Pic of Conques, France
The Pilgrim’s Life, Part 2:
Off the Pilgrims go en masse: quickly, silently, aggressively with their tick, tick, tick walking sticks. Of course, in the minds of all the Pilgrims is to be the first Pilgrim at the first stop in order to get the best accommodations, and in that best of brotherly love and Pilgrim spirit…. screw you buddy, I am the first to go. So, in that raptured state of mind and spirit we fly away pumped and focused.
Now the modern Pilgrim has all the right stuff: every electronic gadget known to man – GPS, cell phone, adapters, solar chargers, radios, iPad, mini laptops, cords and plugs, aviator sunglasses, Columbia fleece vests, Tilley hats and all of the best. These guys and gals are normally gone by the end of the first week because the one thing they forgot to bring are blister bandages.
In that best of Pilgrim state of mind, we are to begin a spiritual existential (whatever that means) frame of consciousness. To discover oneself, one’s sense on being, belonging, synchronicity with the universe. Okay, that about takes care of day one but what about the other 44 days. One can only think of oneself for so long. I mean things can get boring fast. Well, don’t fret because the “The Pilgrim’s Life” has thought of everything. In a new book that has just come out called: “The Pilgrim’s Guide to the Universe” at a special one time offer of 49 euros, you can have it all. Chapter 5 has a list of profound topics that every Pilgrim can use for those profound “ah ha” moments of enlightenment and self discovery. Topics such as: “So Why Does the Sun Rise in the East and Set in the West? or “Is There Really a Man in the Moon?” or “Is the Moon Made of Green Cheese or Brie?” and then there is my own personal favorite: “Why Do Our Eyebrows Remain the Same Colour When Everything Else Turns Grey?” – topics that are sure to keep you engaged in thoughtful thoughts for your entire pilgrimage. All are very hot topics in today’s complicated unforgiving world.
As the Pilgrim hikes about the French or Spanish countryside, he or she will face many challenges. How to stay entertained? Well, at one of the Pilgrim training sessions they tell you and show you how to imitate farm animals like cows, roosters, sheep, and goats. This will keep you in laughter and those animals confused all the time during your trek. A real hoot. But the dogs are another matter. After a few days Pilgrims begin to smell really bad. A slight green hue or aura begins to appear around each Pilgrim. The air around a herd of Pilgrims undulates like the air around hot asphalt. Dogs can sense this and can smell a Pilgrim from miles away. But this is nothing new to the villagers. Going back to the days of the Plague, they know that they must have sufficient warning to hide their children, close their shops and cafes and remain upwind. Their dogs act like pickets such that when a Pilgrim approaches a small town or village the dogs sense a Pilgrim’s presence and start yelping and barking like dogs in heat. Thus, the villagers have enough time to shut down the entire village. And that is why nothing is open when a Pilgrim enters a small town, village, or hamlet throughout the French countryside. It is better in Spain, but they haver fewer dogs – goats mainly. All the villagers are hiding upwind of the Pilgrim.
Alas, a Pilgrim’s life is a challenging, lonely, and frustrating one. Only the chosen few are strong enough to survive the physical and psychological hurdles. But remain strong, positive and purchase the array of Pilgrim self help books and you can be a real-life Pilgrim too.
This You Tube video will give you a sense of the start of the Le Puy route. It is 30 minutes long but you can skip through it if you like:
Do the Walk of Life
I wish I had started hiking years ago and not when I was 67. Try it you will love it. There are great trails in and around the Cowichan Valley.
