For the first time in nearly 4 weeks, we have a day off!

We’ve been going flat chat since the end of January – pretty much a new city, a new screening, every day.. Here’s where we’ve had screenings so far –

• Phoenix
• Sedona (2 screenings)
• Flagstaff
• Albuquerque
• Santa Fe
• Denver
• Flat iron Crossing
• Dallas
• Austin
• San Antonio
• Houston
• Jacskonville (screening cancelled – Valentine’s Day!)
• Orlando
• Miami (two screenings)
• Cincinatti
• Columbus
• Indianapolis
• Chicago (two screenings)
• Milwaukee
• Washington
• Arlington

That’s 2,470 miles.
In 24 days.

I drove all this except for Cincinnati/Columbus/Indiapolis – these sectors we were very kindly driven by Brian and Michelle Coleman – 283miles. It took a huge burden off me, plus we had a great deal of fun Cruisin’ with the Colemans!

From here we go to New York, then into Canada where we have sellout screenings in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. From Vancouver we drop back into the US where we have a screening in Seattle. Then Portland Oregon – then we shift on down into California.

Johnnie /walker joins us in a couple of days now in New York, and he’ll be doing Q&As with us up to March 23.

It’s been interesting seeing the differences and similarites between the Australian audiences and the US audience.

Overall, the US audiences have been more demonstrative, more effusive in their praise of the film, they are happy to discuss spiritual matters more openly, and they are more interested in the transformative aspects of the Camino.

There are some questions the US audiences ask that are the same as the Australian audiences. They are:

• How is your knee now?
  (Still buggered)
• Why are the trails so empty?
  (Because most days we started shooting at 7pm or so to get the magic hour light – and most pilgrims have bunked down in their alburgues by this time of the evening.)
• Why did I cast Chris Haywood as myself?
  (Because he’s a great actor)
• To Jennifer: Has he really changed?
  (Jennifer: Yes. He now divides his life into the years before the Camino and the years after the Camino.)
• What’s your favourite part of the Camino?
  (The Meseta,)

How are we holding up?

It’s been tough at time, I have to admit. All the driving, no real time to rest – but what’s kept us going are the wonderful people we’re meeting. Pilgrims really are extraordinary people!