We have made a decision. Joe does not want to try the Camino again in September as he is going “hunting” with his college buddy George. This yearly outing in Eastern Oregon has become a mythical journey for him, chasing stags with the Wilbur brothers, who are also stomping and snorting. I am itching to go on the Camino again right away. I originally planned to go last September, then because of my surgery could not go. Then Joe and I planned for May and went on our stunted Caminito. So I am ready to go.
My sister Kathy and her friend Judy are going on the Camino in September, so we all agreed that I would tag along with them. Joe and I have agreed we will go together again next May.
So I gear up again with planning! Hooray!!! Much gratitude to Kathy and Judy who have welcomed me along on their trip! Judy does not know what she has agreed to with two Barlow sisters “Georging it up” in preparation. If she had seen our dad….
meticulously pouring over state maps with a ruler to plan daily stages…
and studying campground books for educational stops, like the grave of Annie Oakley, and the lodge at Crater Lake that has a ranger talk, and the tour of Hoover Dam….
and measuring the VW bus to see how much cubic space each of us was allotted for our gear bags and having me sew cloth bags to the exact dimensions….
And using his mechanical pencil to draft the itinerary on green graph paper with his tidy engineer’s printing in neat caps….
And breathlessly haunting REI and Sears, justifying the purchase of new gear like an addict…
and laughing in delight with his shopping and planning and organizing…
Look out, Judy.
