That’s what we need right now, those of us off the trail. It’s a phrase coined by Mary Margret. It’s not a happy time. Somehow we have to navigate through these rocks and shoals and make something happen.

I had a post written on this topic but I just through it out. Maybe I will try a new approach. Maybe I will put my ideas in the form of questions as in what ifs. Maybe we could try things and share. What do you say?

What if we joined a pilgrim organization? US has American Pilgrims chapters that have regular outings in your area to meet other pilgrims and share ideas. Other countries have co-fraternities.

What if we got a lavender plant or a fragrant rose bush for our house? Or what if we got a whole bunch of them and planted them all around? Smells we all know are a pathway.

What if we learned Spanish cooking? This sounds like a winner to me. And it doesn’t look all that complicated; it’s doable. And combining that with good wine or brewskis (sorry, beers).

What the heck, what if we learned Spanish? Clara (a history teacher) was quoting some king from the past who said that if you want to talk about politics speak in Italian and if you want to talk about love speak in French and if you want to talk to God speak in Spanish. Sounds like a plan. Maybe French too.

OK, enough of that for now. Right now I am sitting in front of a big picture window getting my chemo treatment at Swedish Hospital, Seattle. Not a cloud in the sky. Learned that my scan yesterday showed that the spots that I have are unchanged and there is nothing new so that’s a good thing. So today is the first treatment in a new series of twelve treatments, six months worth with the same drugs as before which is keeping the cancer from spreading. What fun. Oh, I forgot but I got an official weigh-in today here at the hospital and I lost eighteen pounds since last month at this time. Man, and I eat like a horse on the Camino!

“It is the time when all the presents that the Camino gave us will become useful.” That’s Lucia from Sicily. I like it. Let’s think about that. Love you guys, Phil.

Home for the night and then off again to Swedish Hospital now. Am getting aboard the ferry and I will have twenty minutes to hammer out a post. Well, just had to talk to two people about the trip.

I spent way too much time on planes yesterday. Did the whole trip from Santiago to Madrid to NYC to Seattle in one long day. At one point was lost in the airport in Madrid and was saved by A Camino Angel that I met earlier.

Had some fresh corn from our crop for lunch today. Harvest time. Is the best time of year, I think, and I am back for it. Everything around the ranch looks pretty good for not being touched for a month.

I will sort through my pix and try and get some more out. Maybe Todd and Maryka you could try and get me some material. Thanks. OK, we are coming into the dock. Keep going, love, Phil.

The promised land! Earlier we got our Compostela and just got out of the Pilgrim’s Mass. That was spectacular. There was Romanesque architecture complete with squinches. We had communion which was a general mob scene but good. There must have been a thousand people there. Then they did the big incense burner that swings the length and height of the cathedral.

So we are catching some food and drink before afternoon activities. I have to get back into the Cathedral to talk to St James which is the important thing. Have to pick up a few gifts here also.

I am crawling at this point, pretty exhausted. Have the feeling that I will collapse when I let myself. Will be on the plane tomorrow and can sleep then.

Angela Merkel (sp?) is here today and we have a meeting later today. Something about foreign policy. I’ll have get my people on it.

OK for now, Phil.

I just went to a little informal Mass. It was just a priest and maybe twelve people gathered outside by the place we were eating. I just walked over and joined them and they welcomed me warmly. It was beautiful and simple.

We are off to do some filming at sunset with the Cathedral in the distance. OK, love you all, Phil.

That’s just a beautiful photo in it’s composition, don’t you think? Maryka helped me transfer it to the blog from email. I have trouble with such simple maneuvers. Thank you Alida, thank you Maryka.

I completed my petitions for St James for tomorrow. This is a method that Clara described and involves having four candidates and letting St James pick what he wants to pick. OK, I’m with the program, so: 1. I am asking for a blessing for our world that we may continue to work toward reconciliation and peace. 2. A blessing for the people of Spain for hosting us on our Camino. 3. A blessing for my family, doctors, nurses, angels, friends and advisors that have supported me on my journey. 4. A blessing for my personal Camino wherever it goes from here and for all those who carry a cancer burden. There that looks pretty darn good.

OK, I am going to post this and I will work on getting some more pix ready. Later, love, Phil.

Maryka and I having fresh squeezed o.j., toast and jam and cafés con leches. Having a dilly dally because there are only a few more kilometers to go to meet the film crew for the final sprint into Santiago.

Thank you all for the comments that have come in. So nice to be connected with you. And Annie, just watched a clip of Todd and me that is on Facebook, fresh in from Spain.

OK, I am trying to get my thoughts together meet with St James. I can feel the energy building as we move along in the flow of pilgrims. See you later today, Phil.

It’s an encouragement in Spanish written along the Way today. We are sitting at our hotel having a grande after covering 36 k today. My longest day and 58,294 steps! Just a few kilometers to go.

There’s a Spanish family here on the steps of the hotel taking family pictures. They’re pretty cute. They’re breaking up now, kissing each other and lingering slightly before they all jump in their cars. Nice.

Maryka here: the Camino does unexpected things, opens you up, beckons conversation, wears you raw, pains in places you never knew, but all the while there are fragrant roses along the way, surprises around the corner, and best of all: ice cream sandwiches at 3:00. Phil is keeping me in pace and I am so very grateful for that.

Pictures are forthcoming as Maryka has stuff to place here from her camera. A kid on a scooter just went by. It had a very strange design and I am too tired to try and describe it, sorry. Love, Phil.

Orange juice, coffee with warm milk and sugar, cookies, toast with jam. What no sardines and chocolate? On the road in a few minutes. Still dark. Love, Phil.

We forded the Rio Iso at Ribadiso do Baixo where we have a room. This is a working farm a little off the Camino. Things are so crowded that facilities along the trail are full.

Kelly and always talked that we had to ford or swim across at least one river to celebrate how the old guys did it. No bridges back then. We heard that Kelly is doing fine winning friends and influencing people back there somewhere west of Leon.

I am working on some homework that I need to get done before going to the Cathedral in Santiago. Clara explained this to me as we walked a while back. When one goes to St James to ask something of him because he is such a big powerful saint one is better off having a short list of items to ask of him instead of one thing. That way he gets to choose the one he thinks is the best for that person. So I will work on that and report back.

Oh, Maryka wants to go and party so I have to go. She had a great observation today about her own body as the Camino is working her over. She said that her heart was beating so hard that she can feel it in her lips. OK, how’s that for on site, up to date reporting? Love, Phil.