[Gocamino] Of bags and books

[Grant Spangler]

I'd like to say hello to two unique people in our virtual albergue, Machi 
and Bob.

Machi harkens from the far southern reaches of the Americas: Patagonia. What 
many of you might not know is that Machi is our barefoot pilgrim. I walk 
barefoot much of the time here in California and am a proponent of sandals 
on the Camino, but Machi walked the Camino Frances barefoot. Now there’s one 
way of avoiding blisters! I go barefoot in uncompacted beach sand to toughen 
my feet for peregrination. Machi just does it barefoot. My hat’s off to the 
great bootless one. Read (in English) and observe the unshod Pilgrim in 
action: http://www.barefooters.org/gallery/pilgrimage/index.html .

Bob Ward is from the opposite side of the Americas, Canada. I had the 
pleasure of walking into Santiago with Bob in 2004. His recent book is just 
the latest installment of several he has penned. It has not quite arrived in 
Amazon.COM, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S0WB9U , but does exist on 
Amazon.CA  http://www.amazon.ca/dp/0887622526 , go figure. All Yanks need to 
head north to the Canadian Amazon to get their Camino fix. In the mean time, 
look at his Website and meet Bob, our notepad wielding observer of the 
Pilgrim Condition http://www.robertward.ca . Well done, Bob. See you next 
round.

Buen Camino,

Grant

Grant Spangler
GASpangler at hotmail.com
http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago
http://community.webshots.com/user/ElCaminoSantiago