BMCS Newletter September 2022

Saturday 24th September - Winmalee

JOIN US for our regular last Saturday of the month Camino-style walk - this month the Blue Gum Swamp in the lower mountains area of Winmalee. Two options are offered
Easy Walk of about 7km and a Medium Walk of about 13km

We will hold our regular Camino Meetup in Winmalee from 2-4pm, venue TBC.

For more information and to Book CLICK HERE

Saturday 29th October Camino Training Walk + Meetup, this event will be held in Woodford and will include a visit to the Blue Labyrinth Bush Retreat.

Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th November Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walk, there are still places available to join this walk and at time of writing 4 places available at Glenella. Details and Registration Here.

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November our year end Camino Celebracion which will include Artisan Workshops (build your own Waymarker) and a Pilgrim Fair in Blackheath. Glenella will host a Camino Open Weekend too. Don't miss this “Feria de peregrino"!

And just a taste of what is to come in 2023

* Our last Saturday of the month Training Walks and Camino Meetups will continue.
* We will host a Spring and Autumn Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walk;
* There will be an opportunity for pilgrims to "give back" with a Blue Mountains Camino Track Care day and more.

Keep up to date via our Newsletter, Facebook and Website.

We hope you will join us for a Camino event in 2022/2023

Glenbrook-Lapstone On 27 August 2022 there were 22 walkers who joined us for the walk from Glenbrook to explore more of the Lower Mountains and some lookouts. After meeting at Glenbrook station carpark, we were soon faced with a steep rocky climb up the hill, the early morning drizzle made for a slightly slippery climb but everybody made it! Looking over and back at the vast Blue Mountains National Park views just like on the Camino was rewarding.

The Medium and Easy group of walkers set off together and walked through Darks Common and Bluff Reserve Track. We stopped to see the views at Chalmers Lookout (group photo opportunity) and Ross Lookout. The views at both of these lookouts were different and spectacular.

Walking through the Tramway cutting was ideal for some silent walking, a lovely opportunity for reflection, to listen to the birds, hear the wind in the trees and appreciate nature. The Medium and Easy groups soon separated, and the Medium walkers continued through the tunnel under the Great Western Highway and then onto Glenbrook Lagoon. The Easy walkers arriving at Glenrook ahead of time, so decided to continue onto Glenbrook Lagoon to meet up with Medium group. Together we returned to Glenbrook village for lunch and Camino Meetup at The Church Café.

It was another great walk, perfect day for walking and discovering more of the Lower Mountains and Glenbrook and sharing Camino friendship. There were 2 new walkers joining us including a local Glenbrook resident who hadn't walked this side of Glenbrook before and Marta from Madrid who was on her first trip to Australia and out for 3 weeks work. Marta had Googled walks in the Blue Mountains and found the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters group! She investigated further and quickly registered to join us for the Glenbrook walk. Marta has walked the Camino Frances and was thrilled to be able to join us. We couldn't let the opportunity pass for Marta to tell us about her Camino and tips on walking after Covid lockdown times. Some of our future pilgrims hope Marta will be in Spain when they get to go on their Camino!

Thank you to Ann for volunteering to 'lead' the Medium walk, for being Camino Meetup MC and Camino Conversation with Marta, and to everyone who joined us in Glenbrook.

We are excited with our International Camino visitors this year and adding to our expanding Camino Family! First there was Vicky from Utah, JoVonna from Texas, Marta from Madrid and now Mike from California. And of course, Susi and Fermin of Casa Susi in Trabadelo on the Camino Frances.

Our September 2022 Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day walkers about to depart Penrith Station on Day 1 to walk up the Blue Mountains. They will arrive in Blackheath in 5 days after walking almost 90kms!

Amongst the excited Pilgrims, there are 7 from Sunshine Coast Camino group and 2 others from QLD, 3 from Victoria, 1 from Long Beach California, and the remainder from many areas of Sydney to Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains.

It should be noted that 14 of the 33 Pilgrims actually started out 5 days earlier from Circular Quay in Sydney and walked to Penrith to join the Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walk before continuing another 2 days on to Lithgow. These Long Walkers, guided by the enthusiastic Nick Batten, covered 250kms over 12 days, what an amazing effort!

Thank you all for joining us in the Blue Mountains. We love sharing the Camino camaraderie and experience with you! Buen Camino

The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters have created a Volunteer Portal to provide opportunities for the Camino Community to be involved in our local Camino events.

We relish being able to offer opportunities for people to give back to the Camino Community, in recognition of all the Camino has given to so many.
For instance, you may offer help in leading a walk/s, get involved in our 5-Day Walks and much more! Thank you to those who have already registered, we appreciate your support.

Read more about the various volunteer opportunities HERE.

SHARISE WATSON
LONG WALK HOME: Sharise and friends from the Blue Mountains Camino Supporters will for the 3rd year to support the Wayside Chapel (Sydney) Long Walk Home 2022. Join her by walking 28km on Saturday the 8th of October in the Blue Mountains or anywhere you choose.
Click to here to JOIN or SPONSOR Team Blue Mountains Camino Supporters.

Walk to d’Feet MND: Ann is on a personal journey and recently completed walking 250kms from Circular Quay to Lithgow and raising funds for Motor Neurone Disease MND in memory of her Dad.
You can read and donate to Ann's MND cause Click Here

MARGARET BOUTTELL
Parkinsons Marathon: Margaret joined Will Boag (from WilltoWalk) and Dean Laws to walk 42km on 31 July to raise awareness of Parkinsons Disease in memory of her Dad.

You can read more about Will's remarkable Camino's WilltoWalk HERE and donate to Parkinsons NSW HERE

To Inspire, To Share, To Connect.....

After two years of border closures, many of our Supporters headed overseas on their Camino with a few more about to embark on their Camino in 2022 whilst others plan their Camino in 2023. We look forward to hearing your Camino stories either at a Camino Meetup of you may wish to write a highlights Blog to include on our website.... You can see the Virtual "On The Way Board" on our website: HERE.

Buen Camino to all those currently walking in Spain

If you would like to share your plans or connect with one of these fellow Australian Pilgrims when you’re On The Way, drop us a line HERE.

We look forward to reading your blogs.

The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Pilgrim Record has been developed for pilgrims to record their walks here in the Blue Mountains or anywhere. Collect pilgrim stamps each time you walk with us here in the Mountains, write your reflections, collect business cards or mementos to keep in your Pilgrim Record.

The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Cloth Badges can be attached to your backpacks, covers, hats, or clothing. The badge measures 8cm in diameter and can be glued or stitched.

More details how to purchase a Pilgrim Record and/or Badge Click Here

The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Inc is a community group run by volunteers with the aim of:

There is a dedicated team of volunteers who plan, recce and organise the Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walks, monthly Training Walks, Camino Meetups and other events. We hold monthly Camino Training Walks and Meetups on the last Saturday of the month except December. When available Glenella in Blackheath will host Meetups and the Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Pilgirms. Glenella is owned and managed by Margaret and Rowan Bouttell .

L-R Johann Saure, Rowan Bouttell, Rosie Edmonds, Tony Hodgson, Carlene Martin, Sharise Watson, Margaret Bouttell

Thank you to the volunteers:
This newsletter is produced by Sharise Watson and Carlene Martin, supported by Margaret Bouttell.
The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Facebook Page is managed by Carlene Martin and Rosie Edmonds.
Margaret Bouttell manages TryBooking and BMCS financial matters.
Kerrie Girdo and Carlene Martin manage the Blue Mountains Camino Community Group Forum on Facebook.
Rowan Bouttell and Nick Batten are tech support, videographers and editors.
Rowan Bouttell and Nick Batten are our Chief and Deputy Mappers extraordinaire.
Our website is managed by Johann Saure, Nick Batten and Carlene Martin.

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

Blue Mountains Camino Supporters acknowledges the Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.