Tman's Hikes

In the year 813 the bones of St James were discovered in the Spanish Province of Galicia. Since then a shrine to St James was erected, then destroyed by the Moorish Army in 997, and then rebuilt. Up until the 16th Century, it was very popular for Catholics in Europe to make the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (Santiago for short). But, because of wars, etc. it became less popular.  Back in the 1980s, a parish priest began remarking the most popular route, and the Camino was reborn. Since then, the Camino Frances, starting at St Jean-Pied-de-Port has been the most popular pilgrimage route having about 190,000 people complete it in 2018.  Meanwhile, all the other Caminos leading into Santiago had around 130,000 people combined.  Now, the Camino is more of a personal journey rather than a religious pilgrimage.

Guernica Painting

So, what I am going to do is head for St Jean-Pied-de-Port, France.  My flight from Chicago is on August 30, 2022.  I will arrive in Madrid on Wednesday, August 31 and will take a bus or train to the Atocha Area of Madrid. While I am in that area, I will visit the Museo Reina Sofia (Museum of Queen Sofia.) I am going there expressly to see Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica.”  It is an anti-war painting that Picasso painted in 1937 in response to Nazi Germany and Italy bombing a small town in Basque Country, Spain.  Given what has happened in Ukraine, the painting is still very relavent today.  The painting is rather large at 11 feet by 25 feet and is one of Picasso’s best known works. The next morning I plan to go to the Atocha Train Station and take a train to Pamplona.  From there I will take a bus to St Jean Pied de Port, the traditional start of the Camino Frances. I will most likely stay overnight there and start hiking on the morning of September 2.

St Jean Pied de Port, France

Again, Camino Frances route is the most popular route so there is lots of camaraderie amongst the hikers, etc. According to the experts, it takes 30 to 35 days to complete the Camino Frances.  It is a very historic route, visiting many medieval towns and cities.  For instance, Pamplona is a city that has the “Running of the Bulls” every year.  But that happens in mid-July, so it should not impose a lodging problem in August/Sept.

The Running of the Bulls depiction in Pamplona

I will be carrying minimal gear and staying at a dormitory (alberque) every night.  Most of the albergues cost around ten to twenty dollars a night. These albergues usually sleep many people in one large room. On some days if I’m really tired or need some privacy, I may decide to stay in a private room at a Albergue or Hotel, but they cost more. On most days I will be passing through 3 or 4 towns where I can get water and food. So, I don’t need to bring much water and food in my backpack.  I should be able to get by with a backpack weighing less than 15 lbs compared to when I go backpacking with a tent, cook kit, etc, it weighs over 25 lbs.

The Santiago De Compostela Cathedral

After we reach Santiago in late September, I may continue and walk another 3 days to Finnisterre, also known as the “End of the World.”  That’s because back in medieval times they actually thought it was the end of the world.

The Lighthouse at Finnesterre

After that I am planning to head to to Loyola, near Bilbao, Spain.  Loyola is the birthplace and boyhood home of St Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. In 1522, Ignatius left his home after recovering from a wound he received during the Battle of Pamplona. From Loyola, he traveled over 400 miles over to Manressa, near Barcelona, where he would eventually write his religious doctrine called the “spiritual exercises,” the basis of the Jesuit method of prayer.

The Sanctuary of Loyola

The Camino Ignaciano is the route that Ignatius used during his trip.  The Camino is only a few years old because a Jesuit Priest first marked the route in 2013.  Most of the notable people hiking this route have been Jesuit Priests or Students from Jesuit High Schools or Colleges. There are few people hiking this route, so there isn’t very much camaraderie amongst hikers along this route. The only exception to this is near Logrono where the Camino Ignaciano and Camino Frances uses the same route for 10 miles. Plus, the Camino Ignaciano goes through a desert called the Monegros, which is located west of Zaragoza.On one night, pilgrims may have to sleep in the desert because there are no accommodations nearby.

So, basically, I believe that hiking the Camino Ignaciano will be quite different than hiking the Camino Frances. There will be some parts where there will be very few people and even less hikers.  However, the last few days of the Camino are quite good. There is the Shrine at Monserrat, which has the Black Madonna and then St Ignatius’s Cave in Manressa where he wrote the Spiritual Exercises. And nearby is Barcelona which is known for the Gaudi Cathedral.

Montserrat

Cave where Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercise

Since the days of St Ignatius, the Jesuits have created the largest education system on earth.  They have dozens of colleges in the U.S. including Marquette University, Boston College, Chicago Loyola University and Creighton University.  They also run several Catholic High Schools mainly in larger cities.   After reaching Barcelona, I will be taking a train back to Madrid where I have a November 5 flight scheduled back to Chicago. I do have a fully refundable and changeable ticket. So, I am able to change my plan if needed.

This is my basic plan.  Items in it could be altered.  For instance, if I get injured or tired of hiking, I could just become a tourist and not do very much hiking.  I plan to blog something everyday on my website at www.tmanshikes.com  and I will also be posting on my facebook page every day so my people know where I’m at.

Maybe all of this is a little ambitious, but that’s the plan

Hi everybody

I am still testing on whether I can do a blog from my cell phone. So far it’s been working pretty good. NowI’m going to try To add some photos

So, I am getting I feel Of how this WordPress app works

Hello everyone

I am getting ready for Spain. I will be hiking the Camino Santiago starting in early September. It should be an adventure of a lifetime. So far I’ve had a great summer especially the 11 days that I helped Graybeard. That was pretty amazing. Now I’m looking forward on a new amazing adventure.

At any rate, This post is a test on whether I can actually use my phone to post a blog. I am also trying out adding photos. Hopefully they all work and I will be able to use this method on the Camino. Here’s wishing for a great trip. That’s All from T-man

Ground Support

Tman was Greybeard’s Ground Support for 11 days on his historic paddle down the Mississippi River.
Tman drove to find camping spots, hauled gear to make it easier for the expedition to paddle, and
drove the paddlers where ever they needed to go, such as the Post Office, Doctor’s Office and of course, the store.

But, Tman had time everday to go on a hike.  Here are some videos of some of the hikes

Agate Lake Trail and Sand Prairie Trail, Wakonda State Park, La Grange, Missouri

Tman hikes around Agate Lake for three miles then does an out and back on the Sand Prairie Trail
https://youtu.be/g-MUN9au9Ig

Sodalis Trail System, Hannibal, Missouri

Tman hikes past bat caves on the Evans Trail and returns to the Bear Creek Trail using the Pirates Ridge Trail https://youtu.be/cqxXJTaS1BA

Calumet Nature Area, Clarksville, Missouri

Tman hikes around some fields and meadows before hiking a long stretch next to the creek
https://youtu.be/J9pjDS81J2E

Back in 2014 I did a blog about how I disliked the Eastern Terminus
of the Ice Age Trail.  It was located in the dark and dreary woods next to
the Observation Tower at Potawatomi State Park.  If you didn’t know
it was there, you would easily miss it

The blog post is located here:  Eastern Terminus Blues

Then they shut down the Potawatomi Tower for structural reasons
after the 2017 season.  I again contacted the IATA again suggesting they
move the Terminus.   Mike Wollmer said they were working on it.

And then came the announcement.  Back in April they announced
the Terminus would be moved to the Old Ski Hill Overlook.
I was thrilled.

On Saturday night, I was in Door County so I stopped by
the Terminus. Here’s the video:  The New Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age Trail

Then, this morning I saw my first photo of someone completing at the new
Terminus.  It was Heather Steady Werderman.  Congratulations to her.
I am aware of her because she also hiked the North Country Trail

Looks Great!!!!

Thank you to the staffs at the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Potawatomi State Park
for making this happen.  Now we have a great spot for the terminus!!!!!

Here is my Video of my Mid-September Weekend Hikes 2018 at the following places:

Mondeaux Flowage

Merrill School Forest

Dells of the Eau Claire

Thornapple Segment

Ringle Segment.

Here is my video of my Labor Day Weekend Hikes at the following locations
Chequamegon National Forest
McKenzie Creek Segment in Polk County
Hemlock Segment near Birchwood

A few days ago I heard the sad news that Stoughton area Scouter Dan Walters has died. Dan was known in Southern Wisconsin and beyond as Mr Rope. He would go around to different events and Scout Meetings and do his “Rope Show.” Dan was a regular instructor at the All Scouter Pow Wow. He was one of the few instructors that had a two-hour class because he couldn’t cover everything in just one hour. This is back when the All Scouter Pow Wow was in January. Now they have moved it to November and changed the name to the University of Scouting. This was also back when we held the All Scouter Pow Wow at the Madison Area Technical College.   Dan wanted a room where he could set up some rope pioneering projects. We couldn’t give him a room like that, but instead we gave him a room on the second floor of MATC where there was a concourse. The concourse was an extra wide hallway where there was plenty of room to set up some pioneering projects.

But, I am getting a little ahead of myself. There is a backstory to this event. Back then Scouting Pow Wows were usually Cub Scout Leader Events. Pow Wows are events with several different classes geared toward different Scouting subjects. Back then, the Four Lakes Council (now the Glacier’s Edge Council) decided on having an event for all Scout Leaders including Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts, and Venturing Crew Leaders. Instead of having 20 classes available geared towards Cub Scout Leaders, this Pow Wow had 55 classes covering all the different BSA Units. This was a new concept, and the All Scouter Pow Wow was the first of its kind in the Midwest and one of a handful of such events in the country. Now, they are more common. Some Councils call them “Super Saturdays” and dropped the name “Pow Wow.” But we called our event the “All Scouter Pow Wow.”

We had been doing the All Scouter Pow Wow for about 5 years and this particular year we had some new Co-Chairs for the event. One of the Co-Chairs was new to the event. She had been on the staff of other events so it was thought she would be a good Co-Chair. It was decided that she would be the Co-Chair in charge of Programing and the other Co-Chair would be in charge of Administration (Registration, Facilities, etc.) My job on the committee was to do Graphic Design. The main item I had to do was the 4 page newspaper brochure for the event. I needed to have the 4 page design done by October 1st so it could be printed in the November Council Newspaper Newsletter.

Usually, the All Scouter Pow Wow Committee would start having monthly meetings in June. But this year, June passed and we didn’t have a meeting. So did July. I was getting a little nervous, so I sent an email to the Co-Chairs asking when we were going to have a meeting because I need to get the brochure done. They mulled it over and decided on having a meeting in early September. I thought this was cutting it a little close, but it was doable.

So, I went to the meeting. The Co-Chair of Programing had a friend at the meeting that was going to be her assistant. This person had absolutely no background in Scouting. Then, during the meeting, the Co-Chair of Programing explained to us how we are going to “start from the beginning and re-imagine the All Scouter Pow Wow.” Well, at the end of her long winded talk, I just came out and said we really don’t have time to “reimagine” the event, we need to decide on the classes as soon as possible so that I can do the brochure. If she wanted to do all this reimagining stuff, she should have started doing that back in June. Besides, the ASPW was a hit, and it really didn’t need to be “re-imagined.” I told her we needed to have another meeting as soon as possible and get the classes and their descriptions decided upon. She wasn’t too happy with me, but I had a deadline.

To make a long story short, this was the worst time I ever had designing a brochure. We had a second meeting which was somewhat helpful, but after that we were just exchanging information by email. I wasn’t able to get the brochure done until Oct 10. The Scout Office wasn’t very happy because it held up their newsletter. After that, at the next Committee Meeting it was decided that the Programing Co-Chair and her assistant would be contacting all of the instructors. This was usually done by the whole committee. If I knew an instructor well, then I would be the person contacting that instructor, etc. But, this time, they wanted to contact the instructors.

So, How did Dan Walters Save Pow Wow? Yes, you have received enough backstory, now let’s get to the nitty gritty part.

About a week before the All Scouter Pow Wow we heard the news that a writer from “Scouting Magazine” would be coming to the event to write an article. After all, the All Scouter Pow Wow was one of the first events of its kind in the Midwest. It was a new concept and we were innovators. Scouting Magazine is the main Magazine where Scout Leaders get information. There is also “Boys Life” but that is mainly focused on the youth.

The day of Pow Wow came and Dan Walters arrived early to start setting up his Pioneering Projects ahead of his class. In some cases the projects were half sized so they could fit in the space. The female writer for Scouting Magazine arrived and the two Co-Chairs took her around for a tour after the Grand Opening. When she was taking the tour she saw Dan’s Pioneering Projects. The Writer immediately started talking with Dan asking him questions about the Pioneering.

Meanwhile, back at the All Scouter Headquarters Room, all hell was breaking out. For the most part, the instructors showed up to teach their class, but we had a some classes where the instructor didn’t show up, and yet a couple more cases where two instructors showed up to teach the same class. Usually, every year we had one instructor not show up because of a last minute emergency. It’s to be expected. But to have several classes be screwed up was unprecedented.   The Co-Chair of Programing came back to the Headquarters Room and the committee started to figure out what instructors were actually in the Building. By 3rd Hour we had the situation somewhat stabilized. For the Instructors that were not in the Building, we got backups just in case. Most of the instructors showed up. Some arrived later in the day because they knew their class was in the afternoon. All during this process the Co-Chair of Programing had a “deer in the headlights” look on her face. It was clear that she was in a little over her head. Yes, she had been the chair of some other events, but the All Scouter Pow Wow with over 55 classes proved to be in a different league than those other events.

Meanwhile, being the flamboyant character that Dan was, he answered questions and gave demonstrations to the writer for 30 minutes. Dan’s class started on Second Hour, so he had plenty of time to talk to the writer about Pioneering. The Writer took photos of Dan and his projects. Then she gathered more information about the All Scouter Pow Wow with the Administration Co-Chair for another hour or so. Then she determined she had enough information for the article and departed. The Writer never knew that the event was in disarray.

I think most of the people at the event didn’t know there were problems. The only people that had a hint were the people in the classes that were screwed up. For the classes that didn’t have an instructor we simply apologized and asked them to go to the Midway Area where there were exhibits. For the classes that had two instructors, the instructors figured it out and taught the class together. But there was one case where the two instructors were disagreeing on stuff.  And we found out afterwards that there were other classes where the instructors were competent on their subject, but they were not Scout people so they didn’t really know the exact rules for Scouting. There were a few other things screwed up too, because the Programing Co-Chair had a tendency to “wing it” instead of actually being prepared.

After the end of the All Scouter Pow Wow that day, the Training Chair wanted to talk with me. The Training Chair and Training Committee oversee all the Training Events in the Council. The Training Chair said he wanted me to stay on the All Scouter Pow Wow Committee and do the brochure for the next year. He said there would be new chair people for the next year. We already knew it would be the last year for the Co-Chair in charge of Administration, because he was moving on. But, the Programing Co-Chair was also out, which was news to me. I said I would stay on and do the brochure.

About six months later I received the issue of Scouting Magazine in the mail that had the article. The writer wrote a positive article about the All Scouter Pow Wow and Dan Walters was the star of the article. I had previously congratulated Dan on the great job he did with the Writer, but I think Dan never knew that he occupied the writer long enough so she didn’t find out the event was screwed up.

My condolences go out to the Walters Family. He truly was a Scouter that was passionate about the subject he loved.