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Showing posts from August, 2024

Camino Training

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 As Msgr. Goering has posted, we have been training in the last several months to get prepared for this long peregrination! We have done many hikes with each other as well as various sojourns on our own. Among the recent solo trips, I walked along the Red River using river paths on both sides. I happily discovered a piece of local history when coming upon the Bergquist Cabin (built in 1872) in Homestead Park in Moorhead. It was a great reminder of the history of other "pilgrims" who came out to lands and settled to provide a good life for their families.   On another longer trek, I explored Buffalo State Park in great weather and surrounded by the gift of God's creation. No better artist around! I am confident we will experience great vistas on the Camino.  Finally, here is a map of where we will be walking. We start in Oviedo and end in Santiago de Compostela. It should be amazing!  

Cheyenne Grasslands Training Day

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Msgr. S and I have been doing a good bit of training for our Camino.  Often, we hike together.   This week, he got 13 miles in at Buffalo River on Saturday, while I got my 13 miles in today in the Cheyenne Grasslands. As you can see, this is a a beautiful area with a mix of meadows and some wooded portions.   Depending on the day and time, you might share the walk with a herd of cows! I did 20 miles last week, without meeting a soul.  Today, I came across 2 bikers during my 13 miles.  Mushrooms are dropping off, but I still picked up some lobsters and pink-mottled wood wax. 13 miles gives over four hours to contemplate, hike, and pray!   The scenery makes all of it a pleasure.

Mushrooms for fun and profit

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Still testing hardware and re-sizing of photos so the blog does not get horrible. So, let's look at some mushrooms.   First, here are some giant puffballs from last Fall.  I decided to re-enact the biblical story of Jacob using a stone for a pillow.    Now, some mushroom eaters DO have visions. Next, I was delighted to find some king boletes during training hikes.   This one got huge...and a bit beyond edible. Finally, here is a nice haul of chanterelles and hedgehogs.   These came from a hike with Msgr. S in the Tamarac refuge.   We both climbed over many fallen trees, and he was patiently being eaten by mosquitos as I scampered about picking mushrooms.