Prelude to Santiago by Nanette Hanks Gross

When we remember our journey together,
Will we settle on blisters or rain?
Let us recall, the hands that provided, the arrows that guided,
the hilltops reached through pain.

The heather bloomed in bursts of beauty.
We drank the fragrance each day.
Trees shaded our steps, storks called from their nests,
and roses lined our way.

We drew strenght from our faith, our guides, and each other.
This journey was not made alone.
Our prayers joined together, in request of fair weather,
but rain, for our sins, we atoned.

Our journey is too quickly ending.
Santiago is nearly in sight.
May we walk on in love, with the sun shining above,
and embrace, the most holy of light.
Thank you for sharing my journey.

The Way to Santiago by Jean Guyton

Refrain:
It's a long way to Santiago
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Santiago
For a goal we do not know
Good bye Roncesvalles
Hello walkers of the world
It's a long way to Santiago
So let's sing a song.

We're American peregrinos
and we laugh all day long
We all like to talk to farmers
and to dance to Brazilian songs

We care for one another
when we're lost or have sore feet
As a group we think we're kind of special
And really are quite neat.

In our coche "Concha Fellini"
With our Judy at the wheel
She is dreaming of her Juan Carlos
While she cooks our delicious meals
She doesn't know the mileage
So we struggle down the paths
But we often missed the afternoon rain showers
and look forward to our baths(long tubs-muy Americano)

We'll remember "ales" in churches
and "pielors" galore
Javier was our art guide
and we always begged for more
About distances we had questions
Which he always answered wrong
We will miss our amigo Javier
And we're sure glad you came along.

We'll remember hearing bird songs
The cuckoo every day
We'll remember the many flowers
Which bloomed along the way
We'll remember dodging "perros"
And jumping rushing streams
But we'll best remember going uphill
Till we heard our pobre feet scream!

Connie got our passports stamped
And Lee walked on ahead
Arturo had his bright umbrella
and Nora stopped to talk...
Mary hobbled slowley
While she nursed her ailing knee
Sam was hiking ever around
While Jean always had to stop and p-- (rest).

We stopped at an old old Abbey
Where some boys were at their school
Though they called out that they loved us
None of us were fooled.
But the Padre at Abbey Samos
Was quite another deal
His request for a "Lawn Mower"
Certainly had appeal.

We climbed up O'Cebreiro
On an incredibly beautiful day
On cobblestone covered pathways
And through villages along the way
We drank from cold fresh fountains
Stopped at bars in every town
And when we saw the church and view there
We wished never to come down.

On the Road to Santiago
There is so much to learn
There are many important questions
For answers our hearts yearn
But we'll never forget the friendships
Of those along the way
And we thank you our own dear Judy
Much more than we can say.

With Apologies to the 23rd Psalm by Carrie German,Pilgrim

Judy is my tour guide;
I shall not want.
She makes me picnic in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
She revives my soul
and guides me along right pathways for beauty's sake. Though I walk through the alley of the wrong side of town, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your shell and your van, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of my fellow pilgrims;
you have anointed my salad with oil, and my clean bed is waiting.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, for I have completed the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.