Arrival in Porto

It is quite different to be beginning a second pilgrimage and in a different place, with a different destination and in a different style. I am already missing Sophie who inspired me for her fortitude of walking to Rome for six weeks with horrific blisters for most of the way. I do not have the sense of great inner need this time - partly due to the working out of camino in my life and soul since that time.
What I do carry is a sense of quiet expectation. Not of any particular personal goal or outcome that I am aiming for. Rather, a sense of calm, gratitude, openness to be present to the moment, to take the next step towards Santiago, to rest well along the way and to look to share the journey with fellow pilgrims and others along the way.
There is a confidence that comes from having walked a camino before, ajoy in having the gift of another camino and an excitement in stepping into the unknown as well.
Yesterday we arrived in Porto, to glorious weather, and caught up with our friends Peter and Lynne Grant who have been tourists in Spain and Portugal for three weeks already. It was special to hear their Top Ten stories and to collect our Pilgrim credentials at the Porto Cathedral, the Se.
We happened upon a couple of great places to eat.  The highlight was our evening meal of local Portuguese specialty cheeses and cured meats run by a trio of dynamic young people whose passion for sharing their produce with their customers was contagious. Juan, our waiter, commented that we have come to his beloved city at the right time, before it is made mediocre by the influx of big money.
Today, we have the privilege of wandering this beautiful city, tomorrow we begin our camino.

Salisbury and Old Sarum

Our second day here dawned sunny and clear, though quite chilly. We arrived at Salisbury Cathedral with a few minutes to walk through before it was closed for the centenary celebrations of the local cathedral school. We spent time in the magnificent Chapter House where one of four remaining copies of Magna Carta is now housed. Inspiring to see it and reflect on the value of a document drafted jointly between church and local leaders to form a values base for government.
Wandered the cloister, sat in the gardens, visited the museum with a display on the influence of Constable on future art works of the Cathedral. Good to enjoy a slow pace and to do so together.
Our picnic lunch was taken at Old Sarum, stone walls just mounds now and the outer ring a common dog walking area. Seeing such a variety of odd dogs made me appreciate Madeleine's Floyd rather more.
We have appreciated these couple of days to acclimatise in the northern hemisphere and now we are ready to head to Portugal tomorrow to meet Pete and Lynne and begin our next camino.

Winchester Cathedral

It was wonderful to spiritually begin our pilgrimage at Winchester Cathedral sharing in Choral Evensong.  We both lit candles to mark the beginning.  Quite amazing to think that with maybe only a handful of execptions (if any) people have gathered to pray, read and reflect every day in this place for at least 1500 years and maybe longer.  The Anglo-saxon Bishop Swithin was here in the 9th century and when he died his relics were fairly quickly associated with miracles.  The old minster quickly became a centre of pilgrimage and was well known across the middle ages.  The remains of Swithin have been partly dispersed and partly lost (following the reformation) which is a little sad considering he gave specific instructions to be buried outside and not relocated into the church.  He apparently indicated his displeasure at being moved by making it rain heavily on the day of his transfer.    He seemed a little happier today, the light rain cleared early and the sun came out in the afternoon flooding the Cathedral with light. 

Some Camino Portugues Links

For those who are interested, here are some links to information about the Camino Portugues.

http://www.csj.org.uk/planning-your-pilgrimage/routes-to-santiago/the-route-in-portugal/

On the pilgrim road again

Merran and I are beginning preparations to walk the last 220 kms of the Camino Portuguese in the next couple of months.  We will be blogging our journey again on this site so stay tuned.  Maybe a few posts on pilgrimage to get us thinking and you in the mood to read our ramblings.  

The Lorinna Leg

 

17.9Kms 3:36Hours (Stage 3)

Down memory lane - Stage 3

Round Mountain through Lorinna to the Start of Paton's Road, Lemonthyme. . 18kms and 3 1/2 hours this morning on Stage 3 through Lorinna was a trip down memory lane. I used to travel this road (now closed) as a child with my grandfather and then father to visit a tiny outreach fellowship meeting in a small building on the site of what is now the Lorinna Community Centre. Its the only community centre I know with communal pizza oven. Having lunch there today sitting on what was probably one of the original bench seats, I recalled one visit where my brother and sisters and I went foraging around the old hall site to see what we could dig up, and we found all kinds of rusty and ancient treasures. On a visit many years later after Lorinna had became a mecca for people seeking an alternative lifestyle, I spent a day with a Swiss biodynamic farmer Martin. I will never forget walking with him alongside his draught horse while the plough almost silently sliced and turned the sod. The only sound was the jingling of the harness chains and Martin's gentle instructions. His barn still stands, the green field is there but Martin like many others has moved on. Later on the way out of Lorinna I passed what was Illusion Farm, a Buddhist community which still functions in a way (now Dorje Ling). I recalled a great evening with Sunny Philip sitting in the long house discussing the differences of Christian and Buddhist philosophies with the community. Ended today at the Lemonthyme Power Station. Day off tomorrow as I have an important meeting in the evening. The real journey starts Thursday morning on Paton's Road, 2 days up to Pelion and Mt Ossa. Not sure of my ability to update posts on this leg....