January Chapter Presentation & YM Social

[David Schott]

Happy Holidays!

January Chapter Presentation & YM Social

Wednesday, January 14 6:45 p.m.

Rochester Museum & Science Center Eisenhart Auditorium

Free and open to the public

 

6:45 Workshop: My Favorite Winter Gear Item

7:30 Program: Camino de Santiago

9:30: YM Social at The Old Toad

 

Feel free to attend any or all parts of the program. It is open to the public, so bring your friends!

 

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6:45 Workshop: My Favorite Winter Gear Item

It’s show-and-tell time!

Bring one or two of your favorite outdoor gear items to the workshop preceding the January Chapter Meeting. These could be recent purchases or gifts, or perhaps something classic you’ve owned for quite a while.

Also, feel free to bring an item you’re not so happy with too so you can warn everybody else. You only need to spend a minute or two showing and talking about your favorite item. Last time, we had very good participation and it was lots of fun!

 

7:30 Program: Camino de Santiago

Story and Photos by John Solberg & Louise Paulsen

In the spring of 2013 my wife, Louise Paulsen, and I walked the Camino de Santiago. It is also known as the Way of St. James, and is one of the three major pilgrimage routes of the Middle Ages together with Rome and Jerusalem. Its history extends back to the 9th Century. According to tradition, the bones of the Apostle James are buried in Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the pilgrimage.

Our own personal journey was not motivated by religious beliefs or even a spiritual quest. We had seen and enjoyed the movie “The Way” and the idea of walking across Spain was the kind of adventure we got excited about. We both love hiking, and had both walked the Rochester Marathon, so we knew we had some serious training to do. We gathered the equipment and clothing we would need, minimizing weight the best we could. Finally, four months after we started our preparations, we were off.

We walked the “French Route” from St. Jean Pied de Port in France, over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain, arriving at our destination 500 miles and 34 days later in the city of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino was a walk through the present reality and a thousand years of history. The openness of the countryside filled us with wonder, and the narrow, winding streets of the old cities were filled with echoes of the past. There were days of sunshine, rain and snow; days of long and strenuous climbing and steep descents; and days on the plains. It was a journey of the feet and a journey of the heart. It was also an experience shared with other perigrinos from all over the world; a deeply personal experience and at the same time, a collective one of community.

Many of the towns and cities we walked through were first established to provide shelter and food for the many people who first made the pilgrimage to Santiago. The tradition of providing for those who travel the Camino continues in the form of special hostels, called albergues, and meals prepared especially for the “pilgrims.” We really had very few concerns about where we would stay — the tradition is that if there is “no room in the inn” that room will be made somewhere! On one such occasion, we joined another dozen pilgrims in a gymnasium equipped with mats, a gym floor, a shower and bathroom facilities. What more could you want?

Over the course of the days on the Camino, I took thousands of photographs, trying to capture some of the history and the beauty we experienced, and the ever-present Camino itself. Back in Rochester the long process of selecting and processing the photographs has resulted in two exhibitions — one at the William Gallery at First Unitarian Church and the other at Image City Photography Gallery. We’re pleased now to be able to share both our story and also a collection of photographs from the Camino.

Champion: Jan Abernathy

 

9:30 Younger Members Social at The Old Toad

Following the presentation, Younger members — and all who wish to join us — will gather at the Old Toad for lively conversation. Drinks and food are available, or just sit and chat!

 

Directions: Take a LEFT onto East Ave from RMSC. A few blocks down, take a LEFT onto Alexander St. The Old Toad is on the right. There is on-street parking, as well as a parking lot behind the building.

 

Any questions about ADK Younger Members, contact David, david...@rochester.rr.com; or 314-8092.

For more information about ADK-GVC, visit www.adk-gvc.org.