New listserver member

[Kathy Gower]

Welcome, Russ,

And thank you for the introduction..as this list serve is fairly new, only a few of us lurkers have actually given our introductions.

I walked the Camino for my 50th birthday in 1999, with 3 of my 6 sisters.  Many people walk alone and I plan to do just that this fall, probably in September, again.

Most walk the Camino Frances, and I was no exception, walking from St. Jean Pied-du-Port to Santiago, in my case, in 27 days. (My sisters were in great shape, and we did take a 20 minute train from Sahagun to Lyon on the meseta).

Our adventures were many as were the miracles...we went with our hearts open and received much more than we could ever have expected.  As your questions arise, perhaps any one of us could answer them...but be prepared for many, many different answers.

At this point I am writing a PhD dissertation on the reincorporation of the camino experience into everyday lives and will be asking shortly for self-selected pilgrims who have had transformative experiences and have found a way to incorporate them.

All this and more do you have to look forward to, including aches and pains and blisters and lost toenails (I had 4 missing by the end) and deep friendships that seem to spontaneously erupt in the refugios as you share the experience with others.

Enough said,

Buen Camino,
Kathy