Backpacking the Camino de Santiago...
Tracks of the StoneBear Copyright MCMLXIII Uncle Hargus ALL Rights reserved
December 31, 2019
Yes, there are horses and cattle on the Camino, and it smells!
Up into the Spanish highlands.
But it IS fascinating to hike it.
Up into the Spanish mountain highlands...
The signs were there... 170.6 km to Santiago.
Stunning beauty...
Crossing over into Galicica... heading to O'Cierbrio.
James made his pilgrimage to Santiago in Spain, established his mission. Then returned to the holy land, Jerusalem, only to be executed by Herod. James' friends carried his remains back to Santiago... and they are interned there.
We crossed paths, met and made friends w/ Aussies... 1st time at Ruitelan, Spain, great people from Australia,... Dave and Officer Pete... the best guys in the world! They were the support team for a group of 21 Aussies hiking the Camino. They were town to town vehicle portage support, first aid support and anything the group needed. Officer Pete,... still looking out for the troops in his watch; this old Marine respects leadership like that.
A few miles up the road... stop for a bite of lunch.
Crossed paths again heading to Sarria.
We met up again with the Aussies in Sarria at a camino side cafe for dinner.
We broke bread with the Aussies. Great people, the best allies!
Officer Pete horsing around.
In Sarria, Spain with all of our Aussie friends at dinner.
T-bird offers up her Southern saying to the Aussie ladies: "Pull up your big girl panties and get moving" !
Writing this post in December, the world news of the hot drought Summer in Australia... forest fires are burning and devastating many areas. We say a special prayer that our Aussie friends are safe and not in danger; we hope all of you are ok.
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The Canadian Sisters...
Meeting and talking at Morgade.
The Canadiand Sisters hiking down into "The Narrows" outside of Porto Marin.
The Canadian Sisters talking with Illiado, the blind steward of this small cappela/ chapel at O Cruciero/ Ventras de Naron. The small chapels history from the 6th century was it was under the protective care of the Knights Templar,... as a hospital/ aid station for pilgrims on the Camino.
Closing in on Aruzza rest stop.
Map check at Palas de Rei.
We crossed paths with The Canadian Sisters several times and always compared notes.
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Good Camino friends enjoying the last Tango in Santiago!
Dame Sue,... you are the eucalyptus leaf queen! Putting eucalyptus leaves on your blisters was brilliant!
Looking back on the blog now, realize that our most significant friends were all from UK countries... Australia, Canada, and Britain; The best allies the USA could have. Thank you all for your friendship!
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One of the refreshing things on The Camino everyday was the thanks and gratitude to be able to physically backpack the Camino made possible by the discipline, tenacity, perseverance, and Still with the heart of a 21 year old US Marine Platoon Sergeant; That,... plus I'm in such good health and by the fact that I didn't smoke or drink 'til I was 9. Not bad for a guy that's 106 years old; that's Bear years.
Continuing backpacking every day on the Camino... captures the essence of the life odyssey/ journey; You don't know exactly what's up ahead, you just have faith and continue to march ahead. Faith? in what? ... faith that you are on the right path for you and you can endure and see this journey through to the end. Even when you don't know the way... look for the signs... the signs to show you "The Way".
The signs of your journey are there; look for them.
The cross of Saint James, AKA The Santiago cross.
Be thankful every day for all your abundant blessings. They are there. Look for them and find them. Every, single, day! Thank you for the gift of this day; I did not waste this time of life!
ROF= Ring of Fire Odyssey
MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
CdS = Camino de Santiago journey
There is NOT a bucket list. A bucket list is kinda of a waste. ?Why did you wait 'til the end of your life to do the things you should have been doing all of your life?
T-bird heading out onto The Camino.
Along the Spanish Camino vineyards... we acquired a snack of grapes... a refreshing sweet snack.
Backpacking the Camino de Santiago was another journey. One of many in a lifetime... of odyssey. Several years ago coming off of the ITW- The Into the West journey I re-read Homers "Odyssey". I have a greater respect for Homer now and understand with much more clarity what a journey through life is.
The Camino was another journey at the end of this lifetime between the eternities. It's not important to anyone other than me. It's like ?do you want to see our slides from the vacation? How boring.
I could only hope in 30 years that nephews and nieces... Dave2, Sarah, and Jacob AKA "Santiago" ,... their grandchildren 70 years from now would read my journals/ blog posts and appreciate them. That they actually get to read my journey... and can reflect on it... then maybe plan some of their own trips of their journey. That would be worth writing this blog.
The Camino de Santiago was one of my last physical journeys... I actually backpacked ... like a real pilgrim... across northern Spain... The St James Way. The route that James, The Apostle hiked after Jesus was crucified. The Apostles then scattered on their mission... Paul up into present day Turkey and Greece... to the Corinthians.
So,... ?Was this a religious pilgrimage?... for me, No. ?Was this a spiritual journey?... for me, No. I wanted to make this backpacking journey from the '80s... 45 years ago to do it and enjoy it. Finally... should have done this hump 30 years ago. Don't put this off,... do it now when you're young; don't wait 'til you're 106 years old.
The Camino is a dynamic hike. Yes, you will have time to pray, reflect on your life, ask for forgiveness of your life's mistakes... and you will be rewarded by the renewed faith in fellow pilgrims... men and ladies that share the hike to a better world... to make the world a better place.
Every city, town , village, hamlet has a Cathedral, church, iglesia, capella/ chapel. ALL are unique. Most are open.
A camino stop. ... say a prayer.
Every city, town , village, hamlet has a Cathedral, church, iglesia, capella/ chapel. ALL are unique. Most are open.
I met and talked with people from all over the world. Many countries... sometimes just to ask "?Where's home?" ... Australia, Canada, Sweden, Taiwan, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Germany, USA, ... kindred spirits backpacking to make the world a better place.
At the end of a day around street-side cafe tables we sat, talked shared, laughed, broke bread, and learned to appreciate and love each other for their own individual hike. On the whole Camino journey I did not hear any arguments, no fights, no conflict among the many hikers from all nations. It was kinda like the world was supposed to be; at peace, and with respect and concern for each other. It was a good journey. Should have done it 30 years ago; don't put it off.
We crossed paths, met and made friends w/ Aussies... 1st time at Ruitelan, Spain, great people from Australia,... Dave and Officer Pete... the best guys in the world! They were the support team for a group of 21 Aussies hiking the Camino. They were town to town vehicle portage support, first aid support and anything the group needed. Officer Pete,... still looking out for the troops in his watch; this old Marine respects leadership like that.
We met up again with the Aussies in Sarria at a camino side cafe for dinner.
In Sarria, Spain with all of our Aussie friends at dinner.
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The Canadian Sisters...
The Canadian Sisters.... crossed paths with the most unique group of Canadian ladies,... Sisters and Niece Ashley from Nova Scotia. From my past journeys through Canada... Oh Canada! I do love Canada and the Canadian people are the greatest people in the world. These Canadian Sisters/ ladies made everybody in Canada proud to hike The Camino as they did. They were real troopers.
The Canadiand Sisters hiking down into "The Narrows" outside of Porto Marin.
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Hiking w/ UK Dave and Dame Sue
UK Dave and Dame Sue... The last week of the Camino, closing in on Santiago with 60 miles to go... Met UK Dave and Dame Sue. The most wonderful Brits that were fun to hike with. Dave and Sue were more fun than the Monty Python humor. Really,... their descriptions and observations made the hiking w/ a 26lb backpack easy.
Lavacolla, closing in on Santiago.
We crossed paths several times the last week and at a farewell dinner in Santiago... at Alfonso's cafe... have never laughed harder in my life. I left the cafe that night w/ an ink stamp on my forehead. No joke. I consider UK Dave and Dame Sue friends for life even though we may never cross paths again. Well,... maybe... if we can get a budget to get to England and hike Hadrians Wall.
Lavacolla, closing in on Santiago.
We crossed paths several times the last week and at a farewell dinner in Santiago... at Alfonso's cafe... have never laughed harder in my life. I left the cafe that night w/ an ink stamp on my forehead. No joke. I consider UK Dave and Dame Sue friends for life even though we may never cross paths again. Well,... maybe... if we can get a budget to get to England and hike Hadrians Wall.
Dame Sue,... you are the eucalyptus leaf queen! Putting eucalyptus leaves on your blisters was brilliant!
*******************
One of the refreshing things on The Camino everyday was the thanks and gratitude to be able to physically backpack the Camino made possible by the discipline, tenacity, perseverance, and Still with the heart of a 21 year old US Marine Platoon Sergeant; That,... plus I'm in such good health and by the fact that I didn't smoke or drink 'til I was 9. Not bad for a guy that's 106 years old; that's Bear years.
Continuing backpacking every day on the Camino... captures the essence of the life odyssey/ journey; You don't know exactly what's up ahead, you just have faith and continue to march ahead. Faith? in what? ... faith that you are on the right path for you and you can endure and see this journey through to the end. Even when you don't know the way... look for the signs... the signs to show you "The Way".
Be thankful every day for all your abundant blessings. They are there. Look for them and find them. Every, single, day! Thank you for the gift of this day; I did not waste this time of life!
When it comes to studying Western Civ You can keep your Austrian Hapsburgs, The Ottoman empire- Constantinople/ Istanbul, The Fertile Crescent, The Roman Empire - Augustus, Christianity, Democracy, Law, The Crusades, Alaxander The Great, Florence - The Medici's coming out of the Dark ages into the Middle ages and The Renaissance, Michelangelo, Music and Literature, Copernicus, Magellan, Columbus, Genoa- Columbus, Magellan, Dutch traders, Greece... Athens, The Greek city states, the Hellenistic world and the Byzantine empire, The Norse/ The Vikings, The Goths, Napoleon, The Huns, Italy- The Franks, The Lombards, The political alliances of Lucca Italy,... Corinth, Carthage, The Phonecians, Acaba, Sumaria, Babalyon, Mecca, Armenian Christians, Russian orthodox, Ashkenazi Jewish, Druids in Brittan and Gaul, Hadrians Wall, Irish Celtic Christianity, Scottish Picts tribe, Polish Slavic and Baltic tribes,...
... All that... then you go to the iberian peninsula... Aragon, The Moors in the South- Grenada- Alhambra, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Gibraltar, Leon, Castile, Santiago, Finisterre- To The End of THE WORLD,
... You want to study Western Civ; you go to Spain!
Homer fought in war for 10 years and it then took more 10 years of Odyssey to get back home. You get started on a journey,... on a path that takes you through the wonder of the world/ time... That's what you live for. Take the path and see it; one day you'll get back home. You can rest then.
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
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