MOONLIGHT SAILING 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation of Spirit:

In two days we begin a revelation of the spirit.  An idea that will become reality in two days.  We were thinking of someway to spend our summer in a grandiose style.  To walk the "El Camino" that leads to Santiago de Compostela and beyond to the Finneterre or in English "end of the world" .  During the past ten years the Camino has had an amazing revival to regain its place as the most popular Christian pilgrimage route in the world.  This is no modern fad for this ancient path has been transforming lives for more than ten centuries.  This idea came to us from Yen's brother in France.  His plan to walk the El Camino has inspired us to join in this walk to the Santiago de Compostela cathedral over the path known as Camino de Norte (Northern road of Spain).   The Way of St. James over the routes of northern Spain will earn us the Compostela.  But our spiritual purpose is one of physical well being in nature and will bring inner peace as if we need more.  Actually our real purpose is just to do it because it is there and cherish every moment of peace and solitude.  This pilgrimage is on foot so we will be able to absorb the local lore and meet more local villagers and enjoy the serenity of the world around us.  We will do this "alone" and meet our inner self and find that we are never alone.  As this will become life itself purely for the joy of it all.       

The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

There is not a single route; the Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.  However the Camino Frances is considered the primary one. Santiago is such an important pilgrimage destination because it is considered the burial site of the apostle, James the Great. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly traveled. However, the Black Plague, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th- century Europe resulted in its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. However, since then, the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993. 

So the timing for this trek will occur in the first of August and cover 600 km (375 miles) in 20 days or whatever.  Our starting point of Bilbao in northeastern Spain will mark our beginning in route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  What else do cruisers have to do with their hurricane hiding time and who knows we may never depart Spain or Europe since our plane tickets are only one way.  The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - Lao Tzu 

 

     The Risk of the Camino
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk being called sentimental,
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self,
To place our ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss,
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To try is to risk failure,
 
But risks must be taken,
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing,
The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live.
Chained by our servitude we are slaves who have forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is truly free in this world.         from William Ward