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First Camino Conference
  • Cari Krippner
May 2025

First Camino Conference

A short but fine adventure by Cari Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 15, 2025
    Cari KrippnerTravelerFirst Camino Conference
    Arrived at University of British Columbia
    Lined up to get my Room13th floor singleGreat ViewRegistration BeginsLong LinesEveryone is FriendlyWalking Tour of CampusClock Tower between the old & new Library with underground tunnelLovely FlowersQuick visit with Chantel and Elaine at the Golf CourseThey had beautiful artwork by Elaine's cousinUBC mosaicDinner ravioli and asparagusNoodles, meat, and dessertLate night musical group

    Day 1

    May 15 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Busy first day at The International Pilgrim Gathering at Vancouver, BC at the University of British Columbia moving into my room and finding the 3 buildings where everything is happening. Meals are 20 minutes away from the dorms which are 20 minutes from seminars. Lots of walking! All 350 people got bright yellow rain ponchos so we look like Minions walking around Campus. Good thing because we've had liquid sunshine all day!
    I got to see my friends, Elaine and Chantel, for a quick visit before dinner. Heard the Spanish Ambassador for the Keynote and had a wonderful musical group in the evening.    Read more

  • Cari KrippnerTravelerFirst Camino Conference
    Yummy breakfast
    Many other groups are here with us: swim teams, hockey teams, summer sessionI love the stop sign and questionFather Don Elias who reseached, cleaned & marked the trailsInfamous Yellow ArrowsALL the Caminos!!LunchToday's wildlifeAmazing speaker from Seattle used AI due to ALS has written 8 guidebooksMy Sello CollectionDennis is an artistic director who walked the Camino during COVID then wrote a bookWhat have you done the last 11 months? Dave's been walking!1Minions getting ready for picturesUBC fountainReconciliation TotomThis land once had an Indian School on itArtworkDinnerInteresting mailboxes...need key cardVery puzzling....no 1st floor

    Day 2

    May 16 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    What a busy day! I forgot how exhausting and fun conferences can be. Breakfast at 8 AM followed by 3 whole group speakers: Wisdom of the Elders by Rebekah Scott, Preparing the Great Invasion by Laurie Dennett which was about the priest who marked the trails with the yellow arrows and really started getting communities involved, and 1000 Years of French Pilgrim Tradition by Ron McClatchie.

    Off to a quick lunch and back to our break out sessions. I chose The Via Francigena: 3200km Wonder of culture and beauty. This just might be my next Camino. The pictures were fabulous. Toward Beauty, which is the title of the book written by Dennis Garnhum's COVID Camino de Norte adventure, and The Whole Boot: Following Saints across Italy by Dave Whitson who is from Portland and flew in from Italy this morning! He writes guide books and has walked across the US. I was inspired.

    After my brain was filled, we had a Mercado and Collection de Sello (stamps) from all the different groups. Finally we had our group picture before dinner. We had gotten bright yellow rain ponchos in our swag bag and someone went on the roof to take pictures. We even tried to make an arrow!

    Tonight they are showing The Way, My Way and it goes until 10 PM. I saw the premiere and loved it. With a 6:30 AM walk to the Cruz de Ferro before breakfast, I'll need some extra sleep so I'm skipping the movie. What a great day!    Read more

  • Cari KrippnerTravelerFirst Camino Conference
    Morning walk to the Cruz de Ferro
    My Rock carrying my prayers and burdensA Pilgrim made an exact replica from the CaminoWe laid our prayers and troubles at the foot at the CrossThen had breakfastMany talks followedThis one had a cool mapAnd talked about how Pilgrims are buried under the floor in churchesKulcher.org the Great American Think OffBest speaker!!LunchInformativeWent over the history of the women who walked the CaminoThis surprised me2This talk started a "Camino Itch"....someday I'll walk thisIt was very informativeComparing routesThen we sang songs and played kazoosDinnerWe had a raffle and a wonderful one woman show on the Camino

    Day 3

    May 16 in Canada

    The International Pilgrim Gathering has exceeded my expectations! All the speakers are informative and we only have 5 minutes between them. It takes 20 minutes to get to lunch and dinner and go back to the talks. I'm putting in 14,000 steps daily! I'm meeting Pilgrims from Paris, Denmark, Spain, and All over the US and Canada.Read more

  • Cari KrippnerTravelerFirst Camino Conference
    View from my dorm window
    Cargo ship going byHardy breakfastLoved this quoteGreat closing talk4 Caminos in CanadaWhy we do CaminosAnother great reminderNova Scotia Caminos are in my FutureEveryone should be a PilgrimOn my list to readDaily RemindersIt doesn't matter how long your walk isSo many Caminos, so little timeIf you are interested...

    Day 4

    May 18 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    It's been so hard to finish this footprint because I didn't want to let it go. It's been a very busy month. Today is my sister's 60th birthday and more than ever, I wanted to spend time celebrating it with her. Have you ever wanted to be in two places at the same time?

    I've learned so much about myself and the different kinds of Caminos this weekend. I've learned that I've always had a Pilgrims heart and a love for traveling. Spiritually and walking go hand in hand for me, but not for everyone. I hope that every person can get outside daily wherever they are and breathe deeply and know they are greatly loved.    Read more

    Trip end
    May 18, 2025
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