Camino NS day 5

 'Tis the finale! 

My sleep was restful, in the clear hallway where I roosted at the United Church in Mahone Bay.

We breakfasted and packed up as usual, and headed out for the final and shorter leg of the pilgrimage. 15 kms and a bit.

It sure was lovely. Not too hot, until the last hour (11-12) So many natural sights filled our morning. 

We were filled with wonder.

And saw creative things. 

The journey of us all, eight pilgrims and three helpers, was wonderful, personal, grace-filled.

We shall not forget this experience, this journey with one another, all that we offered each other and found in each other. As we took leave of one another in the early afternoon, from Lunenburg, we rejoiced and looked forward to the night's rest. 

May there indeed be peace and strength for every one of us, and all who venture out 'on camino.' May we all 'rise up on wings,' like the osprey. ;)

Camino NS day 4

 It was another 30 km day today. Wow! Longer than the 26 we thought it might be. 

My 'star' word for the day was "choice." Interesting. It so happened that four of us chose to walk together all the way.  It was very good company.

And there are always choices to be made. When to stop and break. What to ponder and what to speak. What route to take when there is a roadblock. And there was one again today: another trail bridge was closed.

Some of our route, from Chester to Mahone Bay, was near roads and communities. Signs and symbols along the way always catch our attention.

Others in the group if eight had their own interesting adventures. Stories for them to tell. By the end of 30 kms we were all tired, relieved, grateful, and proud. Theu journey had been lovely. The scenerey good. The conversations gracious and informative.

We got to our home for the night, one of the famed three churches on the Mahone Bay waterfront. And, we got showers again! This time down at the marina. Next we went out for a lovely meal of wood fired pizza. A nice, relaxing time. Our camino is almost done. Just a few kms tomorrow, to Lunenburg.

Camino NS day 3

 Today was the longest walk... for me, at least.

Started onto the trail and the first thing of note was some artwork. Soon, we all found out that a bridge, early in in the trail, was closed for this one day, for repairs! So we made a few different plans, and a few different routes were takes by the eight pilgrims. 

There were a few scenic spots in the first few kms, and I ended up wandering with and near a few of the others, so we enjoyed the trail together.

One highight was a spruce grouse that flushed up into a nearby pine branch, and stayed there while four of us looked on. This photo is not much, just proof of it. ;)

Once we parted ways, I found my way onto the trail, past the bridge that was out, via the highways. 

This was one section of the Rum Runners Trail I had been on before, just this spring, during the Hiking Summit. Today, I could not resist revisiting the Castle Rock Trail.

Back on the main trail, I carried on, enjoying birds and plants and lichens. I saw just a few other people on this section, running or bicycling. One of the others of our group had seen a black bear early on in the day! I saw some favourite lichens. 

On this longest day yet, we were grateful for a couple water drops from the support team, with bonuses like Pepsi! 

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By late afternoon, I got in to Chester, and the Baptist Church. The shower was a great gift to us all. This day was 33.5 kms for me, thanks to the extra 3 k loop to Castle Rock. I was the second last to arrive, everyone else having taken shorter routes.

Supper was magnificient (I guess I did not take a photo), with chicken and pesto pasta, and wine, among other delicasies. And we almost all found separate little bedrooms - mine even has a bathroom!

Tomorrow it is on to Mahone Bay, which should be about 26 kms. And rain in the morning. We will see what happens. 

We have all been guided well this third pilgrimage day. Guided by the planners, guided by the trail, guided by the creatures of creation, guided by our own creativity and intuition, guided by the Spirit. As a Celtic Psalm 23 says: Adonai, you are my shepherd - I want nothing more.