GOD WALKS THE CAMINO TRAIL (from 6/7/2014)

God is definitely walking the Camino Trail with me.  So many times when those blasted rocks were twisting my ankles, the bottom of my feet were burning with fire, and that blessed blister was forming, I walked with a lump in my throat the size if Texas.

God came to me in an email from my friend Mike McCarthy . . . He is a man of few words, BUT he said he was led to send me this message. . .  "As you walk the pathway to your God-dream, remember the old Italian Proverb, 'Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes are worn out'." Then he said, "No problem.  You can get another pair of shoes!  Just make sure you don't wear out and give up!  Here is God's promise to you, 'Keep traveling steadily along His pathway and in due season, He will honor you with EVERY BLESSING. '"  I had no idea how badly I would need this thought by the end of that Rocky Road! 

(Walking the Mesito). 

It was like I was resting in the arms of God while He stroked my hair, soothingly saying, "I am with you Sidney.  You can make it through.  Just TRUST."  And I was able to walk on.

He appeared through my sweet brother Kayo.  When my spirit was sagging, I asked Kayo to send me links to a few songs.  One was the wild and wooly song by Ray Stevens, "Help Me Make It Through The Night," another was Glen Campbell's "Amazing Grace" which made my spirit soar.  But one I didn't request was, "In The Garden" which was one if my dear Grandmother's favorite hymns.  Tears began to spill out if my eyes running down my cheeks as God touched my mind with all the lovely memories that sustained me with my Grandmother.  I cry now as I write and my frozen heart melts.  I had not expected this special gift of healing and  release.  God is cracking through what is left of my defenses - the last pieces of that awful wall that has stubbornly guarded my heart . . .  Or should I say, that has kept my heart imprisoned.  God gently rocks me in the security of His unquestionable love and fills my mind with the sure knowledge that He is with me.   I am not alone. I feel both weak, and at the same time emptied out.

The Camino demands singular concentration as the difficulties beat out all resistance.

(The Camino can chew you up and spit you out.) 

This is a good thing.  I get so exhausted, there is no energy to continue to hold up old and useless defenses.  And then there is this "Opening," a stream of love pouring from my heart and mind.   I more acutely feel the unguarded love of my devoted husband Wayne . . .  I feel his encouragement and respect.  This is the other mirror God holds up to me to reflect what He has given me through Wayne, my children Cindy, Bo, and Brett; my siblings Ginger, Troy, Jo and Kayo; my Church Family; and all of you-our treasured and dear friends.  On the Camino, I may Not always walk alone, but each Pilgrim  is in  our own solitude , , ,  and that is respected.

The Camino is a surprise.  When you think you are at your limit, a rose garden appears and offers itself to be enjoyed in the moment.  

(Even at our limit, we could stop and smell the roses.) 

Or beautiful music drifts out of a bar beckoning us to come in and sit a spell.  When "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" came on, Izabela floated across the floor, all grace and loveliness.  And a lightness filled the space.

(Izabela does the "Doubly Expresso Waltz" ). 

And for a moment, joyful energy renewed us. 

The Camino gives us new friends every day. So many kindnesses.

(Vanessa and John from Australia; 

(Rob  "the Red Beard" from Ireland) 

(Sharon and Linda from South Africa and there are countless others.) 

God showed up in Olga.  When we thought we had no where to sleep and she took us home with her. We were like two little waifs left on the streets.  And we were taken to Paradise! 

(Olga in her Albergue.) 

(Olga and her husband opened their hearts and their home to us). 

Once again, I found the truth in Einstein's statement, "All problems are brilliantly disguised opportunities."

So many of you have written to give me the strength and courage to keep going.  Your comments help me to REFACE the difficulties and go on . . .  Not to try to WIN, or to CONQUER, or to MASTER the Camino (for that can't  be done), but to come to a peace within myself as I come to peace with the obstacles on the Trail, for this is Real Life.  In it contains many of the brilliant messages of life.
Your encouragement means EVERYTHING to Izabela and me.  It recharges our batteries and fills us with hope and energy.

THE CAMINO CONTINUES TO TEACH ME THE LESSONS I NEED TO LEARN.  (Whether I like it or not).  It can be a punisher and a bestower of great rewards.  I suspect we take away what we allow ourselves to.  One I like from this day was the illumination that "Allowing myself to experience unguarded love in giving and receiving brings me joy and sets me free. "

(Unguarded love liberates joyful exhilaration and sets us free.) 

These are God's gifts to me and I accept them.

Until next time, with love.

Sidney/Mom/Grandma

TRAIL OF ROCKS AND TEARS (from June 6, 2014)

(The rocky road offered its own special obstacles that went on relentlessly forever.)

This was our Camino Trail for 15 miserable miles.  It was UGLY, painful and hot. Izabela and I had to work hard not to twist an ankle or injure our already weary body which zapped our energy.

(Izabela doctoring her first blister.)

She did the old needle and thread technique. (Scary). We were sooooo sad to have to give up the position as the Blisterless Sisters.

This was a loooong day. There were no villages for the whole 15 mile stretch. Just imagine 2 A.D.D. women without her double espresso and me without a cold soda.  Not a pretty picture.  We had bought a sandwich from our Albergue and now was the time to eat it.

(Lunch with the rocks and humming insects.) 

We were experiencing the "Barren Mesita."  And I do mean "the great nothingness."

(All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water.) 

And right out in the middle of this rocky wasteland we decided we thought we were lost. How can you get lost in Nowheresville?

Sure ' nuf Alex, one of our fellow pilgrims, appeared out of that Land of Rocks and helped orient us on the map.

(Alex showed us where we were on our map. Then he vaporized.) 

We  finally served our time in purgatory and gradually left the Rocky Trail for the ancient village of Mansilla.  It is a beautiful Village and has the arch under which the pilgrims of old walked
just as the Apostle James  had done.

So, here we were in Mansilla and we were in huge need of a bath and a place to lay our heads. Izabela had called for reservations the day before but couldn't quite make out what the lady was saying about 3:00 pm.  Even with the language barrier, we DID understand there was no room for us and there were no other rooms available in any of the other Albergues, according to Olga.  Izabela and I wilted... And indeed had a pathetic look about us.  Finally Olga said, "Go take rain (while she charaded a shower), you come mi Casa."

(Olga's beautiful home. A night in paradise!)

God is forever good. 

ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE PELEGRENO (from 6/4/2014)

Celebrating 250 miles at the Portals near Sahagun.

"Why are you doing the El Camino Trail?" John Ryan from Ireland.

New smaller backpack for water, food, jackets, poncho and other necessities.  

Love from a Dad on the Camino.

Communication is eerily effective
on the trail.

The most welcome sight a pilgrim can experience.  Our bed for the night.

Izabela teaches the the haggard pilgrims how to do the rumba. 

It will help them on the trail.

What Pilgrims do at night. 

Chris and Ursula from South Africa.

He is very interested in learning

about Helping Hands Touching Hearts.

Trying to get update in before the

"Sandman" comes and takes our

brain away.

Nancy Powers also is doing a blog about her
CAMINOS.  She has some really fascinating
photos on her blog. 

THOSE NASTY GNATS (from 6/4/14)

The Mesita is a many faceted thing.  There is the beauty of the waves of young wheat.

(An ocean of wheat) 

And we came upon a field that had a river of Poppies interlaced with purple flowers  cutting its course through the wheat.

(A river of flowers runs through it) 

There are the golden fields of more mature wheat.

(Different color patches on the Mesita) 

Though many people call it barren and dull, I found it to be refreshing and soothing.  That's the good part.  Then there are the swarms of gnats.  They follow us down the trail trying to get in our nose and ears.  I contemplated what to do to outsmart the brain of a tiny gnat.  That isn't easy.  I remembered that as a child, I saw my mother put strings of cotton on our screen door to keep the flies out of our house.  So, I found enough napkins in my many pockets, ripped them into strips and hung them from my hat rim so they fluttered in the breeze. It was an effective gnat deterrent.

(White napkins flapping in the breeze scare the pesky gnats away)  

The fashion MAY catch on.

 (Styling on the Camino)

Many Pilgrims took my photo.  I think they were envious.  No??

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF THE CAMINO (from 6/3/14)

This was a LONG day.  Izabela and I walked for 12 hours to get in the 20 miles to San Nicolas.  We are now over half way to Santiago!  We are at 254 miles. Hooray!!  The agony is the grinding miles, sore feet, legs and hips. I think even the hairs in my ears hurt.  There was no food for 12 miles.  Now THAT  opened Pandora's box of my fears.  Then low and behold, when we came upon a picnic area, there was an ice cream truck!  I thought it was a mirage.  But it was real... Izabela and I indulged.

(Ice cream truck on the Camino). 

So, there are the countless discomforts of the Camino.  Then there are the wonderful people we meet along the way.  Allan Todd is an inspiration.  He is from England and was doing the Camino for a beautiful reason.  Watch his video below.

He lost his wife to ovarian cancer.  And he is honoring his wife with his walk for that Charity.  The extraordinary thing is how he is doing it.  Allan does about 17 kilometers.  Why so few miles?  A few years ago Allan was riding his bike back from his teaching job.  A tractor accidentally sprayed him with weed killer.  It got in his eyes, chest, down his throat and all over his skin.  This was poison and his body reacted severely to it.  He had to stop teaching, his muscles hurt him relentlessly.  Doctors couldn't diagnose it for 3 years and 3 months.  Because the lack of diagnosis exceeded 3 years, he could not get compensation.  In spite of the pain, he has found his way to do the El Camino Trail.  He can then support the two charities that are close to his heart.  Allan has become one of my Camino heroes.  You can Google Allan Todd and see that he writes books.

What Do You Do When You Hit the Wall? (from 6-1-14)

I have a precious friend named Justin. He is a wonderful young man and has been following  our updates on the Camino. Justin asked me if I had "hit my wall" yet? And when I did, what would I do?  Those are serious questions Justin and I didn't know how to answer them before today.  This was my hardest day so far.  Our task today was to walk 18 miles (more than usual). Because of the horrendous hill we had to climb and descend first thing this morning, it is recommended that Pilgrims stop just before the hill and spend the night so the ascent can be made when one is fresh and rested. 

(The elevation of the walk for June 1st).  

Izabela and I stayed in Castrojeriz so we could be ready for the climb while we were strong. Izabela did it like the Champ that she is. I, however, barely made it, but every part of me was tired and hurting. As a result, the first thing this morning my energy was depleted.... And we still had 16 miles to go!  So, I did what I had to and that is "do what is required."  There certainly was no fancy car to take us the rest if the way.

(Video of Izabela walking over the edge).

It was beautiful to turn and look where we had come from and on the other side we could see where we would be going to.

(Looking back to see where we had come from). 

(Looking forward to where we were going).

We walked on to Itero and on the way came to a picnic area. Three men were there with all kinds of fruit, bread, and cold drinks. It was like a parched man in the desert coming to an oasis. They were "Friends of the Camino."  They did not charge but only took donations. I cannot describe how that lifted my heart. It was something they did not have to do.

("Friends of the Camino" offering a jolt of energy and kindness)

As the day wore on, my feet began to hurt until finally the pain was almost unbearable. We stopped in the last village before Fromista to eat. We had heard about this little (literally) old Japanese couple walking the Camino. (Stories spread along the trail almost as fast as wifi.) She is 79 and he is 85.

(Ancient Japanese Couple on El Camino). 

Well, in they walked to ask directions of the Bar owner. That really inspired me to do what I had to do to keep walking.  I love God's sense of timing.

Eventually I began limping and that created pain in my knee.  For 9 1/2 hours the pain went from a 3 to a resounding 9.  I had to walk on because there were no little villages on this part of the Trail. Things went from worse to worser and then I knew. . .  I had reached my limit. This is when I had to answer the questions. Yes, I had "hit the wall."  I simply had to keep going.  And somehow you do.  I put all my concentration on just to keep moving.  My feet hurt so bad I wanted to cry but couldn't.  And I was concerned about tomorrow.

We walked alongside a river for a few miles and I tried to enjoy the melody of the frogs calling back and forth to each other. Eventually we had to cross over a narrow bridge above a thunderous spillage.

(Izabela crossing over the narrow bridge).

We finally reached our Albergue (El Camino De Santiago). The young woman was so sweet. She acted out rocking a baby to let me know she would take care of me like a baby. Now THAT did make tears well up in my eyes.  Another perfect stranger saw my pain and gave of herself to help. What a beautiful, spiritual gift in the midst of ugly pain.

Human kindness has so many faces. Please pray I can fix the situation with my boots and socks and that this pain will dissolve.

So, what DO YOU DO when you hit the wall?  I would say to Justin, "Well, just like the Japanese couple, you don't give up when the going gets hard. And you figure out WHAT YOU CAN DO, and do it. And you keep moving forward."

Trying not to limp, but knowing I must keep going.

The Symphony of the Camino (from May 31, 2014)

PECK...PECK...SCHOOSH...SPLAT,..SPLAT...SWOOSH...CRUNCH...CRUNCH...SWOOSH...PATTER...PATTER...SWOOSH...

This is the Symphony of the Camino as we hesitantly leave our warm beds at 6:00 am.

 (Sidney organizing from her bunk bed). 

Izabela and I hit the Trail after the normal Pilgrim's breakfast of bread, butter and jam washed down with coffee or orange juice.  Mine was more like Sidney's normal cooking, as the smoke billowed from the toaster. (This will not come as a surprise to Wayne or my children).

(Sidney's special burnt Pilgrim's Toast).  

We walk along with our walking staffs picking our way, while the wind whips the rain into our poncho and the crunch of rocks meters out our rhythm. The skies are overcast and it is cold, but not unbearable. We are on the Mesita, which many people choose not to walk because of its severity. We will be on the Mesita for 11 days. Actually, it is quite beautiful to this Texas girl.  The endless wheat fields sway in the wind and offer a splash of green punctuated with a swath  of rich, red poppies. It looks like a brilliant van Gogh painting of swirling rivers of lively color.

(Pausing to appreciate the wheat field adorned with red Poppies). 

Suddenly, the sun popped out amongst the powder blue sky full of those kind of puffy clouds that softly bump into each other.  It was a magical moment. We simultaneously dropped our back packs and greeted this gift with exhilaration and gratitude.

(The exhilaration of sun, freedom and the Camino).

One day starts to flow into the other so we like to take note of the uniqueness of each place where we abode for the night. 

Two days ago we left Burgos, a major city in Spain. Many Pilgrims counted themselves lucky if they got this far and by this point, they had walked out of their shoes and clothes.

(Sidney talking to OLD Pilgrim). 

It meant everything to the weary Pilgrim to get to the grand Cathedral of Burgos where they could take refuge and pray.

(The great Cathedral of Burgos, one of the largest in Spain).

Izabela and I are now in Castrojeriz, an ancient city nestled on the side of a mountain.  Atop the mountain are ruins of a 13th century castle that knew glorious days gone by of charming senoritas  and bold knights.

(Castle resting on a glorious history of beauty and valor). 

We are now at 205 miles and feeling every hard earned inch of it.  We MUST be at 250 miles by Wednesday to make our schedule.

Each overnight stop, we must get our Camino Passport stamped. This is to prove we walked the whole way like the Pilgrims of old.

(Sidney & Izabela proudly show their Camino Passport as it begins to fill up). 

We were prepared for the Mesita to be barren, hot, and shadeless. So in anticipation, I watched for the last tree and gave it a big hug.

(Hugging the last tree as we entered the dreaded Mesita). 

But it has turned out cold, overcast and threatening for now. Perhaps it will change.

Tomorrow will be a challenging day of 16.7 miles of fighting the rocks, a very steep ascension and another one of those ! descents. Any time there is an exclamation mark it means  "extra vigilance required,". I just don't like those "toe jamming in the end of your boots" descents. But we will manage. Wish us luck and energy.

Feel free to contact me at sid4wayne@gmail.com.

Love, Sidney/Mom/Grandma

If any of you want to contribute to the reason for this walk (to feed, clothe, protect and educate the Venda children in South Africa) you can do so with a check made out to Helping Hands Touching Hearts Charity and send it to 27565 Spring Valley Dr.; Farmington Hills, MI 48336. Or, you can go to our web site
www.clotheavillagenow.com and click on the Donate button on any page.

I must tell you the story of the Miracle Of The Rain a little later.