Given that there’s been some interesting discussion here about how the Camino changed me, it occurred to me that it would be interesting to get other instances of people being changed –

So here’s what I’d like to do –

For the next seven days, I’d like to offer the blog to anyone who wants to post a guest blog talking about how the Camino HAS changed them, IS changing them, or WILL change them.

In other words – you either have walked the Camino, you are currently walking the Camino,  or you plan to walk the Camino.

What you need to do is just post a comment here saying you’d like to be involved – then when you’re ready send me your Guest post either in email form or MS Word – and a photo if you’d like that included – and I’ll do an edit if needed (will get your approval on final edit) then post it.  (My email is billpgsblog@gmail.com)

I’ll do that for the next week. Seven posts.

(It won’t stop me posting blogs during that time too!!)

But it will be fascinating to get some other perspectives on the transformative power of the Camino.

We each see life through a prism.

No prism is the same.

That prism refracts our image of life in ways that are particular to our DNA, to our upbringing, to chance experiences, to the circumstances of our place and time.

I believe that angels cross our paths, at various points in our lives, and try to guide us. Those angels might manifest in moments of synchronicity, in chance encounters with an old friend, or a stranger, in a piece of wayward music at a critical point in your life – in ways that are not obvious. Not necessarily as an ethereal being with translucent wings.

At a crossroads, they are there to point the way.

This is my personal belief.

We each see life through our own particular hand-hewn prism, and our refracted view is unique to us. To you. To me. To us all.

I have asked that anyone contributing to this blog, and the forum too, not hide behind a user name. That they identify themselves. Because I believe you should stand behind your comments. I believe this transparency is the first step towards honesty in expression, and respect for others.

I have been on forums in the past – photographic and film based forums, and a Camino forum too – where people have said the most horrible and vicious things to one another, hiding behind user names.

Would they say those same things had they posted under their real names? I don’t think so. Anonymity gives a person license to be cruel, judgemental, and at times hateful. The Ku Klux Klan wear masks. Drivers exhibit road-rage in the protective shells of their cars. A bandit holds up a convenience store wearing a balaclava.

Anonymity leads to contempt.

This blog isn’t large – nor the forum. And I like that. Because I know most of you. And there are many that “lurk” – who read and don’t post. And that’s cool too. Hopefully you guys  are getting something from the crazy banter that happens here sometimes.

We are approaching 6,000 comments on this blog. And we’re now almost at 85,000 page views. This since April.

I think that’s pretty amazing, given that I refuse to tag, do search optimisation, take out Facebook or Google ads or post on other forums etc to direct traffic here.

The people who land here are meant to be here. The people who leave obviously don’t feel a connection, or they’ve got from it what they wanted to get. That’s cool either way.

Transparency breeds honesty, and respect. Not only on this blog, but in life. Make processes transparent, you make them honest. Make politicians transparent, you make them honest. Hopefully!

Put sunlight through a prism, it breaks up the different wavelengths into colours. Each of us has a different wave length. And we each have a different prism. So our energy, our “light” creates our own particular colour.

That’s what makes this world such a beautiful place. All the different colours.

And this blog, too.

I thought I would check out some other people’s Word Press blogs on the Camino.

I went onto this one site, which I won’t name, and it presented on first glance to be very professional and very spiritual. The blogger was obviously quite religious, because there were Biblical references everywhere.

What upset me though was the substance of the blog, where he listed the characteristics of a pilgrim versus the characteristics of a tourigrino.

I suppose he was trying to be funny, but there was an element of judgement from on high which really upset me.

I shouldn’t have allowed it to upset me, but perhaps it was the pious environment of the blog that bothered me so much.

And I thought about the hypocrisy of some people who hide within the confines of religiosity, thinking that gives them a superior right of judgement.

I left a comment saying Pilgrims don’t judge. Have you learnt anything on your Camino?  But I shouldn’t have done that really.

It’s just that it upset me.

The posts keep on comin’ today!

Here is Arlene’s packing list for her Camino, which starts very soon now.

Camino Necessities

Documentation:

Credencial
Flight tickets & Flight Insurance Card
Passport
Euros & $US
Debit cards
Credit card
Medical Insurance Card

Being worn on person:

Baggallini Purse
Walking poles
Camping Shirt
Short sleeve shirt
Boots
Long trousers
Silk Money Belt
Baseball Cap
Sun glasses
GPS
Road ID

Being carried in Baggallini Purse:

Pens x 2
Jotting pad
Personal Intro Cards – contact info
Reading glasses
SGN Smartphone
Galaxy Note 8.0
Camera
All Documentation

In Backpack:

Osprey Backpack Aura 47 litre
Ziploc Pack bag (if in albergue)
Hydration bag empty
Duffle bag (Osprey Airporter small)
Fleece Sleeping Bag
Sleeping liner
Ziploc bags for lunch & along the trail

Clothing (not worn):

Fleece Vest
Altus Poncho
Socks x 2
Undergarments
Long Jane bottoms
Hiking pants
Long sleeve shirt x 1
Short sleeve shirt x 1
Buff & Sweat Band
Crocs

Electricals in Pack:

Phone: Battery charger & extra battery
Camera: Battery charger & extra battery
GPS charger & lead
Galaxy Note 8.0 charger
SGN charger lead
Headlight
Power socket doubler

Washing & toiletries etcetera:

Safety pins (used as clothes/nappy pins)
Soap
Tech Towel
Toothbrush & paste
Shampoo
Floss/Tooth picks
Deodorant
Comb
Disposable Razor
Small personal razor
Tissues & Personal Hygiene items
Q-tips
Body Glide
Waterproof electrical & document holder
Mascara & Eyeliner
Facial Moisturizer
Foot care (Compeed & Toe Caps)
Ear Plugs
Spork
Advil
Anti Diarrhea tablets
Needle, thread & small scissors

Weight Grams Ounces  Pounds

Total Weight in Backpack                                      6341.78      223.70   13.98

The manuscript is now finished.

I’ve sent it off for e-book formatting. I’m also getting a re-design for the cover.

I’m hoping all that will be done by the end of next week.

Keen to get it out there!

Here’s the first chapter –

Download… The Way, My Way – Ch 1

Here is a draft of the Camino Portuguese Tour brochure.

This will go out wide – possibly next week – through the tour operator to all his international affiliates.

There are 6 places at the PGS rate of $2950 – three are gone already. The rest are at the $3950 rate.

Sister Clare said I should emphasise that the tour will arrive in Santiago for the Easter celebrations. Which should be amazing.

In fact the whole tour is going to be amazing.

The brochure isn’t fully finished yet – still some stuff to be done on design – but thought I’d post it in this draft form to get your thoughts on it. Download here –

Camino E-flyer Draft 1

I want to introduce you to perhaps my favourite photographer –

Sabastio Salgado.

Salgado is a Brazilian photographer, now living in Paris. I regard him as the most important and influential photojournalist working today.

He has just finished an epic eight year project called Genesis – where he set out to photograph the world as it was in the beginning, in a pristine state.

Salgado came into photography relatively late in his life. He was trained as an economist, and worked for the World Bank in under-developed countries. As part of the reports he had to submit, he included photographs. And he soon realised he could have more impact with his photography than by working as an economist.

So at the age of 40 he took up photography full time.

He has done some extraordinary projects, and if you Google Image him, you will see some iconic shots. I remember once in a Paris Anthropological Museum in the Marais seeing his exhibition, Migration, and being stunned by the power of his images.

HIs work is sublimely political.

For my birthday, Jennifer bought me Genesis in book form. Here are some of the pictures from that work…

I haven't walked since the Camino.

Since mid May.

My knee…

I really miss it. My walk. Through the vineyards, early in the mornings or late in the afternoons. Listening to my audio books.

I didn't realise how much I love walking. How much it's become a part of my life. How it set up my day, or calmed me down of an evening.

I saw the day when I walked.

I saw the clouds, I noticed the weather, I felt the rain and the sun.

I breathed.

I sweated.

My body worked as it should.

I miss that.

As you might know, Sister Clare, from Ontario Canada, is going to accompany us on the Portuguese Camino in April 2014.

However, nuns make no money. They don’t get paid for being nuns, unless they work at a hospital or school.

Sister Clare has very limited resources.

So SusanS has suggested that we kit out Sister Clare by donating stuff –

Jennifer and I will be paying for her airfares to Portugal, her accommodation and meals.

But Sister Clare needs all the kit and caboodle that any pilgrim needs for a walk.

Clothing, equipment, poles, backpack, boots, headlamp, etc.

I have set up a separate topic thread on the PGS Forum. Susan Sande will coordinate any offers of donation. Even a gift voucher to a hiking store, or cash would be very greatly appreciated. Here’s the link –

http://pgsthewayforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=135

So let’s KIT THE NUN!

It occurred to me that I might be selfish, and self-obsessed.

This whole Camino thing.

Leaving my wife at home while I went off to Spain to do a pilgrimage?

When the last time I went to church was to take wedding photos for a relative…

Months before leaving for the Camino, all I could talk about was the walk, my backpack weight, my boots, whether I'd get blisters. Yak yak yak.

The Camino was all I could talk about.

Now I'm back and I'm still blogging, and I've started a forum too, and soon I'll be leading a Camino tour.

And of course there's the book. Each day writing about the Camino.

Is this fair on my wife?

This obsession?

Am I being selfish, in the pursuit of greater self-awareness?