Walking the Camino de Santiago

This morning Leigh and I (John) starting walking the Camino de Santiago. In fact, we walked a long way... drumroll please... 17 miles! Along the way we met other pilgrims, talked to them a bit as we walked side by side, then we continued and met others. So far we've met a guy from Ireland, three older women from Australia (two are sisters), a man and his sons from Barcelona, an older gentleman and his son and daughter also from Australia, a couple from Finland, a Brazilian couple, a couple from Chicago, a man from Ohio, and others! We will probably see them on the road here and there as well as meet others. What a rich experience to be meeting others who have been planning like we have been and who have been looking forward to this journey.

Now we're resting our tired feet (see photo). We started our walk at Roncesvalles near the French border in northeastern Spain. Last night we arrived by bus, received our pilgrim's passport (called a credencial), attended a special pilgrims' mass to bless the pilgrims on our journey, had a special pilgrims' dinner, and slept in a dormitory with 110 beds (and lots of interesting sounds during the night). "Buen Camino" is what we heard over and over again. It means "Have a good journey."

Notes about these pictures:
- Leigh and I at a sign marker on the Camino de Santiago (note scallop shell symbol - we gave each person in worship at Peace on the day before we left on sabbatical a shell as a reminder of our Camino walk and of the pilgrimages we're all on in our lives)
- Leigh in front of one of the beautiful little Spanish towns we encountered on the way
- I'm resting my tired feet at the end of a good day

Buen Camino!