Veterans Trek

Hey Pilgrims,
I attended a Veterans Day ceremony today and I came up and finally finished up this episode that has been sitting in my computer for a year!
This episode of ipilgrim podcast is a bit different for several different reasons. Here's why.
1) I recorded this episode back in November 2013... that's right, November.
2) I recorded it without Sandy because...
3) I recorded it with a handheld zoom recorder while cooking breakfast in my kitchen.
4) it took a lot of editing because I took out a lot of boring "route talk" and weather talk.
5) I didn't edit Tom or Anthony or their message because...
6) They aren't your typical trekkers.
This recording had duel purposes because I also was writing a newspaper article for my hometown newspaper. If you don’t know, I currently live in rural Nebraska halfway between Omaha and Denver in Nebraska, so I don’t get a lot of visitors out here. But lately, there have been a lot people walking on the highway across Nebraska from Coast to Coast. It has been awesome and there are times I look at them with a bit of envy. I would love to join them. Andrew and Tom walked from Wisconsin to California in November 2013, to support their non-profit organization is called Dryhootch, which is a coffee house in Wisconsin that supports combat veterans dealing with PTSD.
This is an interview that is probably not suitable for certain audiences. Mostly, because the content contains a lot of information about Post Traumatic stress disorder from Combat Vets. There might be some rough language that I have chosen not to edit out. There might be a trigger for someone dealing with PTSD. It’s not probably a show you want your young children to hear
They did finish their walk in California in February. I thought about meeting them at the end since I was in California at the same time. I wanted to include a few links to them and their blog.
And, as an added bonus, the trailer to their documentary about their trek.
ALMOST SUNRISE Documentary Kickstarter Video
Oh, check out the "wolfwalker" video that is also on the link above.
Oh, if you are friends with Sandy on Twitter or Facebook, pop over and wish her a speedy recovery on her foot surgery.
Buen Camino,
Deborah

 

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http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3174989

Nov 12, 2014 @ 04:44 Edit

And we're back...

(The Basque Block in downtown Boise)
Hey Pilgrims,
Sandy and I want to say we are sorry that we haven't been around. It's amazing how 8 months can just fly by. Sandy has been going on mini pilgrimages in Arizona. Meanwhile, I went to San Diego for two months, and then to Boise -- twice.

I actually have another podcast almost ready that I recorded in November, I'll try to get that out before the end of the month. Until then, tell us about your experiences.
Buen Camino,
Deborah

weekend Paella on the Basque Block in Boise

Along the Camino Real

 

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2992199 

Our poor feet (part 1)

Hi Pilgrims!
I know it's been a while. Both Sandy and I have been busy. I know sounds like a lame excuse. Sandy has been working hard on college courses, and it seems like I'm busy doing newspaper work and family things. Before you know it,  months have flown by.
On our second and third days of walking the road of sanctuaries  from Longueuil to Varennes to Vercheres, we faced challenges with our feet and with the weather.  One day was hot and sunny and the next was cold and rainy.  It soon became apparent that walk was going to have some very big differences from the Camino de Santiago.
Weather in Canada in summer can get a bit on the cool side or the extremely hot side.  And we figured out that there would be a lot of road walking which took a toll on our knees and feet.
Oh, and there was a lack of "trees" to use for when nature calls. Okay, so it wasn't a lack of trees, but it seemed that all the trees were in front yards of lovely manicured lawns along the road side.  When I finally found a vacant lot with flowers, bushes and trees.. it also had a skeleton of animal hooked to a leather collar. But, nature calls.
I've included some pictures of the two days: the bike path along the St Lawrence, The museum of Mere d'youville  (our second albergue), the mattresses, Sandy and the lovely lady who gave us directions to breakfast places, me at the wooded lot, Sandy's feet, our third night accommodations at the rest home, and our fresh pates and cheeses.
We hope to  podcast again soon,
Buen Camino.
Deborah
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2513490

Bienvenue a Quebec

Hi Pilgrims,
As I write this, Sandy and I are sitting in a cafe in Quebec having Crepes (Chocolat for me, Raspberry for Sandy) and doing a little social media work.
We arrived in Montreal on June 11th, and probably saw as many churches and tourist sites as possible. We committed at least two "sins" against pilgrim preparation: packing too much and packing things that are precious to us. You'll have to listen to the podcast for that.
This trip is becoming a "corridor of saints". It seems there's  a new saint introducing themselves to me almost daily... or maybe some old favorites are stopping by to remind me that they are there.  Of course, there's Brother Andre. He's the start of our story.  This little saint built this huge and massively impressive shrine to honor St. Joseph, but it was also claimed that he and his St. Joseph's oil cured thousands of people.  Within the church and pilgrimage sites, there are old crutches hanging from racks in a similar way as Lourdes. It is said that a million people came to view his body when he died.
Sandy and I started from the Oratory on June 14th. We walked  18 kilometers through Montreal and into the suburbs.  Our first night was in the basement of an Optimist Club, sleeping on blow up mattresses. They made so much noise when you move on them. Another "sin", I walked a stage and a half in flip-flops. Yes, I did it. I probably won't do it again.
There's so much more to tell, but not all at once, so I leave it here for now and wish you all a..
Bon Chemin and Buen Camino,

Deborah
Jun 21, 2013 @ 14:21
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2368934 

Responsible mentor-ship

Hey Pilgrims! I know, I know, It has been months. I have to admit, for about two months, Sandy and I were so busy with "stuff" that we barely had time to talk to each other let alone record a podcast. But it doesn't mean we haven't been working hard for Jimmy and other saints. I have my own pilgrimage that I have been planning in Nebraska.  http://www.dioceseoflincoln.org/SouthernNeRegister/front/frontsnrhome.aspx and I also orchestrated Camino talks and meet ups in Orlando, St Augustine, Melbourne, and even Omaha, Nebraska. Sandy drove to Orange County, California to attend the Newport Beach Film Festival where our friend, Lydia Smith, had her finished Camino Documentary "Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. " The praise and acclaim that has come out all of her film festivals has been amazing. Heather Knight, aka "Renegade Pilgrim" joins us and will continue to be part of ipilgrim podcast. She has hiking experience that is impressive.  We have exciting ideas coming up for future episodes. We also mention a topic called "responsible mentorship". Sandy and I talk about this topic a lot. Many times, after you completed a pilgrimage, the excitement of the camino can sometimes cause us to be a little over-the-top and exacting in our advice. It's a balance to keep from implying people have our exact camino experience right down to the Albergues and seek out their own experiences and their own way of doing the camino.  For me, telling the pilgrim to have no expectations is hard but necessary. To find out more from Heather, check out her website: http://renegadepilgrim.com/ Buen Camino, Deborah Other website mentioned: http://caminowithcullen.wordpress.com/
 May 7, 2013 @ 21:53

http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2314313 

Happy New Year and Adios, Steve

Hi, Fellow Pilgrims,
Around the time I was thinking of recording a Christmas episode of the podcast, Steve, our voice of reason, decided to travel to the other side of the world. Right before Christmas, Steve decided to take an assignment as an English teacher in Papua New Guinea for Seminary.   It was a bit shocking to us as Steve didn't give us a lot of warning.  We wish him well and a buen Camino.
You can watch and read about Steve's new adventure at his blog post on www.everythingesteban.com.
You can also watch Steve's final interview on Catholic Weekend here: Catholic Weekend 151
I will be the first to tell you that November and December, I didn't feel very "camino-ish. " I was feeling very "Meh."  But, then Christmas week, I started to get busy on a lot of Camino projects. Some of the projects include: organizing Camino people in Florida so that they have a potential local  APOC Chapter, organizing my own pilgrimage in Nebraska, and signing up for two "chemins" in Canada for the summer.
The first project is self explanatory. I get a couple emails a week from people around Florida looking for a mentor in their area. I love to play matchmaker and let future and past pilgrims come together to share stories and friendship.
My pilgrimage in Nebraska is still in the planning process. I'm planning a 16 mile pilgrimage to my church Shrine-- Out Lady of Fatima in Arapahoe, Nebraska.  The parish priest and I are working out the details for that right now. I'm hoping my pilgrimage will take place on May 12th -- Mother's Day- and the day before the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima.
June 14th, Sandy and I will be walking from Montreal to St Anne Du Beaupre (outside Quebec City) on Les Chemins des Sanctuaires. We are also hoping to add Ottawa to Montreal on Les Chemin Des Outaouais.  With both segments, the walk will be 30 days long.  Time will tell if we come up with the funds to make the trip.  We are walking on faith.
We wish you a Happy 2013.
Buen Camino,
Deborah

Jan 13, 2013 @ 04:37
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2182878 

The Portuguese Route

Hi, pilgrims!
One of Camino routes on our bucket list is the Portuguese Route. It's the route that can start from Lisbon or Fatima or Porto or (according to the graphic) Tui. With the Camino Frances being wildly popular, other routes are starting to pick up other, less traveled routes. The Portuguese Route is starting to become really popular.
Recently, one of our favorite people, Heather Knight ()
just returned from Spain and Portugal and shared some of her adventures with us.
Sandy and I have been having our own local pilgrimages. While I was out in Arizona with Sandy we went exploring in Sedona and San Xavier del Bac.

Also, on the way "home" I stopped at a pilgrimage site in New Mexico called Chimayo. Some in the Southwest call it "The Lourdes of North America." The dirt there is said to have healing properties. I was very happy to see many symbolic things I would see on the Camino.

Well, I'm off to dream of my next pilgrimage and the next podcast. Until then...
Buen Camino,
Deborah

http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2119477