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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Hello,</span></font></p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I just joined this list and understand I’m supposed to introduce
myself. My name is Martha and I fell in love with el camino last year entirely
by accident; I’ve never even met anyone who has done it. But now I’m
planning on walking the whole thing this coming fall. This last summer I took a
reconnaissance trip to </span></font>Spain to figure out the logistics and to
see if I could actually do it and I ended up totally and completely smitten
with the whole idea. </p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I flew into </span></font>Madrid, and with my two children along (boys
ages 10 and 12) took a train to San Sebastian where we rented a car and went
exploring. We stayed in castles in Olite and Sos del Rey Catolico, and took day
trips to Roncesvalles, Jaca and lots of nearby areas. Now I intend completely
to walk the whole thing. I determined on the reconnaissance trip that I want to
do it without my children; the time alone would be good for me, and although
some people I suppose could do it with children, I decided I do not want to.
They are not ready for the kind journey I intend to make. (I have a friend,
another woman, who I’m hoping will join me.)</p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I truly feel a tremendous need to do this thing. It’s funny; I’ve
not felt this way before and cannot explain why I have to do it. That’s
why I joined this list; I am smitten by el camino de </span></font>Santiago,
and simply have to go.</p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I have lots of logistics questions still to clear up. But I kind of
want to do this in the true spirit of a pilgrimage; with minimum possessions
and an open mind. I look forward to joining this discussion.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Martha Hankins</span></font></p>
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