Sabbatical 2019

We left Pamplona after changing an inner tube on Sandy's bike that had been giving us problems.  The tube had been leaking since Roncesvalles.  When we got the bikes out of storage her rear tire was completely flat.  A quick change and we were on the road - sort of.  I'd adjusted the GPS tracks for our trip so that we start and finish at the appropriate hotel.  It was the first time I'd tried doing it and Ridewithgps, the website I used, was glitchy.  It liked to adjust more than just the distance to and from the Camino pathway, and find what it thought were more efficient routes to ride.  Pamplona wasn't the best place for this to happen.  It took us through what would be the equivalent of Edmonton's River Valley's mountain bike paths.  Sandy was sure I was leading her astray.  I didn't blame her.  There were signs for the Camino, then no signs for the Camino, then to make it all worse, conflicting signs for the Camino.  We ev...

The hotel in Roncesvalles was lovely.  An old monastery with thick stone walls it was quiet and a great place to spend our first night.  The difficulty was our bikes hadn't arrived.  They'd been arranged and rented through the company providing our arrangements.  The company is in Ireland of all places.  Thick stone walls make for poor cell phone reception and Sandy suffered on the Patio with beer while she waited for word on the bikes.  The did arrive at 8 pm; two hardtail mountain bikes that appeared at first glance to be in great shape.  We attached our wheels and Garmins; adjusted the seats and we were ready for our first day of riding. Following a solid nights sleep we awoke, ate breakfast and set off along the trail guided by GPS tracks I'd adapted.  The tracks were, for the most part, accurate.  The GPS on the bike can be a little delayed (this isn't a new experience) and we'd occasionally be told we were "off course."  The Cami...

St Jean Peid de Port to Roncesvalles (The first day of the Camino) First, let's bounce back to the trip from Paris to St. Jean Pied de Port...it was an adventure.  The train, about 20 minutes from Bayonne, stopped.  An announcement told us that the train, travelling at 300 km/hr, had been in accident with a person.  We would be delayed by two hours.  It doesn't take much imagination to begin to wonder what the accident entailed, and the result for the person involved.  We seemed to be in a spot which was remote - questions abound.  Who was this person?  Why were they on the track?  In Edmonton there have been a number of incidents of Light Rail Transit hitting people wearing headphones...I doubt this would be the case.  However and whoever the accident occurred my thoughts are with those that needed to respond, the train staff, and obvious the family and friends and individual who was involved.  Our lateness arriving in Bayonne meant t...

From Paris to St Jean Pied de Port...The beginning of the Camino We're travelling on a train at 300 km/hr south from Paris to St. Jean Pied de Port.  We begin walking tomorrow and cycling on Saturday.  We've spent the past few days in Paris which has given me much to think about.  A brief discussion on facebook between Sandy's aunt and brother caused some reflection on the cultural differences between North America and Europe, Canadians and Parisians.  Together with a couple of other moments I have some thoughts about "us" and "them". The conversation on facebook began with some comments about the sense of Parisians as rude and unwelcoming.  That was not our experience of the people that we encountered.  Certainly, I'd heard the comments before in other times and other places.  At home, in Portugal, from others who'd been to Paris before me.  The clerk at the hotel who welcomed us made reference to the "reputation" they have in the ...

The Beginning Travel began Friday with an Uber ride to Red Arrow, a Red Arrow bus to Calgary Airport, and Westjet flight 010 to Paris.  It was a smooth trip and good flight.  The Westjet flight to Paris is a new one.  First flight of the new Boeing 787 Spirit of Canada was on May 16th.  It departs at 7:35 pm and arrives in Paris around noon the following day.  8 hours of flying and 7 hours of time change are rough on the mind and body; but I always find that excitement trumps jet lag just about every time. Tired, but anticipating the sites, we checked in to our hotel.  It was about a half hour walk to Notre Dame Cathedral along the banks of the Seine.  Fighting the crowds around the fenced off Cathedral we wandered somewhat aimlessly taking in the atmosphere.  The weather on Saturday and Sunday was glorious - high 20's, low 30's, cloudless.  People were lined up at ice cream shops. Around another corner and there was the Palais de Jus...

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference. (Reinhold Niebuhr) One of the things about packing is that I'm always second guessing myself.  Do I need this?  What am I forgetting?  How do I arrange the items I'm taking?  This time there are three bags...a suitcase and two knapsacks.  One or another of the knapsacks will always be in the suitcase.  They have specific purposes; hydration while cycling, and carrying my electronics while travelling.  I'm thankful for the electronics which carry a pile of books to read, or shows to watch....as long as I don't leave them in the seat pocket of the plane.  Cycling means carrying a helmet, shoes, rain gear, pedals, tools, more electronics - so keeping the weight down in the suitcase is a challenge.  We're renting the bikes and are responsible for minor repairs along the road.  If we have a major repair t...

As I've prepared for the Camino del Santiago I've watched videos, read blogs and articles on the journey.  In one of those (I don't remember which) the creator made the comment that the journey begins when you decide to do it.  I felt then, and I do now, that is an astute reflection.  When Sandy and I initially began talking about taking the sabbatical I thought about connecting it to the 30th Anniversary of my ordination.  It would be a good time to visit the places and congregations I've served.  We've discussed completing the Camino since we first met 12 years ago.  At the time the simple act of walking was important to both of us, for similar reasons.  Walking was one of the things we held in common. Between 2005 and 2007 I'd found that walking gave me space to reflect.  In the midst of a divorce it provided an escape from the problems of my days.  It also gave time to think through the things that we happening and decide on next steps...