The guide book estimated 7 – 9 hours. It took us 10.5. We left our bachelor apartment in Oviedo at 8:20 am We finally arrived in Grado at 6:50 pm. The authors also declare the distance to be 25.5 km. My Pacer app measured 29.1 km; and counted 49,980 steps. New league record. For OlgaContinue reading “Oviedo to Grado to Salas”
Author Archives: henrydecock
Oviedo
The flight was ahead of schedule, the train was behind. A nearly lost Maria during the security screening, a frustrating technology connection, challenged my patience and left me wanting. We arrived in Oviedo, sleep deprived, to a lovely room, grateful, in the heart of the old centre, amidst a quaint downtown vibe. The plan to spendContinue reading “Oviedo”
The Wind
The documentary, Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago, follows several pilgrims across the French route, each with their own story. One was a young Danish woman, traveling on her own who eventually partners with another solo traveler, a French Canadian, because they are both walking the same pace. Agnes ported a heavy backpack, jammedContinue reading “The Wind”
On The Road To Find Out
My father passed on to me several small possessions of my Uncle, Fr. Kees de Cock who died in 1981. I received his reading glasses, his pipe, two prayer books and his crucifix, all showing loving wear. In a 2017 family pilgrimage, I visited the Kamuli church where Fr. de Cock, a Mill Hill missionaryContinue reading “On The Road To Find Out”
Walk the Way
We got our first taste of the Camino in Italy. Olga and I were making another pilgrimage, to the medieval town of Assisi as part of our travels this past May. The three city trip was a return to Italy, the first ten days on our own, Assisi then Florence; the last third in VeniceContinue reading “Walk the Way”
Camino Primitivo
There is no turning back now, the tickets have been purchased. AC824, seats 26A and 26C, September 2, Toronto to Madrid. A short subway jaunt the next morning to Madrid Chamartin in time to catch the 11;23 train for a 3.5 hour ride to Oviedo where our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela begins. In truth,Continue reading “Camino Primitivo”
Hockey morning in Canada
Odin has been patient, waiting quietly until we rolled out of bed a little later than usual. He noses the back door, exits quickly in order to conduct his business before a yelp to open it again for re-entry. Odin swallows his breakfast; time for play. The temperature is warmer than most mornings this week,Continue reading “Hockey morning in Canada”
Bricks and Souls
We had gone around the table, asking each of my cousins from the van der Weil family for one word to describe Oom Cees. Finally coming to Margaret, she proclaimed, without hesitation, “modern ideas”. Olga and I were in the Netherlands in part to meet with my relatives and to conduct some research into theContinue reading “Bricks and Souls”
Blood Lines
Are you feeling well today? An easy one to begin the online eligibility questionnaire. Heck, if I wasn’t felling well, this blood donor appointment would have been rescheduled to another time. It will be the only question to which I answer “Yes” today. In the last month have you taken Toctino, Hanzema or alitretinoin? IContinue reading “Blood Lines”
Imprints
The Ones Beatles show began with three questions for the Roy Thomson audience: Where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot?Where were you when man first landed on the moon?Where were you when the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show for the first time? November 22, 1963. I have no clue, the tragedy notContinue reading “Imprints”
Wonderings 