The Camino Portuguese, My Way

 A sunrise walk along the canal east of Longmore Rd. in Mesa.  It's flat but provides some nice views of the surrounding mountains.  Even better there's plenty of mesquite trees, allowing me to combine two interests...hiking and harvesting beans for flour.   Starting around 5:15am I hiked 4.2 miles on the canal (round trip).  Wildlife...a white egret, quail, more than a few burrowing owls.  It's pleasant until the sun comes up.  After 9:30am, forget it.  Not worth being outside unless you want to bake.  It's called "summer schedule." After hiking I gathered two more cloth bags full of beans.  See the photo below for what I've got to work with...a full bucket of beans.  I want to grab what I can before it rains, just to be safe.  From what they told me at the Pima Museum, it's OK to pick beans even after it rains...as long as the beans are dry.  I'd read where you need to pick before the first monsoon rain.  Just ...

 Been awhile since I posted.  Recent events have made me rather withdrawn, so I've been keeping silent.  Anyway, I was along the canal at 32nd St/Stanford, harvesting a few mesquite beans.  I've been waiting for beans to turn golden.  Most have been green, but there's a few ripening.  I found a good tree and was close to filling my bag when a man walked past along the canal.  He stopped to chat and it turned out he'd lived along Stanford Drive not far away.  We chatted about the area and some of the old places...Hitching Post bar, Cudia City movie set, etc.  We introduced ourselves...his name was Bill Sperry, and he hikes the canal almost every day. What made this so exciting was just meeting someone out of the blue, just like along the Camino.  And it came at the right time, when I've been feeling depressed and negative.  I was badly in need of good conversation, something positive.  Once again, out of nowhere, the Camino prov...

 Hiked Kendrick Peak this morning. Didn't get to the top, or even to the cabin. Made it to the 3.56 mile mark, almost to the saddle. Great day for hiking, in the 60s with a breeze. Never saw anyone until I got back to the Trailhead. Two people in a Jeep. No exciting wildlife, outside of birds and ground squirrels.  Great views of San Francisco Peaks and the surrounding area! The wind whispering it's melody through the trees, the scent of pine trees in the air. Invigorating. I think the altitude was starting to get me when I turned around. I figure I was at about 9800' or so. Discretion is the better part of valor. I c could've gone on to the cabin at 4+ miles but it wasn't worth it. A little dusty coming in Mullein

 For September's hike I'm part of the group's WhatsApp chat group.  Many in the group already know each other from a previous hike in 2024.  I'm a newbie, an outsider.  I see lots of messages exchanging info about where individuals are staying, sharing accommodations, etc.  I've responded once or twice but basically haven't had a response. I wonder how I'll be accepted, both as a newcomer and as an American.  I think a lot of the group are Aussies, being that Dan's from Sydney.  There's also other Americans in the group.  It's never been easy for me to integrate into a group, so there's some trepidation on my part.  Let's say I'll be doing a lot of feeling out the first couple days.  And I'm sure politics enter the picture as well.  How are Americans viewed overseas?  Can they look at me for what I am as an individual, or will they look at me as a damn Yankee?  Especially being rather...conservative.  I walk to get aw...

 I hiked the Butcher Jones Trail at Saguaro Lake with the American Pilgrims on the Camino group this morning.  We started about 7:15am, had 12-15 people in the group.  Varying ages, though most were middle age or older.  Some had already hiked the Camino; others will be going in the near future.  Do I find any potential hiking partners?  Not so far.  I get to chat with some of the group and exchange information.  But nothing as far as hiking partners. The local APOC chapter won't have any real events over the summer, at least as far as hikes.  There's Zoom sessions every so often to chat and exchange info...one on Monday I'll try. I've had some problems the last two weeks or so with pain in both big toe joints.  Some days it's nasty, but I still walk.  Today?  No problem.  5 mile round trip and I was pretty much out front.  Knowing the location and the pain, I suspected either gout or arthritis.  Coincidentally I...

Some of you already know my constant hiking companion, Deuce the 2-iron.  My pacifier, conversation starter, ball retriever and repurposed hiking stick.  I doubt he'll accompany me to Portugal.  TSA gets one look at him and they'll confiscate him.  He doesn't fold up, so can't go in checked luggage.  I can't palm him off as a cane.  So I suspect I'll be looking for a "hiking partner" when I get to Porto.  As a backup I can put my hiking pole in my pack (it folds up), but that wouldn't feel right. Believe it or not, I have  located a golf course in Porto.  It's about 6 miles from my hostel.  I get in around 7:55pm on September 11, so it'll be late when I get to the hostel.  If I can get up early enough the next morning, I can catch a bus to the course to see if they've got an old club they wouldn't mind getting rid of.  Just like I did in Scotland two years ago.  I'll have to figure out how to ask "Do you have any clubs to ...

 Hiked with the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino at Dreamy Draw Park this morning.  An easy 5-mile hike on the nature trail and bike path.  More than anything else it was an opportunity to exchange information and experiences with others who have hiked the Camino and those that hope to hike.  In a sense it's a mini-Camino...I got to meet others just like I would on the Camino and pick their brains and share my own experiences.  There was a nice "second breakfast" (pot luck) afterward and a Shell Ceremony where pilgrims who are hiking this summer are presented with a Camino shell.  Someone had even brought cookies in the shape of a Camino shell and Santiago cake (see photos below). There's another hike at Butcher Jones near Saguaro Lake in two weeks that I'll do.  Yet another chance to meet fellow pilgrims.  I don't think APOC has a lot of events over the summer so I hope to hook up with some of those I meet after I ...