I'm off!

[John Topping]

Greetings Richard from New Zealand,
We offer you our hopes and prayers for a successful Camino.  We leave N.Z.
on April 13th and will walk from Roncevalles to Santiago.  As spoken in the
pilgrims blessing at Roncevalles we ask God that He will be your companion
along the way, a guide at the crossroads, strength in your weariness,
defense before dangers, shelter on the way, shade against the heat, light in
the darkness and a comforter in your discouragement's.  Buen Suerte!
John & Marion Topping.

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Ferguson <peregrinoaATT.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 6:15 PM
Subject: I'm off!


> 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
>