We’re back, no blisters, no bedbugs, all good!  Yesterday we did twelve miles and went to Mass and came back and slept out in a tent by the corn patch.  There were owls hooting and ravens trying to imitate them making weird noises keeping us awake.  After our walk we made Vigil Mass and we were given a Pilgrim’s Blessing by Father Marc.  I wept, which I have been doing a lot lately.  So, today another twelve miles and it seemed easier today than yesterday.  Lots of people stopped for hugs and encouragement.

I am just overwhelmed by the amount of love and support by so many people here and elsewhere.  This is the most amazing ad hoc gathering of good energy that I have ever had anything to do with.  I just want to thank friends and neighbors, the Swedish Hospital folks, my family and St. John Vianney Parish.  Annie tells me that there are people I am not even aware of that are making things happen.  Annie also tells me that we will have to list St. James in the credits of the new documentary.  Yup, it’s an awesome phenomenon.

OK, have to check out for now.  Keep in touch as I will be blogging as often as possible for the near future.  After a few days in Spain a new routine will develop.  Way too many details are swirling around now but focusing on getting on the plane on Thursday evening.  Love you guys, Phil.

We are off to do our second day of the big training weekend.  We did twelve miles yesterday and had a nice dinner and crashed.  Just checking out our gear and ourselves.  Another twelve today.  Up, up and away, Phil.

This the worst time for me.  It is that time right before the big trip when my head is full of all the minor details.  What to take and what not to take.  Is this too heavy, is this to light?  What to know and what to forget.  Looking forward to actually being there and doing it when this phase is over.  But it is important; see there, more pressure.

I can remember all my hunting expeditions where I left something important behind, funny now.  Things like my gun,  or my ammo or the knives, forks and spoons.  One time I took the wood stove but forgot the stove pipe.  I always threaten to make a check list but that would take all the fun out of it, maybe.

OK, off to walk with Kelly, trip to town with Ivette and archery camp with 13 kids.  Then tonight is the big going away party.  It is going to be captured on film by our intrepid camera dude, Vince.  Still much to do to get ready for that.  But things always come together somehow don’t they.  SJA, Phil.

A week from today Kelly and I will be flying out to Madrid.  Unbelievable really after all the preparation of the last nine months.  Giving birth we are to an incredible adventure.  This is God willing of course.

     I am having fun at archery camp and have today and tomorrow to finish up.  Archery is a great activity and doesn’t take a lot of work on my part really.  I keep things safe and beyond that just help people to develop on their own.  We have been doing this for something like a hundred thousand years and it is inside us all somewhere.  We just have to find it.

     Back to the Camino and blogging.  I still want to go through our email address book and gather up everyone that I haven’t told about this blog.  This will be our major form of communications back from Spain and France.  This will be covering July 24th through 25th of August.  OK, so this is time that Kelly and I will be together (first two thirds) and then the time that Rick and I will be together (last third).  So both Kelly and Rick will be there beyond me and we will have to work what will happen with their comm.  Perhaps this blog can relay that.

Well, great being with you for now.  Have to go and walk with Kelly in a few minutes.  It has really hard to keep our training schedule intact these daze with all the details of trip prep taking place.  Later, Saint James is Afoot, Phil.

Here we are blogging away with the new Apple Mini I Pad.  It is just about ten o’clock and I am pretty fried so these are pretty good realistic conditions for Camino  simulation.  Maybe I should try and put a pic on here.  OK here we go.  SJA, Phil.

  Test 5

Test 5

Test 4

Test 3