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2. DEPARTURE

2. Departure - The Moment Of Radical Innocence  October 29-30, 2011 The changing of the clock to winter time has left me confused and I’m at the Galway coach station two hours too early. Today is Laura’s first birthday, Michael D Higgins has been elected President of Ireland and I’m moving towards the Camino. It feels like standing on the edge of a cliff, taking a step into the unknown mystery of the future. In confession this morning the priest told me not to look back but to move forward in the Spirit. Apt advice for this journey. So here goes! People have poured a host of negative questions on this trip - will I be able for it, it’s a terrible time of the year, the weather will be awful and I will be isolated. Of course I listened and had my doubts but the greater power is in the call to this pilgrimage. “...when I think I have lost my foothold, your mercy Lord holds me up” - a psalm from todays Mass and from St. James himself “...the testing of your faith g
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5. TO LARASOANA

5. To Larrasoana - With Alfred November 2, 2011 Alfred walks across the floor with the poise of a dancer, a gymnast to his trampoline. At the end of the first day of the Camino we share the same small cubicle, along with two others, in Roncesvalles. He’s Brighton born but grew up in Scotland which he claims as his native place. He was to become my first companion on the Camino. We had just been to Mass in the monastery chapel where I participated as a member of the congregation with the other pilgrims. Before holy communion one of the celebrating priests announced that communion is only for Catholics but that others could come for a blessing. My immediate reaction was to ask myself what it must be like for a non-catholic to be told this. I got my answer from Alfred back in our cubicle where he was pacing. When I asked “how are you?” he blurted out his hurt and anger at the exclusion he had just experienced which he saw as an exercise of power on the part of the Church.
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4. Beginning -.November 1, 2011

 November 1, 2011. All Saints I woke at 6.00 a.m. to the sound of thunder and wondered if it was a mistake not to have begun the Camino yesterday. A look out the window revealed torrential rain. Daniela said it was too wet to go and I could stay in another hostel up the road. Julien said that if I went I should not take the more difficult mountain route because of the danger of getting lost and being alone. At 7. 50 a.m. I walked out into the gloom of the morning rain, uncertain and with the intention of going to the church to pray for guidance but it was locked and  soon I  found myself walking the road to Valcarlos where I arrived two hours later soaked to the skin, despite my rain gear. From there the rain eased off and most of the day took me through miles of beautiful forest, mountains and rivers. And utter solitude! Only two people crossed my path that day - one a hunter with his dog and the other a sprightly Italian whose pace left me feeling somewhat inferior. But h
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33. MUXIA & GOING HOME - I Can't Forget

December 3, 2011  Had a great sleep. After breakfast I headed to the bus station for the trip to Muxia, half hoping that Becky & Mark might turn up. Their plan is to go to Finistera and maybe connect with Brend...but what do you know they turn up for the bus to Muxia becasue the other trip would be too long. They assure me that they would not invade my solitude but I'm really glad to be with them, not wanting too much solitude after the emotion and excitement of yesterday. We had a beautiful day together and Muxia did not disappoint - the church on the edge of the sea, the waves. Wonderful.  When I got back there was a note on my door from Aelfred who had hoped to see me before he moved on. "I can't or shan't forget those early days of the Camino and our time of walking..." he wrote. It was memorable for me too. December 4, 2011 Santiago Cathedral 8.45 a.m. "Even as you Father are in me and I am in you, so let them be in us
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32. SANTIAGO

December 2, 2011 Got up at 4.00 a.m.while all others were sleeping, had coffee and chocolate from the machine and set out on the final leg of the journey. The reason for leaving so early was to give myself a head start in the hope of reaching Santiago Cathedral for the pilgrim Mass at noon. The others would follow and catch up. The first few hours were mainly through woodland and darkness. The occasional clearing in the woods, the parting of the clouds revealed the magnificent starry sky before dawn but otherwise it rained heavily and the going was tough enough with the handicap of my limping foot. The guiding yellow arrows were hard to see and I had to pause often and gaze intently before catching sight of the right direction. Travelling like that alone through the dark woods was a unique experience. There's more than a Small Measure of Peace in a haunting kind of way. Mark gave me his headlight, without which the early part of the journey would have been impossible. I look
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31. To Arzua & Arca - ONLY 20K TO GO!

November 30, 2011 6.00 a.m. Alone in the kitchen of the albergue in Palas and it's raining heavily. As it was in the beginning! Have a long time of silence before moving on. Federico the young Italian comes in. He doesn't speak. Mark, Becky pray with me for my foot. They do this spontaneously from time to time and on one occasion Mark bent down to touch and bless my foot. I really appreciate this. Before leaving we have breakfast in the nearby restaurant. We meet a couple from Sweden who have to return home and cannot complete the Camino this time. That has to be very hard. I couldn't bear the idea of not being able to finish at this stage. And yet, if that were to happen it would be the real Camino - giving up when you don't want to! I've met a few people along the way who had to abandon their own plan and I think of Christine who had to return home because her mother is ill. 2.15 p.m. A restaurant in Melide. My foot is in uproar! Progress is very slow
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30. PALAS DE REI - Blessed Are The Eyes That See What You See

November 29, 2011 "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8) My foot is getting worse but at times at least I'm able to outsing the pain and in spite of it I feel an overwhelming happiness! Today my refrain is Walk A Mile In My Shoes - it motivates, keeps me going. This morning Yesouk said she was meeting the "old" Spanish guy Jose to go with him by taxi. He's probably the same age as me and I said to her that he would not be flattered to be referred to as "old". With that Mark called out to me saying "you are the young Irish priest!". Later someone commented on how I get up so early in the mornings. It gives the impression that I'm a morning person but I had to confess that this is not usually the case and that I need time and silence in the morning before I get going. Mark said he's the same and I said it&
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