The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St James)

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St James)

Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 3:44 PM

In 2004 my friend G stated he was going to Spain to walk The Camino de Santiago de Compostela and would be gone for 2 or 4 months.  At the mention of the Camino Shirley McLain’s book Out on a Limb flashed through my brain.  It came out in 1983 and I remembered reading it because I have always loved Shirley, and it was on the NY Times best seller list.  But, I could not remember much about the book as we talked.  It passed from my mind, other than the remembrance of things I use to believe.  Of all the books I’d read during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s before I became a counselor and left that world mostly behind.

Gary had been talking about doing this for a while now, so I was surprised that he was really going to do it.  We discussed his fears and his wondering if he recent strip of lost items were an omen.  He was gone and since he had no computer or SKYPE I did not hear from him for four months.  Now, I thought this was an interesting journey, but nothing I’d be interested in on two counts.  First I don’t like the idea for carrying stuff on my back like a mule; second Spain just did not call to me.  G returned home with tales of his travels along the Camino which sounded absolutely wonderful; for him.  The Camino slowly slipped into the background and our lives went on until 2005 when went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with cancer.

This event brought about my excitation of a dream I had for a very long time.  My dream was to travel to England follow the path of King Arthur and find my family.  In 2006 I made my trip to England which turned out to be a very spiritual adventure.  I found my family in England, then in Austria, travel the roads of King Arthur, and found the air field my father flew out of during WWII, traveled to France and continued to do so for the next six years.  Last year I found my trip lacking, no spiritual insight, that was until I boarded the plane home.  It was when I found the spiritual part of this year’s trip.  I began to understand that although I had completed almost all the things my soul requested I search for there was more to do.

Up on return the Camino began to show up again.  Gary, from time to time, mentioned his wanting to walk it again.  I had met Ainhoa my first year in England and she asks from time to time when I’m coming to Basque Country.  I have just written her on Facebook to let her know I’m thinking of coming.   That’s not the truth I’m being drawn to ride the Camino.  Recently a new move was released called The Way.  It is about walking the Camino and is a wonderful movie.

This year will be my seventh year to travel to England and Europe.  Last year I was left with a feeling that had accomplished all that I had wished, yet there was still this pull in me to return.   And, return I will with a new adventure in mind and as before there will be not planning, no training, no nothing but the DOING!  This is the beginning of my 2012 travel journal and my road to traveling The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St James).