to the  airport at 4am. True devotion of my beautiful wife. I am now in the SFO airport waiting for my flight to Paris at 2:45pm. Looking for clam chowder and SF sourdough bread, carb loading is what I call it. Got my boarding pass for Paris and TSA pre check .😀👏🏻

Well I am officially in overwhelm mode at this point. In 24 hrs I will be at the airport waiting for my flight to San Francisco and then the flight to Paris. I will arrive in Paris the next day at 10:30 am. Then the adventure begins, how to get to St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Looks like I need to fly to Biarritz France spend the night and then take a train to St Jean. I will spend a day or so in St Jean, and then start the walkabout. Or Take a train to Bayonne spend the night and then a bus to St Jean. One step at a time.

The reality of this quest has set in. WTF was I thinking? Am I really doing this? Who’s idea was this ? Am I really doing this? At what point in my life did I loose my mind? Oh, Thats right, I have been crazy from birth.

Today will be filled with last minute visits to REI, and the Cell phone companies, trying to figure out how to stay in contact and still have a bank balance when I return. Looks like I will get a Spanish sim card, so I will have to post my new Spanish phone #, but email will still work the same.

I am packed and ready

Getting ready to leave for the Camino on Friday the 13 th? Go figure!! Didn’t know it was Friday when I decided on the date for my departure . I found this explanation of the Camino walk. Thought it was  spot on. I am ready to find out what the Camino has in store for me. I am trying to be a blank page . All my bags are packed , I’m ready to go. One 14 lb backpack I need to stow. My heart is open I’m feelin the glow. So much to  learn , my true self to earn. Blah, blah , blah.

This is the explanation that I found from a Lady that had walked the Camino.

There are many reasons for doing a spiritual pilgrimage.
For space, for healing, to say goodbye to a loved one, to deal with a terminal illness, for forgiveness, to find out who we really are at the core, for a deeper connection with a family member, or just because it calls and there is a sense that it is important. There are more reasons than I can list here.
A process begins from the moment you say yes-a portal opens.
The universe sighs.
Angels cheer.
A deeper connection to our soul is possible. The noise drops away. And with that our ears can begin to hear what the heart has been whispering and perhaps shouting.
The body can take a breath.
There is space and time.
There is a beautiful pause.
There is a place for magic to emerge.
Our masks can drop.
The real essence of who we are can emerge.
And underneath it all our hearts begin to open to allow healing to occur.
For some it may be on the surface a time ripe with the possibility of meeting cool and interesting people from around the world, of camaraderie, of shared experience, of being a part of something timeless or perhaps just an opportunity to see another part of the world and get away.
It may be a bucket list item waiting to be crossed off.
It is often not what the logical mind perceives it to be.
And regardless of why you think you are going she will get her essence into you.
If you think you are walking the Camino you are wrong – the Camino is walking you.
She is taking you on a deep journey, creating possibility.
Breaking down resistance.
Sneakily invading your heart.
When you least expect it she may grab you, shake you, and turn you upside down and spit you out.
She may test you.
Will you stay when your feet, tendons and ligaments hurt and every step feels like forever?
Will you be kind when someone is irritating you?
Will you be judging others who have a different version of the Camino?
When you emerge from the silence of more solitary walking to the jarring jangle of the section after Sarria, will you feel anger and frustration?
Will the noise, the constant chatter, the irregular clicking of pikes, the music from countless iPods and smartphones make you feel like screaming?
Will the lack of tables or service at lunch arouse something less than spiritual in you?
Your freedom comes from how you are with that. How you process that. How you choose to react.
There is an opportunity to look at your life and how you react under stress.
Perhaps her greatest gift to you is just that. A newfound ability for self observation.
It is up to you how much you allow the armour around your heart to drop away.
Buen Camino
Ariana

Well it’s been a long time since my last post. Packed up the Casa in the Baja for the summer. Drove north for three days , with the cats, beautiful trip via San Felipe. Arrived safe and sound in Las Vegas. Nice to see Renee again, and re connect.

Spent the last couple of weeks searching the Internet for all the gear I am going to need. My son Randy bought me an awesome Kathmandu 40 liter backpack, while he was on a layover in Brisbane. Have gotten loads of valuable info from my Jet Setting Kiddos. Feels like I have been living at REI and Dicks sporting Goods. I have been hiking most everyday breaking in my new Keen hiking boots and sandals. Very different hiking here in Vegas , but Renee and I have found a nice arroyo hike very near the house. We have also been hiking in sunset park, very good trails and lots of wildlife. The park has a system of trails and rural paths. Easy to hike 6 or more miles and never repeat a path or trail.

I now have all my gear together and I am ready for the Camino. The pack and all the gear that I will vary weighs just under 14 lbs. that’s with everything but the water bladder filled.

Here are some photos of the gear all laid out. And the pack fully loaded.

Everything that is going in the backpack.
  These two Jackets stow in there own pocket pouch they ate the blue and black pouch sacks in the  above photo.
    Jackets in their pouch pockets
     The Packing list
  The fully loaded backpack , just under 14 lbs. and still has room to spare.

Took the day off to start packing up ,for the drive north to Las Vegas. took the day off from my diet also. I went to a

“hangars on ” party a couple of nights ago, for all of us still here after the wind sport season.

Doctor said I could have one cocktail a day!!!

Great walk this mornig under overcast skys, nice and cool. Started the wald walk with Jane and Dave, good friends, and awesome people. Dave’s foot was sore, so he only went to the beach with us, Jane and I had a wonderful walk down the beach and up into the mountain bike trails. So nice to walk with Jane and we had wonderful conversations, she is a very wise, and centered woman. We walked and talked for 6 miles this morning. here are a few photos  of the walk.

Got a sunrise start for today’s walk, to beat the heat, walked the beach to the hot springs , then up the hill to start the Johns Java Trail.  did the loop to the north,then walked the mountain trails all the way back to the Casita. 7.6 miles , a good workout, with the up and downs in the hills. Only 20 minute miles in the hills, but a good workout. could hear the chick chirping in the nest by the lighthouse.

Greeted by a nice sunrise

Nice way to troll for a fish dinner later

I am doing one step at a time, this guy has to do six steps at a time.

Osprey Nest

Try walking a mile in another person’s shoes, you might find a path that you never knew existed.

The birthplace of new life, very cool nest.

The road less traveled. Our access to the beach.

Today’s hike was a bit slower lots of up hill. GPS didn’t get the whole hike it was about 8.4 miles, only recorded 7.2 . Beautiful morning for a hike.  

Found this Camino Prayer. It is message I will carry with me , in my mind and in my backpack.

“Although I may have traveled all the roads,
crossed mountains and valleys from East to West,
if I have not discovered the freedom to be my self,
I have arrived nowhere.

Although I may have shared all of my possessions
with people of other languages and cultures;
made friends with Pilgrims of a thousand paths,
if I am not capable of forgiving my neighbor tomorrow,
I have arrived nowhere.

Although I may have had food and water each day,
or may have had my injuries well attended,
if I have not discovered the Divine in others,
I have arrived nowhere.

If from today I do not continue walking on the path,
searching and living according to what I have learned;
my journey has been in vain because,
I have arrived nowhere.”

Good workout today on the hike, a bit slower than yesterday , lots of uphill areas. did 8.2 miles but the GPS was not getting a good signal , only recorded 7.2 miles but kept the time going, so the average per mile pace was not correct . Oh Well no biggie. Here are some photos of the hike today.

up near the top of the trail

walking to the hot springs beach

Looking towards Punta Gorda

starting up the hill,

bet the Kayaker is not sweating like me