How nice it is to have an excuse to stay indoors for a while after all these weeks and days of training out on the hot asphalt or in the buggy woods. I have learned so much during my Camino training which began in February.  It has been good to have a goal to work toward and I am feeling fairly well prepared mentally and physically.  Here are the highlights….

Today I am enjoying the song of the pounding rain on the roof as I recall being caught in a surprise shower with full pack on my back last week.  That particular hot, humid day it felt so good to be showered by the cool rain as Kathryn and I trudged down the Appalachian Trail. It was raining so hard that the trail was actually a babbling stream down the side of the mountain.  Our boots and socks got soaked.  All we could do was make the best of it ant enjoy the moment.  Kathryn was wise enough to remember her cellphone and put in in a drier spot.  My phone was NOT so lucky!

So, lesson learned from that experience was to always be prepared for rain. Pack the rain cover, jacket, etc. Most important: Stop and cover up the pack and the body as soon as possible! I am now the proud owner of RAIN pants….who would’ve thought?

Recently, I have suffered with so many different itches!!!  Bug bites, poison ivy, heat rash, sunburn and something new.  I have a raised welt on my upper right thigh that burns and tingles.  UGH…I have so many different creams and pills for itches but none work on this rash!  Lesson learned: wear bug spray NO MATTER what!  Do not brush up against ANY plants…none!

I have also learned more about my local parks, trails, mountains, flowers and animals. I’ve seen my first black bear and rattlesnake in the wild. I’ve seen my beloved Lady Slipper plant which I have not seen since my childhood. I’ve lived in Rockland County my entire life of nearly 60 years and I am still learning about this county and region.   Now, ain’t that something?

New people have come into my life and relationships with others have deepened.  It was so much fun laughing in the rain with Kathryn. It was especially a joy to see her unburdened and in a new place. Nina who was my favorite RAS teacher, has become  not only my personal trainer but also a near and dear friend.  And Ursula came into my life from 2 degrees of separation.  She is someone that has lead me to new places in my backyard…..I have gone on many wonderful discoveries with her such as swimming in our beloved Pine Meadow Lake.

I am already having a Buen Camino and I haven’t even landed in Spain yet.

I am counting down now….I will be on the plane to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago in 25 days!!!!  I feel as if the journey began about a year ago though. Planning, preparing and training have been in motion for quite a while so the actual foot to path is going to put all of that to the test. I have had some very exciting hikes and made some hiking buddies, Ursula and Nina, throughout the process. I’ve eaten my share of wild berries and seen my first bear and rattlesnake in the wild.

I am concerned about my level of fitness and stamina are not up to snuff. I have had a couple of weeks off the trail while Ursula has been away.  I had one big hike with Nina and daily walks on flat ground with Randy this past week. Tomorrow I am going to get myself out on the road early to get some miles with the backpack.

I am reading Joyce Rupp’s Walking in a Relaxed Manner now. This book has set off some anxiety, especially with the toilet problems! Good thing I have practice squatting in the woods.

Yesterday was my first birthday as a retiree. I had an errand to do with my brother that went awry. So, it turned out that he was aggravated but I saw this as an opportunity to have a fun day with Peter. We wandered back up 9w to West Point Visitors center and museum which happens to be one of Peter’s favorite places. 

There I saw the flags that represent the Aplha and Omega of the revolutionary war. I hope that Peter soon feels the freedom of his diseases & can start a fresh healthy life. 

After I dropped him home, I stopped at one of my favorite trails…the Long Path with its turquoise blazes. The wild flowers were blooming and the streams were babbling as the chipmunks squeaked in alarm. Life is a long path and I am going to take pleasure in the surprises along the way. I will enjoy the good and learn from the challenges. 

Thank you universe for awareness of your beauty.  

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The beauty of the Smokies is irresistible.  It was wildflower time and the streams were rushing with full force. Thankfully were could drive through this motor trail as I was feeling a bit weary!

The Vanderbilt’s wanted to build a home that was more than a home. Hence, THE Biltmore. The location is exquisite and the artwork and decor is exquisite.  There was a special exhibit of period costumes from movies.  The gardens are simple and elegant.But what charmed me most, was the man eating his ice cream cone while he sat at the grand entrance.  Our day ended in the fun city of Asheville with its many different restaurants and bars including a coffee shop in a bus and a bicycle bar!

I was stricken with a strep and a virus while on my Smokies Adventure with Angela.  Also, I was plagued with very slow wifi in our lodgings despite how beautiful and modern they were. So, my posts were few.

Let me try to put up the first couple of days for you. We hit Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park first and had dinner at the Skylands Lodge. Wish we could have stayed there on the way home but things worked out the way they were supposed to work out for us. We were driving in the clouds for a while….felt like heaven in Virginia.

The first day in Tennessee we went up to Newfound Gap where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. Then we headed to Clingmans Dome where you can see the trees have been killed by a disease. The night ended with Dolly’s Stampede Dinner and Show.

  I saw four bears in the wild today! Feeling the aches of strep continues but the beauty of this area keeps me plugging on. 

Randy bought me a Canon EOS 70D for Christmas and I have just taken it out of the box! I have joined a class at the Ramsey Adult School to help me figure out how to use this technological wonder.

The instructor wants us to set our own aperture, ISO and hmm….can’t remember what else.  Three quarters of the way through the field trip I was told I could use “Auto-Focus” so for most of the experience I was doing EVERYTHING manually. This was quite a feat for this point and shoot gal.

Here are some of my experimental shots. I would appreciate some feedback because I am not a good judge of if the “Three Pillars of Photography” are implemented!

It has been too long since I last blogged and this was meant to be a continued stream of consciousness. Now I realize, that it is hard to create new habits.

I’ll keep it short and hopefully sweet. The Peruvian people are varied…a mix of indigenous and immigrant. I was told all are Mestizos which is a mix. All were proud to share their country yet knew a photo of them was of great value…..a nuevo sol or two so to speak.