After a long restless night flight, a couple panic moments getting through Spanish immigration and a botched link up (who know there were flights coming in to different terminals) we are finally Al together in Sarria, showered, repacked, and resting for our Camino experience starting tomorrow. Pictures to follow.

After 3 years of detailed planning and cancellation s one after another, I find myself on the train out of Madrid on my way to Sarria. In the next cabin are my children, two brothers and a nephew. The trials to get us to this point have been many.

Months of training for this walk were wiped away when I was hit with a COVID variant 10-12 days ago. I stayed at home hydrating and resting while dealing with the symptoms and checking the CDC and airline guidance. I gave serious thought of canceling and staying home while the others fended for themselves in Spain. A country I dearly love. Once I became aware that according to all aforementioned guidance, I could make the trip as I was no longer contagious, the question became one of “Should I go”.

It is at this point that I had to look hard at myself and the expression in the title came to me. The answer is simply that a fish has no idea that he is wet. It is his nature. His natural state. He knows of no other. This, to be honest is me. I could no more bow out of this trip than a fish could be out of water.

So I hurriedly packed, left the house at 0430, drove 8 hours to my daughter’s house, went to the airport, flew to Madrid, took a cab to the train station, and here I sit we will spend one night in a monastery and start walking in the morning. Reports and pictures to follow.

Gentle readers, it is said that no plan survives first contact with the enemy. Last week my years of planning for the leisurely start of this year’s Camino found an enemy in Covid-19. I believe that I will still be able to go but it will be touch (wash your hands) and go.

I did not see this coming. I had not been sick for years, in great part due to the isolation , hand washing, and masking. When I first started feeling a tightness in my throat, and a headache, I assumed it was a summer cold. A common occurrence when one is in and out of air conditioning. I was also training for the Camino in the South Carolina heat where it is difficult to remain properly hydrated. My resistance may have been down.

Things got gradually worse with the addition of stuffiness, a cough, and a low grade fever. I woke after a fitful night and took a home COVID test. Positive! Of course I have no idea where it found me. I live alone and in the past weeks, other than my daily walks early in the morning, I have been to one restaurant where we sat outside and to Sunday Mass. the fact is, I have it. Now what?

I found that after consultation with doctors, rest, hydration, and ibuprofen, I was able to turn the tide and I am on the mend. I am no longer in danger of passing it to others but instead of driving to Virginia today, I will continue to quarantine until Thursday, 1 September. On that day, I will drive the 8+ hours to link up with my children and get to the airport for our 6 PM flight. The interesting test for me will be walking 10-12 miles a day. At 73, when you take more than a week off of your training, you are a month behind. This will be a challenge for this old soldier. I will endeavor to keep you posted.

After four years of waiting, two in lockdown, and one in limbo, I am now making final arrangements for my third (and 4th) Camino adventure. When I completed the Camino Portuguese in 2018, I was excited to share the experience with family. After my first Camino, I arranged to take Jean to Spain and drive the Camino Francés before we took a cruise out of Barcelona. My hope was to demonstrate to her the shared experience that Pilgrims enjoy but while staying in as many Paradores as possible. We were able to stay in one Casa Rural and we enjoyed a couple snack beaks along the route in Galicia where the Camino crosses the road. Jean had no interest in staying in albergues and sharing bathrooms and showers but she was perfectly capable of walking the route. I believe she was able to capture the essence of the Camino. This year I will finally be able to share the experience with two brothers, one nephew, and my two grown children. My hope is to blog every day and attach photos to capture the experience but most of all, I would like them to know the magic of the Camino. One of my favorite phrases about the Camino if that the Camino does not give you what you are looking for, it gives you what you need. Let’s see if that is true for them. We will start in Sarria and complete the 107 Km since the young people have to get back to work. I will then complete the Finisterre to Muxia to Santiago loop for one additional Compostela. We depart the US on 1 Sep. Buen Camino

Seven days at sea ended today with a nine hour stop in Nassau Bahamas. To say it was anti-climactic is an understatement. I realize that it may be unfair to measure a country by your first impression/ their port or airport but after all, first impressions are based on what you see first.

I had never been in the Bahamas and I was anxious to see it so I was one of the first off the boat today at 9:30. It reminded me of the beginning of the movie “My big Fat Greek Wedding ” when they run the credits they continued to cross out Greek and add several other ethnic groups to emphasize the sameness of all. I have been in many Caribbean ports and I could not say that there was a noticeable difference. The smells, the music, the hawking taxi drivers, even the hair braided (although I would have given them quite a challenge).

So after a warm and humid walk looking at $25 tee shirts and $31 onesies, I decided that my family will just have to go without. I did take a picture or two just to prove that I was there and I returned to the ship to pack my bags for my return to the USA tomorrow morning.

Glad I saw it but I did make sure that I left nothing there so I have no need to return. I look forward to Miami and a visit with dear friends before my flight home. This has been a wonderful trip. It was all things one wants in a trip, I had great fun with friends, I learned things I did not know (including things about myself), I read a book a week, and averaged over 17,000 steps per day.

I wish all my gentle readers all the best that life has to offer.

One of the great things about a cruise is the shows every day. A mix of stars to be and stars who were with a few you have never heard of singing songs from proven stars. This along with the music that I listen to in my earphones while walking and at the gym are providing a form of music therapy.

Yesterday was a hard day emotionally in great part from the realization that it was Jean’s birthday. It was compounded by the way by two emails from dentists wishing her a happy birthday ( this after I notified them of her passing AND asked them last October to stop sending those messages).

Today I was blessed with the gift of actually listening to the music that was around me. The first lyric in the title of today’s blog. There were many others all day that seemed to be advice provided to me from above.

“Walk down that lonely road, all by yourself. Don’t turn your head back over your shoulder.” James Taylor

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Louis Armstrong

You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart. Carol King

You made me so very happy. I’m so glad you came into my life. BS&T

And many many more. I am OKAY and am doing fine.

I know that grief is an individual sport and we all have to do it our own way. There is no wrong way.

I also know that it has been 15 months and I should not be surprised by a down day.

But today is her birthday and I miss her so.

Cruising is a kind of reverse Fat Camp. We skipped the Azores and are now about 250 nautical miles south of the Azores and out if trouble. We are enduring 10-12 foot seas and walking is a bit of a challenge especially on the upper decks but I am having no problem getting in excess of 10,000 steps per day.

Although this is the smallest ship I have been in there is no issues with things to do. I have breakfast at 8:00, attend 9:00 Mass, and them walk 10,00 steps in deck 5 before going to the gym. I am listening to books while walking and have completed four so far. After the gym I hit the spa for a steam, catch some sun and perhaps a whirlpool, then shower and get ready for dinner.

I am meeting lots of interesting people but I am learning just how peculiar society is to single people. Showing up at the restaurant and being asked “Just you?” I know is not done to be mean but it is careless and sounds as though they are saying that they were expecting someone better. Also the where is your wife question is common and of course the strange looks as people are wondering my sexuality, whether I am on the prowl, or they are just nervous and uncomfortable.

I can handle it all but wish I didn’t have to.

This was a first for my cruising life. We are scheduled to spend the day on Wednesday in Punta Delgada, Azores before a 6 day Atlantic crossing. However, also expected to be spending the day in Punta Delgada is Hurricane Lorenzo with at least 92 mph winds and 15 foot seas.

The Captain announced this afternoon as we landed in Lisbon that we will be leaving Lisbon early tomorrow and NOT stopping in the Azores. Instead we will be heading due south to avoid the storm and have 7 days at sea before we get to the Bahamas.

I expect that we will still be effected by the storm but I am glad we will not have to be buttoned up in our cabins with buckets and Dramamine.

Meanwhile I had a lovely day today walking about Lisbon with new friends and I look forward to another day tomorrow before we have seven days at sea.

Thanks to the internet package and the ability to download books. Oh, and the drink package.

Abrazos a todos

How things change and others stay the same. In December of 1979, we were driven by Glenn and Marcia Weidner to visit the “White Town” of Mijas as it sit hanging from the mountain overlooking Fuengirola. It was a beautiful day and, although I don’t know how the 5 adults and 3 children rode in that car, we enjoyed great views of the Costa del Sol and had a great lunch of paella and sangria. I can still hear the laughter and see Betty’s rosy red cheeks and those twinkling Irish eyes peeking over them as she sat in the sun and the sangria did its magic. Mijas is today larger and more commercial but still the gloriously situated white washed town it was four decades ago.

A view from the top overlooking Fuengirola and the Costa del Sol.

Mountain town streets

A bit of a side story about the brick building 50 yards up this street. It is the Museum of wine. I had an hour and a half to just walk about as part of my tour so it should be no surprise to those that know me that I ended up there. In there I met Lorena, an engaging Spanish beauty ( why do I keep meeting women in their 40s?). She is very knowledgeable about Spanish wines and happens to like sherry and my favorite brandy. I spent nearly all of my free time talking with her about everything possible. Yes she has also completed the Camino and yes she is a foodie. I shared with her the names of two good wine movies made in the US, she gave me the name of one from Spain. I told her of my experience of tasting olive oil infused with orange zest and she let me try her lime infused olive oil made by her mother. Fantastic!

What’s not to love about this country?

Spain