The backstory

As the Talking Heads put it “Well, how did I get here?” The same song suggests, “And you may tell yourself, ‘This is not my beautiful wife.’” Well, in my case, it is my beautiful wife and that is how I got here.

 

Let me explain. As a hard-working Episcopal priest, my lovely wife Kristine (LWK) accrues time for a sabbatical. A couple of years ago she starting considering what she might do when the time came. After bouncing a variety of ideas around, she stumbled across the pilgrimage of St. Olav. The Olavsleden is the northernmost Christian pilgrimage in the world stretching from the Baltic Sea on the east coast of Sweden to the west coast of Norway and the Atlantic Ocean. It ticked several boxes for us: it satisfied Kristine’s desire for her sabbatical to include a strong spiritual component; neither of us have ever been to Scandinavia but both have wanted to visit; it would challenge us in ways we can only imagine; and it would get us out of Pacific Grove during the gloomy part of the central coast summer. 

 

So what’s up with St. Olav, or is it Olaf? Olaf II Haraldsson, later known as Saint Olaf and Olaf the Holy, was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He is traditionally regarded as the driving force behind the final conversion of Norway to Christianity. He also is renowned in folklore as a slayer of trolls and giants. He was canonized by Bishop Grimketel one year after his death at the Battle of Stiklestad. In 1164 Pope Alexander III confirmed thatcanonization. He is the patron saint of Norway.

 

The pilgrim path starts in the town of Selånger, Sweden and ends at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, where Olav is buried. It follows the road that Olav traveled when he returned from Russia in the summer of 1030 to recapture the Norwegian throne. A journey that ended with the battle of Stiklestad and the death of Olav. The trail goes through forests, over mountains, along lakes and past communities and historic sites. It varies from gravel road, asphalt and trails. 

 

On June 13, we will begin our pilgrimage. I hope you enjoy following along with our adventure.