Training for the Camino

Friends, Debbie & Tim, and I spent the day hiking from downtown San Francisco to Sausalito, a distance of about 11 miles, crossing then Golden Gate Bridge along the way.  The day was very cool, & foggy, good for walking.   After having lunch in Sausalito, we took the ferry back to SF and then walked to the America's Cup Pavilion where we enjoyed a beer & the magnificent ships.  We then headed back home.  All in all we walked about 14 miles today.  It was a great day with good friends,

Buen Camino

This familiar greeting, "Buen Camino", literally meaning, "Good Way" is received by pilgrims as they travel the Camino.  As I was taking one of my long walks last week along a busy street here in Palm Beach Gardens, I heard a car horn beeping.  The car traveled to the next traffic light, made a u turn and headed toward me.  As the car approached, it slowed, the driver lowered her window and said to me "Buen Camino" as she passed.  How did she know I was a pilgrim?  I had attached my shell to my backpack and she must have seen it as she was driving along. 

 It"s amazing how God sends strangers into our lives who give us encouragement and support!  "Buen Camino."

Visiting Family in Florida

As many of you know, I began my 3 month sabbatical on July 1st.  On July 2nd I flew to Florida to visit my brother & sister-in-law for three weeks. My brother continues to have chemo once every three weeks.  The chemo continues to keep the tumor at bay.  He just had an MRI before I arrived and the doctor is pleased to see that the tumor is not growing.  Thank you for your continued prayers for him.  

 

While here my niece and her family were visiting for a week from New Jersey.  It was great for all of us to be together.  My Grand Niece Jessica has gotten so big. She is entering the 4th grade in September and she is sharper than a tack.  She loves to read , is very creative, and plays the violin with great skill. 

 I will be returning to the Bay Area on the evening of July 24th.  I stay in the area until August 11 when Randy (my walking partner) and I fly to France to begin the pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.  While here in Florida, I've been walking on a daily basis in preparation for The Way. I try to walk early in the morning because of the heat and high humidity.  I'll be keeping you informed on my journey.  Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayer.  Attached is a picture of my brother Stan, my sister-in-law Rose and my Grand Niece Jessica.

The Scallop Shell - Symbol of the Camino

The scallop shellis the symbol of the Camino de Santiago, and it is used to guide the pilgrim walking to Santiago.  It is painted on trees, sidewalks and posts along the way.  The scallop shell help pilgrams find their way.

The shell is used as a metaphor; its lines represent the different route pilgrim's travel from all over the world, walking trails leading to the tomb of St. James in Santiago.  Medieval pilgrim's often wore the scallop shell on their cloaks or hats during their journey to Santiago.  More than being just a symbol of the pilgrim, it also had a practical purpose .  It was a handy replacement for a bowl, so the pilgrim used it to hold their food and drink on the way.  Pilgrim's would also be given food at churches and other establishments, and the scallop shell scoop was the measure for the food they would receive.

The shape of the shell also resembles the setting sun, which was an important symbol in pre-Christian times.  It is no coincident that the Way of St. James is a journey to the West, finishing at the "end of the world" (Fisterra) and the setting sun.

The modern day pilgrim carries the shell on their backpack indentifiying them as a pilgrim on the Way.