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| OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2026 | 43 Walkers and Hikers We had a great month in May with over six walks and hikes in various parts of San Diego and Orange Counties. Some of the most enjoyable walks included the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, Lake Poway, and Batiquitos Lagoon. June promises to be just as fun-filled. As for me, I left for France the end of April to pick up where I left off walking/hiking last year on the Via Podiensus or Le Puy route of the Camino de Santiago. After walking about 40 miles over three days in southwest France, two friends from my Orange County hiking group joined me in the quaint French town of St. Jean Pied de Port. We stayed in St. Jean overnight, and early the next morning, began our climb up the Pyrenees in France and made our descent in Spain. I am including a photo from that day, which shows the dense fog we encountered all the way up the 4500 ft of the Pyrenees. Once we entered Spain, we continued walking and hiking across northern Spain. The entire trek is 500 miles, but we are able to cover only 350 miles. As this was my second time walking this route, I was able to choose which parts to skip yet still give my friends a f lavor of the Camino Frances. We had only one month to walk and not the necessary five to six weeks it takes to make it all the way to Santiago. We skipped the Meseta, about 115 miles from the long, f lat plateau section of the Camino, due to its wide-open landscapes and repetitive terrain. The Meseta usually takes about seven days to walk, at about 15 miles per day. We are also busing ahead to villages where we experience torrential downpours, like we have had for the last three days. Today we walked nine miles in the cold, pouring rain, through puddles and mud. We then hopped a bus to a stage ahead, or about 15 miles. Although chilled and soaked, this is what I signed up for, as I knew this was a wet part of the world, and you never know what kind of weather there will be during the journey. The silver lining to these downpours is that I am not missing my sunglasses that I lost during a rest stop, about 50 miles ago. One of my friends left the Camino on her fifth day, after developing tendonitis. It happens. My other friend and I have blisters, despite taking all the necessary precautions. We are pushing through. Buen Camino. Written by Marla Reiter June is here and our summer begins. We hope you enjoy our live Instructors, Cheryl Todd and Jennie MacGoy, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Hall from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm as we offer Chair Yoga for free the first visit to see if you like it and if it works for you. Please come early at 10:45 am to sign up at the desk in the Lobby and pay your $5 if it is your second or other time you attend. On Tuesday we offer a Chair to Mat class at 8 am in the Lamia Room in the Clubhouse. Please bring your own mat and a towel. This class is free each and every time because our instructor, Tatis, lives in Ocean Hills Country Club. Have you joined the Senior Fitness Club for 2026? It only will cost you $5 per year with a check made out to the Senior Fitness Club and given to the Front Desk to be placed in the club folder. You will then get emails if any class is cancelled or to communicate other important information about our club. Please join now if you have not already done so. Our three instructors are looking forward to meeting you in class. Written by Carol Farrell, Secretary Senior Fitness Club

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