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Taylors Return to Camino!
Hi Pelegrnos! The Taylor’s are off again for a short trek around the Pyrenees. We arrive in St. John Pied de Port on Sunday the 19th and will leave via Pamplona late the next Friday to get back to two grandchildren who live in Belgium. It is hard to describe how the Camino “speaks” to us. We have diligently trained about four days a week this year by walking four miles a day with our packs. We are swimmers so we swim at least one extra or two extra days, too. But all of it …all the conversation drifts back to Spain and the walk. It isn’t “magic” to us. I think it is more of a Sabbath. Sabbath is for rest and we don’t rest our bodies but our minds and souls and spirits rest in this deep way. We, who are best friends and have been married 50 years this year, find that we pay attention to each other’s needs and wants in a slower, deeper way. We collapse together. Solve problems together. Find God in every yellow arrow and the fellow pilgrims and each other. Sooooo, if you want a short walk with us…you can follow! Buen…
Read MoreTwo Novice Pilgrims
What have we learned in five days of pilgrimage? One thing we know for certain is this is different from hiking. We can’t really put our thoughts around it! Why is it different? Sometimes we talk about St. James. One of the brothers that Jesus called the sons of thunder. Their name indicate that they certainly were not mild and meek men. We discuss the fact that all Jesus disciples except James’s brother,John, died for the truth they knew. Is it how we are treated that makes this different? ALL are encouraging! ALL wish us well! ALL expect us to respect God and love Him! “BuenCamino”(Good Pilgrimage)…whatever the reason you are walking..be about that business and do a good job! Is it that even though we walk together we have hours of solitude? We sometimes walk for miles with the only words spoken verbally are, ” Are you okay? Did you see that hawk? Aren’t the mountains comforting?” The rest of the time Ernest’s brain is in his “nothing box” and mine is reflecting. ( Ernest calls this thinking/praying!) But it is different and we are called! We KNOW it. We are pilgrims! The day was hot! Almost from the…
Read MoreCamino Epilogue
We have spent a day resting after attending mass at the cathedral last night. The cathedral and mass were simply surreal. The building and altar are amazingly beautiful. They are under restoration and Ernest and I who are HUGE Daniel Silva,the author, fans could see Gabriel Atton restoring the priceless frescos. Unbeknownest to us the peregrinos were prayed for by name. To hear Ernest Allen Taylor and Jan Price Taylor from the United States of America read out in that ancients holy place was humbling…deeply humbling. We were careful to lay before Him the prayers and petitions of those we love and share life with. All of you…we remembered you and yours. BUT, many of you who are following us literally on the Camino and those of you whom we have never met on the blog sent us prayer requests. They were uttered too with great honor and joy. We have rented a car and will explore Finistera and Muxia the next few days. Until 1492 Finistera was the end of the flat world. We have fallen in love with northern Spain and want to return. We already miss the Camino. The Way is now woven into the fabric of…
Read MoreWe Made It!
We started very early. It was sort of hard to believe that this is our last day. Our packs were familiar. We found our waking rhythm quickly. It is NOT flat to Santiago. There was one small mountain and six giant hills. Someone said that pilgrimages always end high as you have to ascend to God. I remarked to Ernest that God figured out that that wouldn’t work long ago. That is why He descended to us. He did all the work to make A WAY to bring us back to Him. We walked over 250 miles in 19 days. They were strenous days. They were flavored with sweetness, kindness, humor and joy. May we never forget one moment. We are now holed up in a warm hotel. We will attend mass in the church tonight. If I am allowed to video the incense portion I will do so and post it tomorrow. Buen Camino
Read MoreSo This Is What It Means to Be a Pilgrim
We trekked today from Arzua to o Pedrouzo. Spanish weathermen and American weathermen are from the same school. There was 100% chance of rain today and frigid weather. God decided to bless us with NO rain and the sun shone most of the day. Do not think for one minute that we didn’t appreciate God’s grace. The Way is beautiful. Red tiled roofs are prevalent; palm trees; magnificent Calla lilies. Then we transversed through cathedral forests. The ascents and descents are easy and gradual. It was a good day. We are tired but we recover quickly. We are staying in a Casa Rural named Pension Maribel. It is delightful. We met many new pilgrims today. The deepest conversations occur with total strangers that feel as if we are family. Every one of us realize that this is probably the last day of through hiking. It is time to summarize thoughts and draw conclusions. Tomorrow is Santiago . We have been walking to close to 20 days now. Earlier in our days I told Ernest that I didn’t really,feel like a pilgrim. I haven’t gone on this pilgrimage expecting to RECEIVE anything in Santiago. Today as we walked I realize fully…
Read MoreThursday’s Sabbath
He is in control of our days. Hallelujah!!! We awakened this morning in our cute, cute Casa Rural to 3 inches of snow. Snow is predicted all day. Before us lay the last big ascent and descent. We recover quickly but we can sense tiredness in our legs. We are prepared for snow with snow tips for our trekking poles ( Thankful that we didn’t discard them in the tropical heat waves we have had.)Our precious proprietor knew a way to circumspect the hill and we gratefully agreed. The rest of the mileage was flat. It was easy to hike to the next village where we had made a reservation for REST though it was heavy snow the entire way. We left our packs at the hotel. Bought a cheap pair of waterproof gloves and are sitting in a warm cafe having cafe con leche. I know it is Thursday but it feels like Sabbath….quiet,holy,restorative. We are really grateful for the rest. Folks, I have left out SO many God appearances. Please forgive me. When we arrive in late afternoon we collapse; shower; wash clothes; have dinner. By the time I start to post I am consumed with the physical…
Read MoreBest Laid Plans of Mice and Men
And the rest of the quote is: “and leave us pain of promised joy,”. Oh, we had it planned. We had walked two long days of 13 plus miles. Today was a SHORT day. We were just going to walk one village pass the big village. We awaken in Palas de Rei to rain…chilly rain. Soon we were walking in the most beautiful snow storm. The flakes were the size of a half dollar coin. Ernest and I like the snow so we walked with joy on our faces and praise to Him own our lips. That beautiful snow lasted about an hour. Then we had sleet. The sleet lasted about 30 minutes. Then the sun came out. Then the weather started all over again…snow then sleet then sun then snow then sleet then sun. Now, that isn’t so bad except today was the Camino imitation of an elevator. Ascend then descend. Ascend then descend. Now, when you ascend one truth is that you burn calories. I don’t care how cold it is outside YOU generate heat. With a raincoat and a pack poncho you become a living sauna. Steam rolls off of you like a chimney puffing. Then you…
Read MoreLife on the Camino
We left Porto de Marin this morning about 8:30 a.m. It was raining but we are well equipped for rain. Remember when I told you that one has to walk from Sarria to Santiago to get your “official” status as a pilgrim? The number of pilgrims increased drastically since Sarria. If some of you are wondering if you want to/could do the Way. This is a good choice. It will take you about a week. The terrain is not really difficult and the landscape STILL breath-taking. Your pack can be significantly smaller as you only need a week of “goods!” It is a reasonable choice. HOWEVER, still train and train WITH your pack. Train with your backpack close to the weight you will carry. It makes such a difference. Don’t worry if your neighbors think you are “touched in the head” or homeless because you are walking around with a pack on your back and poles in your hands. You are TRAINING!!! Besides you meet a lot of nice people wondering what in this world you are doing! We had planned to walk only 9 miles today. The topographical map showed two horrendous ascents plus we were now transversing the…
Read MoreLife on The Way
We left Porto de Marin this morning about 8:30 a.m. It was raining but we are well equipped for rain. Remember when I told you that one has to walk from Sarria to Santiago to get your “official” status as a pilgrim? The number of pilgrims increased drastically since Sarria. If some of you are wondering if you want to/could do the Way. This is a good choice. It will take you about a week. The terrain is not really difficult and the landscape STILL breath-taking. Your pack can be significantly smaller as you only need a week of “goods!” It is a reasonable choice. HOWEVER, still train and train WITH your pack. Train with your backpack close to the weight you will carry. It makes such a difference. Don’t worry if your neighbors think you are “touched in the head” or homeless because you are walking around with a pack on your back and poles in your hands. You are TRAINING!!! Besides you meet a lot of nice people wondering what in this world you are doing! We had planned to walk only 9 miles today. The topographical map showed two horrendous ascents plus we were now transversing the…
Read MoreShort and Sweet …We are Exhausted.
Today on Camino our second handsome grandson, Price Daniel Taylor, became five years old. It crushes us to not be there with him. We hope someday that he will be proud of us for this adventure. Happy birthday, Price! You are one amazing boy! For those following us on the Camino. We started today in Sarria and arrived at Portomarina about 3:30. When you leave Sarria ( after the Santa Maria church, you will pass a cafe on your left..just before you take a right to leave town) That is the last place to get breakfast or a cafe con leche for FOUR hours. The trek is BEAUTIFUL but constant ascent and descent. It is long though not particularly challenging. You do know that the temperature drop today is indicative of rain and snow on the mountains. Ernest and I are dressing for “bear.” We have a very, very steep ascent tomorrow. It will not be particularly high in elevation but we climb 1500 feet in 3 miles. The weather is an issue though we came prepared for rain and snow. We are “bushed” tonight but hope to walk short tomorrow. I guess I would say that being a “town” girl…
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