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June 2021 NEWSLETTER.
Our May Med/Hard walk - Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls. Image; Rosie Edmonds.
Our Next Event
Saturday 26th June 2021 ~ Camino Training Walk at Lawson.  Meet at 9.00am for 9.15am start.
(There is no Camino Meetup today)
North Lawson Walk, St Michaels Falls, Empire Pass and Bridge to Dante's Glen; Images by Margaret and Sharise
Join us in June for our end of month training walk from Lawson.

Meet:  Lawson Train Station.  On north side towards Loftus Road (opposite side from the shops). 

Time:  Meet 9:00am for a 9.15am start (those coming on the train from Central arriving at 9.06 we will wait for you.)

Walk 1 - Easy.  First a walk through Wilson Park, past the Lawson swim centre, then along the trails in North Lawson Park.  We will visit the pretty Fairy waterfall as well as a fresh spring  "fuente". A diverse route along fire roads, suburb roads, a bush trail and a grassy knoll. Note there is a hill (100m ascent).  Approx 5km and will take around 3 hours.

Walk 2 - Medium.

The route starts with a short walk through Wilson Park, past the Lawson swim centre, and then enters North Lawson Park. Down to Dante's Glen and along Empire Pass which is a scenic 2.5km trail through a wide canyon.  Exit at Frederica Falls, joining the fire road heading up under the pylons towards East Lawson. Enter the bush trail in front of the houses and head to Kangaroo Road to visit the Aboriginal historical site.  Return via Queens Road and Badgery Crescent pausing at a number of historic buildings along the way.    Approx 9km and will take around 3.5 hrs.    

Note you will encounter steps, unstable bridges and rocky creek crossings on the first section of this route. 


Register for either of the walks HERE.

Please note there will be no afternoon Camino Meetup in June, however everyone is welcome to  meet at Blue Mountains Hotel Lawson on the Great Western Highway, Lawson, after the walk for a casual lunch or drink (at own cost).
Calendar Of Events For 2021
SAVE these Saturday dates for 2021 Camino gatherings ~
31 July - Blackheath
28 August - To be advised
25 September - Blackheath 
30 October -  Blackheath
27 November - To be advised 
 
BLUE MOUNTAINS CAMINO 5-DAY WALK ~ Penrith to Blackheath.
Spring Walk - Tuesday 21st to Saturday 25th of September. Now Fully Booked.

PLUS ~ We are planning several Camino themed events stay turned for more information on Camino Craft Days, Feast of St James and more.  We may not be able to get to Spain anytime soon, but there will be lots of Camino Spirit here in the Blue Mountains!
We hope you will join us in 2021.
Our May Camino Training Walk - Wentworth Falls
Kings Table Land Track and Aboriginal Axe Grinding Grove Stones; Images Rosie Edmonds.
For the May Camino Training Walks, there were 25 who braved the winter chill to do their chosen walking route for the day.  Despite the cold, it was a beautiful sunny day with big blue skies.

We would like to acknowledging the Gundungurra people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Medium to Hard walk included Kings Tableland and Ingar Dam south of Wentworth Falls.  A bunch of prepared and enthusiastic walkers gathered in a chilly 4 degrees eager to get moving.

We made our way to Kings Tableland on a narrow trail surrounded by heath and woodlands. The trail opened to an impressive plateau and endless horizon. There was a wintry bite in the air and standing still wasn’t a good idea. We ventured across the rock plateau seeing axe grinding grooves and stone arrangements. It is a very special place. Kings Tableland is identified as a significant meeting and gathering place for the Gundungurra people. Kings Tableland forms the beginning of the Southern Escarpment which fringes the Jamison, Megalong, Kanimbla and Hartley Valleys. We moved on through the scrub to the wide open fire trail. In the Camino way, some walked alone for a while, some broke off in pairs and some buzzed from group to group. We laughed, we shared our Camino experiences and chatted about everything and nothing. We smashed the uphills, the downhills and worked up an appetite for lunch.

Lunch was eaten by a very pretty waterhole while we warmed up in the sun. Even though the sun was out we still needed gloves, beanies and jackets.
We didn’t linger too much after lunch and walked back with the same constant, warm camaraderie.  We were treated with chocolate (thanks to Margaret) to get over the last big hill.  We finished off with a drink at the Grand View in Wentworth Falls before we said our goodbyes.

Walk distance was 22.6km. Elevation 910m. Total time 5hrs 52 mins.

Well done everyone. Buen Camino.
Words By Rosie Edmonds
***********
The EASY walk  route started from Wentworth Falls Station along Sinclair Ave and walked in anti-ckockwise direction around Wentworth Falls Lake. There is a bit of road walking passing homes across the road from the lake and onto bush tracks. The group pauses at the pontoon before making our way to the carparking area front the lake for refreshment break at the Love Bites caravan. Back to the village and along Falls Rd, winding our way to the Nature Trail (just slight confusion which fork to take!) towards the Conservation Hut and the Shortcut Track to Falls Lookout. Here we look across to Kedumba Wall and think of the walkers doing the Med/Hard walk.... most of the group made their way to the Grand View Hotel for lunch.  Walk approx 12kms and a leisurely 4 hrs including breaks.
Another enjoyable morning Training walk in the Upper Mountains.  Thank you for your participation.
Photos below from the Easy route walk
Dieter and Mark – our fabulous retreat facilitators enjoying a cuppa with home made rusks on our sunrise walk to Govetts Leap | Guided meditation at Phillips Lookout | Preparing pizza’s together | Sharing Camino memories.
The Camino Reconnect Retreat  - May 2021.
 
“Exceeded expectations” was the feedback we heard from our very first Camino Reconnect retreat held in May @ Glenella.
 
Everyone had to bring memorabilia from their Camino in Spain.  Items included a photo, map, diary, guidebook, poem, blister tape! The first few workshop sessions were about visually reconnecting with our Camino experience and reminding ourselves of the aspirations that arose then.  
 
Mark and Dieter facilitated the 3 days with ease and generosity of spirit. The program was well-paced and as one of our participants said she left “alive with all the good intentions that I felt in Spain.”
 
Rowan led a walk each day guiding us through local parks and bush reserves. An important time to connect with nature and feel the rhythm of walking and reflecting – as on a Camino.  Margaret and Diane were the food team, preparing meals which nurtured as well as nourished everyone.    Diane was such a powerhouse in the kitchen, working magic with the dishwasher and making sure the meals were ready on time and served with a friendly smile.

We also lined up fabulous guest speakers :- Lyndsay Teychenne shared his Camino story (via Zoom) and how he came to be part of Camino for Good.   Tony Jacques shared his amazing experience of pushing Graeme in the 2019 Accessible Camino and walking with Justine and Patrick (I’ll Push You).
  
“The retreat was way beyond my expectations.. Fabulous facilitation and exercises,”
 
“ A rekindling of joy, connection with really good people, re-connection with the Camino happiness, a determination to get back to my Camino intentions, and more walking”
 
“What a fabulous few days!  Thankyou so much for all that you did to bring it together always adding your generous Camino spirit.  I felt it a great privilege to be a part of it all.”
 
“ What an amazing team to nurture us so fabulously and leaving me alive with all the good intentions that I felt in Spain.”
 
“The facilitators, the hosts and the participants connected and supported each other with generosity and authenticity in an easeful way that I have not experienced before”
 
“Thank you for the vision, energy and care put in both prior to and during the days of the retreat.  It was amazing.”
 
 “It was so wonderful to connect in with other pilgrims, share our experiences and stories.  As you say Margaret, it was just like the Camino!  It is amazing how we just 'slipped' into that way of being when meeting with the spirit of the Camino and its followers - it is exciting, accepting and trusting.”
 
And a wonderful reflection on why we walk a Camino and continue to adopt it’s spirit in our everyday life:
 
“The benefits of walking the Camino continue to amaze me and give me hope in the best of humanity one could ever experience. Life is a journey and on the Camino we acknowledge that we are all heading in the same direction. With love and kindness we can make it a little easier for difficulties and challenges we are all going to face on the way.”
 
If you are interested in joining a future Camino Reconnect retreat, email us HERE.

Words and Images by Margaret Bouttell. 
Camino Inspirations
We have received some great Camino Inspirations from our Camino Family in recent times.  Thank you to those who have sent through these suggestions!
 
Here some great ways to connect with The Camino Spirit; either from your armchair at home or finding new paths right here in Australia to walk.

AUSTRALIAN PILGRIMAGES
This sounds really interesting, we would love to hear from anyone planning to do this or perhaps have done this previously,
Footsteps of St Mary Mackillop Pilgrimage.

The Bibbulmun Track is an epic walk in Western Australia, this is a fantastic series following one walkers journey over the 1000km track,
The Bibbulmun Track Series.

Interested in walking the Larapinta Trail this Spring?  Ena who joined us last year for the Sept 5-Day walk has booked to walk in late August. If you'd like to join Ena, or meet her along the way, contact her via us, HERE.

BOOK REVIEWS
Walking Home - A pilgrimage from humbled to healed by Sonia Choquette.
Walking One Step at a Time by Erling Kagge
Yvonne, one of our Blue Mountains Camino Family, wrote book reviews on these 2 books which you can read HERE.

Happiness is THAT Way by Cici and Mike Edwards. More info here.  These two participants of the Camino Reconnect retreat from VIC write about their experience on the Camino Via de La Plata.  Diane, one of our Blue Mountains Camino Family, wrote a book review which you can read Here.

PODCASTS
Dan Mullins Latest Podcast Features identical twin pilgrims Kylie and Jacki a wonderful Camino tale.

PORTUGESE CAMINO
From the Association of Friends of the Portuguese Way to Santiago you may enjoy reading about and dreaming of walking
The Portuguese Way.

If you have something you would like to share please always email us HERE.
Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Badge
Our Blue Mountains Camino Supporters cloth badge are available to order or purchase from Margaret or one of the admin team at Camino Meetups and save on postage!  The badge measures 8cm in diameter. The cost is $10 per badge + $2 postage for up to 4 badges in an envelope.  
 
Please  EMAIL US  once you have made your payment.  Remember to put your name in the details field. Thank you.
Money can be deposited directly into our new Bendigo Bank account:

Name:      Blue Mountains Camino Supporters
BSB:        633-000
Account:  173070897
 
Once you have attached your cloth badge (with glue or stitched) onto your backpack or hat, etc why not take a photo and email it or post a comment on our Facebook page or Facebook group.
 
Acknowledging the badge design concept by Jill Day with final design by Chris Osborne for Blue Mountains Camino Supporters
Be a part of Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Admin
We could always use your help!  Can you assist in some small way such as leading or sweeping a monthly Saturday morning walk or with the Camino Meetup, baking a Santiago Tart?  Or perhaps you have a suggestion for an event or training walk? Have you read a great book about the Camino or perhaps seen an inspiring movie or listened to a podcast about the Camino then please EMAIL US and let us know.
About Blue Mountains Camino Supporters.
Blue Mountains Camino Supporters is a community group run by volunteers, we aim to support those planning to start a Camino and Pilgrims who have returned from their Camino. By coming together regularly we hope to enable & encourage the Camino Spirit here in the Blue Mountains. We hold monthly Camino Training Walks and Meetups on the last Saturday of the month except December usually at Glenella in Blackheath, hosted by Margaret & Rowan Bouttell. Sharise Watson and Carlene Martin produce this Newsletter and manage the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Facebook Page. Kerrie Girdo and Carlene manage our Blue Mountains Camino Community forum on Facebook. Bob Girdo is our video recorder and editor.  Diane Cousins hosts the Camino Swap Table. Tony & Ce Jacques co-ordinate and host the Tapas dinners & Camino movie events.  Jerard & Enda Barry host an annual Feast of Saint James Dinner and host Pilgrims at their Pop-Up Albergue in Wentworth Falls by arrangement.  Our website is managed by Johann Saure and Carlene.  There is a dedicated team of volunteers who plan and organise the Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walks, monthly Training Walks and events.

The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters was founded in 2015 by Tony & Ce Jacques and Margaret & Rowan Bouttell.  

Blue Mountains Camino Supporters recognises that the Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country. We pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
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Blue Mountains Australia Supporters of the Camino · c/o Glenella Guesthouse · 56 Govetts Leap Road · Blackheath, NSW 2785 · Australia

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