tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42823908481707803312024-03-14T20:40:35.678+13:00Camino-(in)spirationsKiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-17046139537165919192015-01-21T21:12:00.002+13:002015-01-21T21:14:00.243+13:00Trees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdDvL2HMPAU/VL9egtTlL0I/AAAAAAAAP2E/jcdBvVjmAeU/s1600/poems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdDvL2HMPAU/VL9egtTlL0I/AAAAAAAAP2E/jcdBvVjmAeU/s1600/poems.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the Cluny route- nearing St Haon le Chatel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky.” </span> </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="font-size: large;">~Kahlil Gibran</span></span></span></i></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-43273699876955017602014-07-08T18:08:00.004+12:002015-01-21T21:06:37.853+13:00Struggling up a mighty hill<span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRXDnCA7Ukk/U7uLdFhUxFI/AAAAAAAAOcw/HEjz6_vpGXs/s1600/IMG_5413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRXDnCA7Ukk/U7uLdFhUxFI/AAAAAAAAOcw/HEjz6_vpGXs/s1600/IMG_5413.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #274e13;">climb towards Cenves- 5km uphill- beginning soon after leaving Tramayes (Cluny route)</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #274e13;">"I realised one day walking along that I was made to enjoy THIS. This is a lot of things, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">even struggling up a mighty hill with a backpack, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I felt really grateful to be alive. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have also changed a lot of the things I believe, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">but that is for another time."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><i>~Graham English</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.catholica.com.au/gc2/ge/013_ge_310112.php">Catholica website</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #274e13;">I had been warned about the difficulty of the climb towards Cenves, and it certainly started out looking tricky, with the 'path' looking more like the bed of a stream to begin with. But that old maxim, 'one step at a time' proved true yet again. </span></i>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-45437799767687937292014-07-08T16:18:00.003+12:002014-07-08T16:20:07.584+12:00Stone walls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-seVZ4Kyu_ao/U7tvDXBxSlI/AAAAAAAAOcU/kHhnLgMu83c/s1600/stone+walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-seVZ4Kyu_ao/U7tvDXBxSlI/AAAAAAAAOcU/kHhnLgMu83c/s1600/stone+walls.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>stone wall seen between Cluny and Tramayes</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><q>Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.</q> <span style="font-size: small;"><cite>— <span class="quotescollection_author">Mary Oliver</span></cite></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><cite><span class="quotescollection_author"><span style="color: #274e13;">I always love coming upon stone walls. I guess that in some way they hark back to the Celtic past of my ancestors. The stones used in this modern French wall may be of more recent origin, but it is also possible the stones themselves have been used before. And when I see flowers blooming against the 'barren' stones, it is always a source of happiness for me.</span> </span></cite></span></span></span></div>
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Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-22101566736576424152014-07-08T15:45:00.000+12:002014-07-08T15:45:09.528+12:00Walking with a friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J2rzw45h9Z0/U7tont04q6I/AAAAAAAAOcE/usRUdXRsGT4/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J2rzw45h9Z0/U7tont04q6I/AAAAAAAAOcE/usRUdXRsGT4/s1600/flower.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="font-size: large;">"The world is round</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">so that friendship may encircle it."</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;">~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">When I walked the Cluny route in 2012, the first two days I had company along the way. A French friend who I had met on the Camino in Spain in 2008, offered to walk with me. Cluny was in his home region of Bourgogne, and he wanted to be sure I knew how to follow the waymarks. The important markers on this route were scallop shells, and the 'fingers' of the shell showed which way you had to walk.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">He had told me that I would find the Cluny route far more lonesome than the route south from Le Puy- and he was right. I treasure the time we spent walking together. He taught me many things as we walked, such as how to recognise church tower windows that indicated a church affiliated with the monastery of Cluny, and the names of wildflowers we passed. It was a precious time. </span>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-35707986439902067752014-06-15T20:54:00.004+12:002014-06-15T20:56:25.881+12:00The joy of walking<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqrw8b0hfe0/U51daFldMsI/AAAAAAAAOWs/DKGO62Govv0/s1600/st+chely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqrw8b0hfe0/U51daFldMsI/AAAAAAAAOWs/DKGO62Govv0/s1600/st+chely.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><i> leaving St Chely d'Aubrac, on the Le Puy route, spring 2012</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;">"Joy is the echo of God's life in us." </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #274e13;">~St Columba of Iona </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">Two years before I walked the Camino, I was in Cahors as a tourist, and in the hostel I met a Frenchwoman who had been walking for three weeks from Le Puy. She had a look of quiet but deep joy on her face and in her whole being. She talked about how happy she was walking in the countryside. Meeting her gave me the first inklings I had that I might walk the Chemin too. On quiet, peaceful mornings like this, joy was there, surrounding you all around.</span></div>
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<br />Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-51154916601306068502014-06-15T20:35:00.004+12:002014-06-15T20:35:39.655+12:00Walking early<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cSLT1uikwI/U51Z05pLDDI/AAAAAAAAOWg/R1i-zr_szwM/s1600/leaving+Montbonnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cSLT1uikwI/U51Z05pLDDI/AAAAAAAAOWg/R1i-zr_szwM/s1600/leaving+Montbonnet.jpg" height="640" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">“Walking in the morning takes you to beautiful places </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">where light and shade make love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>~Prof. Mohamed Shareef </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>Leaving Montbonnet in the springtime</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>6 May 2012 Le Puy route </i></span></div>
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<br />Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-11170186920330607512014-05-26T19:28:00.001+12:002014-05-26T19:29:55.983+12:00Taste and enjoy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XDVsxRWexI/U4LqVbFN2WI/AAAAAAAAOS4/hShNOHGbxvo/s1600/IMG_6560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XDVsxRWexI/U4LqVbFN2WI/AAAAAAAAOS4/hShNOHGbxvo/s1600/IMG_6560.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near the village of Marols, on the Cluny route, after a strenuous climb up from St-Jean-Solymieux</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">"Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"> or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">and find out the truth about who you are."</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #073763;">~Anne Lamott</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">I think that walking the Chemin for many people can be a way to <i>'taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.' </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">This blossom tree was a casualty of the very windy storm the night before. It is still full of spring blossoms flowering. Wounded by unpredictable circumstances, it is still a thing of beauty in the landscape.</span>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-40653295474414479012014-05-25T09:25:00.001+12:002014-05-25T09:26:08.679+12:00Walking into the Storm<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvw1lkmzyag/U4EMHbNBKcI/AAAAAAAAOSo/_QUcIwuUNrs/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvw1lkmzyag/U4EMHbNBKcI/AAAAAAAAOSo/_QUcIwuUNrs/s1600/storm.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">St Paulien in the Auvergne region, not far from Le-Puy-en-Velay (on the Cluny route)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">"If you spend your life waiting for the sun, you'll never enjoy the storm."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">~Morris West</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">I was walking towards St Paulien, with only one more day's journey ahead of me before I reached Le-Puy-en-Velay. After passing a wonderful rural farm gîte, (and wishing I was staying there for the night!) I saw ahead of me that storm clouds were gathering. And indeed, soon I walked right into drenching heavy rain for the next few kilometres. There is something so cleansing about being doused in rain like that- and when you are walking you just have to surrender to getting wet! As the rain eased, I could see a dry road ahead of me, leading the way downhill into St Paulien.</span>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-55663227453661666792014-05-25T09:04:00.001+12:002014-05-25T09:05:10.920+12:00The Light of Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJhxxuAipmI/U4EG7NvGzKI/AAAAAAAAOSc/rP2wq4nWHHs/s1600/st+jacques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJhxxuAipmI/U4EG7NvGzKI/AAAAAAAAOSc/rP2wq4nWHHs/s1600/st+jacques.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"The
light of faith is unique, because it is capable of illuminating every
aspect of human existence!" </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><i><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">~Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">When I walked the Camino in 2008, I met a Frenchman who inspired me as a prayerful man who was mindful of others. Then in 2012 when I planned to walk the Cluny route in France, I was invited to stay with him and his wife in their home in Burgundy. He offered to walk the first couple of days with me, to support me, and make sure I knew how to follow the way-markings. (These were crucial on this less-walked route, and different from those further south.) This statue of St Jacques was in the bedroom I was in, lit by the light from the window. It was in a bedroom that also welcomed other pilgrims who walked on the route from Dijon. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">My French friend is one who shows forth the light of faith- and he is also glad to walk with St Jacques as his protector. It has been a joy of my life to meet him and his wife, and even though they are so far away in kilometre terms, the light of their faith will always keep us together. </span></i></span></span>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-25832497355698556172013-03-10T21:56:00.003+13:002013-05-13T06:49:29.952+12:00Bread of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzDFlKzbbq0/UTxJiz1iV7I/AAAAAAAANXI/gCQCacU4kik/s1600/wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzDFlKzbbq0/UTxJiz1iV7I/AAAAAAAANXI/gCQCacU4kik/s640/wheat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="color: #274e13;">wheat growing on the Camino</i></div>
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<i style="color: #274e13;"> after leaving Pamplona, en route for Alto del Perdon</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>1</i></span>. "I am the bread of life. <br />Those who come to me shall not hunger. <br />Those who believe in me shall not thirst. <br />No one can come to me <br />Unless the Father draw them. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Refrain: </i></span><br />And I will raise you up, and I will raise you up, <br />And I will raise you up on the last day."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~</span><span class="st">Sister Suzanne Toolan</span></div>
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<span class="st" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am a very 'lapsed' Catholic. </span><br />
<span class="st" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">But seeing wheatfields and vineyards </span><br />
<span class="st" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">always reminded me of the Eucharist I shared as I grew up. </span><br />
<span class="st" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And I knew some longing as I walked...</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-41810062845301358322013-03-10T21:31:00.001+13:002013-03-10T21:34:09.399+13:00Colour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WM_VH0fJARY/UTxBWK-3Z_I/AAAAAAAANW4/lTM8foFIxX4/s1600/varied+wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WM_VH0fJARY/UTxBWK-3Z_I/AAAAAAAANW4/lTM8foFIxX4/s640/varied+wheat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">between Villamayor de Monjardin and Los Arcos</span></i></div>
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"<span style="font-size: large;">Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can one really explain this? No.</span>"</div>
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<b>~Pablo Picasso</b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The morning I walked towards Torres del Rio, the colours in the landscape were magnificent. I have not managed to capture the magic of it all with the camera, - I don't know how to allow for heat haze. But all those I met walking seemed very happy and content, full of the joy of the palette we were walking through. Special memories.</span></i><b><br /></b>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-41058597227792210952013-03-10T07:14:00.004+13:002013-03-10T21:11:13.688+13:00The mountain seems small...<style>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1yAe7huzu0/UTt7G2CifsI/AAAAAAAANWo/3y5PqUi_P1w/s1600/o+cebreiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1yAe7huzu0/UTt7G2CifsI/AAAAAAAANWo/3y5PqUi_P1w/s640/o+cebreiro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i style="color: #0b5394;">nearing the top of O'Cebreiro, and entering Galicia</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US">“Sometimes that mountain you've been
climbing</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US">is just a grain of sand<br />
What you've been out there searching for forever</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US">is in your hands <br />
When you figure out love is all that matters after all<br />
It sure makes everything else seem so small “</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Carrie Underwood</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Two fellow pilgrims doing a 'happy dance' on reaching the top of O'Cebreiro. The woman in the grey-blue t-shirt is from Oz- and I enjoyed meeting her quite a few times en route- she was always kind, no matter how tired she was. </span></span></i></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-11597828826592879762013-03-10T06:55:00.003+13:002013-03-10T06:57:16.925+13:00The Answer to what?<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn4n4uRZsME/UTt1VwIJE_I/AAAAAAAANWg/hXt26mkS7l4/s1600/alto+del+perdon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn4n4uRZsME/UTt1VwIJE_I/AAAAAAAANWg/hXt26mkS7l4/s640/alto+del+perdon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i><span style="color: #274e13;">the last stage of the climb to Alto del Perdon</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">“O Deep Thought
computer," he said, "the task we have designed you to perform is
this. We want you to tell us...." he paused, "The Answer."</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"The Answer?" said Deep Thought. "The Answer to what?"</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Life!" urged Fook.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"The Universe!" said Lunkwill.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Everything!" they said in chorus.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
Deep Thought paused for a moment's reflection.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Tricky," he said finally.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"But can you do it?"</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
Again, a significant pause.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Yes," said Deep Thought, "I can do it."</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"There is an answer?" said Fook with breathless excitement.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Yes," said Deep Thought. "Life, the Universe, and Everything.
There is an answer. But, I'll have to think about it."</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times;"> from 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy' </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times;">~Douglas Adams</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: #274e13;">The wide open spaces, the huge skies, walking along step after step- there was room on the Camino to think about the world and my place in it, my loved ones, what it was all about...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span><i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-42385641173378436292013-02-27T21:37:00.000+13:002013-02-27T21:37:03.118+13:00Walking Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHS7wD_4jXs/US3ByxFa2sI/AAAAAAAANTg/JRNhmOORNKw/s1600/aubrac+plateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHS7wD_4jXs/US3ByxFa2sI/AAAAAAAANTg/JRNhmOORNKw/s640/aubrac+plateau.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Now shall I walk</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
or shall I ride?</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Ride," Pleasure said:</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
"Walk," Joy replied.</span><br style="color: #38761d;" /><span style="color: #38761d;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">~W.H. Davies</span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I've had the joy of walking over the Aubrac Plateau twice. This photo was taken on the second day of the crossing in 2012. The weather was brilliantly fine- almost too hot! Four years previously, in 2008, we'd been advised to walk on the road rather than the Chemin because of heavy rain the previous day. Even on the road, which runs at a slightly lower altitude than the Chemin, it was very cold, and the fog soon came thickly down. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. So imagine my joy walking this route again under clear sunny skies, where I could see all the views. I felt like I was on top of the world, close to heaven!</span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Strangely enough though, my joy was all the greater because I had walked the route twice- the first time in awful weather.</span></i></span></span><br />
</span></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-68780913866070546322012-10-13T23:53:00.002+13:002012-10-13T23:53:56.385+13:00Names and Dawns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlkASjCeHc4/UHlGr3ZZygI/AAAAAAAAMzo/0-alOvJjIpo/s1600/IMG_8991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlkASjCeHc4/UHlGr3ZZygI/AAAAAAAAMzo/0-alOvJjIpo/s640/IMG_8991.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<i>On the path between Azofra and Santo Domingo de la Calzada</i></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
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<div class="Style" style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">"Blessed
are you pilgrim, when you contemplate</span></span></div>
<div class="Style" style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"> the "camino" and you discover
it is full of names and dawns" </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
This year I re-walked some of the Camino Frances that I had walked in 2008. One of the things I noticed was that in certain places, I had very strong associations with people I had met there. In this place, I was strongly reminded of my friend Lyne, who was starting to struggle badly with her knee. Somewhere soon after this I walked ahead while she rested with her husband, then never saw them again for several days- but we heard news of each other from others and were to be re-united in Burgos...</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
Another 'treasure' of this part of the walk was that because of the heat, it became quite normal to leave early, and many 'dawns' were seen. Truly one of the special things on the Camino.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-90598120183845833822012-04-10T07:13:00.000+12:002012-04-10T07:13:41.612+12:00Happiness within you<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNpvOEH35zA/T4M0IWGfSpI/AAAAAAAAK90/kkBb1KYXu4s/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNpvOEH35zA/T4M0IWGfSpI/AAAAAAAAK90/kkBb1KYXu4s/s640/snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>snow on the ground leaving Montbonnet</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Your success and happiness lies in you. </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Resolve to keep happy, </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and your
joy and you </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">shall form an invincible host against difficulties."</span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: right;">
~ Helen
Keller</div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-67680728624102565772012-04-09T18:39:00.003+12:002012-04-09T18:41:28.241+12:00Pilgrim's Prayer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bPLG2flhKc/T4KDRVH6nyI/AAAAAAAAK9o/DfjsJP21-Yo/s1600/pyrenees+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bPLG2flhKc/T4KDRVH6nyI/AAAAAAAAK9o/DfjsJP21-Yo/s640/pyrenees+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">on the Napoleon Route over the Pyrenees</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Lord show me the way<br />and give me strength to follow it</span></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: #274e13;">~Pilgrim's Prayer of St Birgitta (of Sweden, 1303-1373)</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #274e13;">-given to me by Elisabet from Sweden</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"> before I started the Chemin from Cluny</span></i>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-33698541825238905172012-04-08T06:36:00.001+12:002012-04-08T20:10:04.352+12:00Music of the soul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYyi67wozg4/T4CIn_wXxiI/AAAAAAAAK9I/B6Zm1kFZWGY/s1600/Conques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYyi67wozg4/T4CIn_wXxiI/AAAAAAAAK9I/B6Zm1kFZWGY/s640/Conques.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #274e13;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at Conques, one of the jewels of the Le Puy Chemin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I need simply and only to wait upon God
without expectation, </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and God, all longing, resting in me, </span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-size: large;">will breathe
in me the music of my soul."</span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">~Edwina Gately </span></i></span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Quote sent to me by a friend just before my departure for Cluny, 2012. </span></i></span></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-39047680233400177462012-04-08T06:30:00.000+12:002012-04-08T19:55:23.012+12:00Taking a Walk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iwKjS8FgEig/T4FCuqnFLFI/AAAAAAAAK9c/3SQoejLWU7o/s1600/leaving+Orisson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iwKjS8FgEig/T4FCuqnFLFI/AAAAAAAAK9c/3SQoejLWU7o/s640/leaving+Orisson.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">leaving Orisson for the rest of the Napoleon Route across the Pyrenees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">"Few people know how to take a walk. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">The
qualifications are endurance, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">plain clothes, old shoes, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">an eye for
nature, good humor, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">vast curiosity, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">good speech, good silence </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;">and
nothing too much....</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> "</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: right;">
~Ralph Waldo Emerson</div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-24463442763645270522012-02-02T10:56:00.000+13:002012-02-02T11:14:38.731+13:00Whisperings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81pTe7UOYno/Tymzj_O-eWI/AAAAAAAAK08/TWVsg6b2W60/s1600/lollies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81pTe7UOYno/Tymzj_O-eWI/AAAAAAAAK08/TWVsg6b2W60/s640/lollies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763;">a gift left for pilgrims on a simple little seat on the outskirts of Moissac</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart"</b></span><br />
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
<i>~ Mary MacKillop</i><i> </i><br />
<i>as quoted by Bishop John Dew after his return from the Camino</i><br />
<br />
It was a beautiful walk to Moissac, but quite a lot was on hard tarmac, </div>
</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
and my feet were feeling tender as I reached the outskirts of the city.</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
Imagine my joy to find a simple little seat under a tree</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
with a sign that said it was a rest area for pilgrims,</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
and someone had even left some lollies on the little table. </div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
I sat down, took off my boots and socks- oh sweet relief-</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
put some tape on the 'hot spots' on my feet</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
ate a lolly, and was refreshed</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
as there were still several kms of city walking before the gîte.</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
I don't know who set up this simple little rest area</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
or left the lollies</div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
but the love showed.<br />
It seemed like they had listened to a whisper of God to their heart.<br />
<i> </i><i> </i></div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkDZye074Mg/Tym2W3EVauI/AAAAAAAAK1I/qlx3RK8gCTM/s1600/rest+area+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkDZye074Mg/Tym2W3EVauI/AAAAAAAAK1I/qlx3RK8gCTM/s200/rest+area+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDmeu8Xjr0/Tym2Y1UyzjI/AAAAAAAAK1Q/uqHc4mEIYZY/s1600/rest+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDmeu8Xjr0/Tym2Y1UyzjI/AAAAAAAAK1Q/uqHc4mEIYZY/s200/rest+area.jpg" width="200" /></a><i> </i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-66270852307131735712012-02-02T10:28:00.001+13:002012-02-02T11:12:18.082+13:00Reaching out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgz6SHwU8yI/Tymte2xuY4I/AAAAAAAAK0w/uGIdPm_04_0/s1600/wind+in+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgz6SHwU8yI/Tymte2xuY4I/AAAAAAAAK0w/uGIdPm_04_0/s640/wind+in+grass.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;">crops waving in the wind between Montcuq and Lauzerte</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"There are things you can't reach</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">but you can reach out to them</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and all day long.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The wind,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the bird flying away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The idea of God."</span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<br />
<i>~ Mary O<span style="color: #274e13;">liver</span></i></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-86695925095298886572012-02-01T22:19:00.000+13:002012-02-01T22:19:40.084+13:00God on the journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXPlaPRl4RQ/TykBp6jDeuI/AAAAAAAAK0k/VzucFhjDaYk/s1600/lost+in+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXPlaPRl4RQ/TykBp6jDeuI/AAAAAAAAK0k/VzucFhjDaYk/s640/lost+in+landscape.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>"The feeling remains that God is on the journey too."</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">~Teresa of Avila</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
The day I walked to Los Arcos the landscapes were simply stunning, all day</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
but for some unexplained reason (maybe I was a little dehydrated)</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
in the latter part of the walk everything seemed too hard</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
and I had this awful feeling of being lost</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
that I would never find a village</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
that I would wander aimlessly here for hours...</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
But when I reached the village, there was a group of Irishmen </div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
sitting outside a cafe who asked how I was</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
and for once I said the truth - that it was hard and I felt lost.</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
They were my angels- I sat and conversed with them</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
I had dinner with them and I was 'found' again.</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
They were all fervent Christians these Irishmen</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">and it seemed like God knew I needed looking after this day.</span></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-78808803037672824512012-02-01T21:12:00.000+13:002012-02-01T21:22:44.222+13:00This moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzrMLo13Te4/TyjzP-cBdfI/AAAAAAAAK0Y/sioL4_A-OVQ/s1600/spring+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzrMLo13Te4/TyjzP-cBdfI/AAAAAAAAK0Y/sioL4_A-OVQ/s640/spring+leaves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<i>spring leaves, one morning en route for Moissac</i></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"We have only this moment,</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">sparkling like a star in our hand,</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">and melting like a snowflake."</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<i>~Sir Francis Bacon</i><br />
<br />
<i>One of the 'lessons' for me on the Camino was that you could spend time </i><br />
<i>thinking about your sore feet or other body woes </i><br />
<i>or you could just accept them, and instead notice </i><br />
<i>and be thankful</i><br />
<i>and there were always so many things to notice and be thankful for</i><br />
<i>now, in the present moment. </i></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-90892899299488763822011-12-04T21:35:00.003+13:002011-12-07T20:03:17.313+13:00Sacred Ground<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc3fkD30gVw/Ttsv-PteubI/AAAAAAAAKi0/vfubtPJ7IPQ/s1600/Le+Puy+Plateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc3fkD30gVw/Ttsv-PteubI/AAAAAAAAKi0/vfubtPJ7IPQ/s640/Le+Puy+Plateau.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On my very first day of walking, on the plateau above Le-Puy-en-Velay</span></i><br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">before reaching Saint Christophe sur Dolaison</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Standing on Holy Ground </b></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>– all is Sacred and all is gift"</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was nervous on that very first climb out of Le Puy</span></i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as I had heard it was steep, and wasn't sure if my fitness would be found wanting.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was so pleased to find all my pre-Chemin walks meant it proved to be not too daunting.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I soon found myself relaxing into the landscape of the plateau above Le Puy</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">filled with an immense happiness to be there</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and hoping that weeks of walking in the outdoors lay ahead.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was filled with reverence and joy.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Life just seemed like pure gift in those moments.</span></i></div></div>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282390848170780331.post-54230094363877449942011-08-06T22:36:00.001+12:002011-08-06T22:37:08.427+12:00A journey that remains...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXDZyNkvpGM/Tj0XpK0AOqI/AAAAAAAAKDc/kXVE1-F5D_k/s1600/arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXDZyNkvpGM/Tj0XpK0AOqI/AAAAAAAAKDc/kXVE1-F5D_k/s640/arrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i style="color: #274e13;">arrow seen en route for Melide in the last days of my Camino</i><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"....suddenly it began to really hit me...</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was days from Santiago. My epic was nearly over. </span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or so I thought at the time. </span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Journeys like this...they stay with you, in you forever. </span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rather like having a child, </span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> you are never ever quite the same."</span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><i><a href="http://ksamsontheroad.blogspot.com/2011/06/melide_18.html" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~Karin</a></i>Kiwi Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com2