I'm off!

[Richard Ferguson]

I am leaving Monday, March 18th for Spain.  I plan to walk
by myself from Leon to Santiago to Finisterre.  I have a
month, hence the start in Leon, a conservative plan.  If I
go more slowly than I expect, I will stop in Santiago.  If
I travel quickly, I will probably visit friends in
Barcelona before flying home.

I certainly have never done anything like this before,
although I speak good Spanish and have considerable
mountain climbing experience.  I was looking into the
pilgrimage seriously in 2001, and then I got an early
retirement package, so I knew then that I would do the
trip.

I talked to my priest about the pilgrimage, and he said
that he envied me.  He said that the bishop would not give
him enough time off to do it.  I don't have a boss
anymore, except my spouse. She agreed to let me go, as
long as I was not gone for more than a month.

I have mostly been lurking on the list, reading it in
digest form.  I have picked up a lot of good information,
thanks to the group.  I plan to continue to read in the
cybercafes of Spain, when I have the opportunity.

The "peregrinoaatt.net" is a temporary e-mail that I will
use for this trip.

I will accept any and all prayers and good wishes.
Thanks.

Richard