Change in Plans

Back in the ole states again. My travels took a change in plans. I'll try to write more about that soon. But in the meantime, here's a great article that expresses what I can't....

"So perhaps that’s what my wanderings have taught me — the ability to cope with a less-than-perfect reality. It’s a valuable tool, considering life will always be less than perfect."

http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/traveling-teaches-you-to-suffer-well/

On the Seventh Day She Rested

Hard to believe I've been walking just a week! In many ways it feels much longer. 

I've walked around 100 miles and today I decided to take it a little easy and end my day early at lunch. It's a scorcher anyway, so I'm glad to avoid it.

It's going very good although the road has its ups and downs (literally and figuratively). The first couple days your body is in pain. Your legs, feet, back, hips. You focus on every step. Trying to find patches of grass to walk on instead of jagged rocks. 

Then there is the race. All sorts of people are walking the camino and some are about going far and getting there fast. I find myself constantly slowing myself down. This is about the journey, not the distance or the speed. 

And sometimes you get lost. The other day I was following what I though were signs I was going the right direction, but it ended up being the bike path that brought me to the main road. D'oh! 

So many lessons learned along the camino. Time to think. But there is always a little inspiration along the way for weary travelers.

Here are a few highlights from the past week. Morning stroll next to a spring:

Walking with the bulls in pleasant Pamplona:

Passing the place where the wind and the stars meet:

Walking around the church ancient stones barefoot. A place linked to the Knights Templar. 

Eating off the vine! Grapes. Almonds, figs, berries, walnuts: YUM. 

Walking through beautiful villages.

And farms and fields: 

It's been an interesting journey this far. Only 400 miles left to go.....

Meditation of the week:

Get lost. Something reoccurring I've noticed the last week is how easily it is for me to lose things or leave them behind. Sometimes it's on purpose, other times it's accidental. Most of the time I go on knowing I can either do without it or buy a new one. Other times I bite the bullet and go back. Either way it's amazing what you can make so without! What could you stand to lose? 

Camino Day Uno

Where to even begin! It was a BIG day. Senses overwhelmed. It started out with me waking up from nightmares of not packing enough and oversleeping. I did sleep in a little (because I could!) and hit the road at 10:30. It was foggy outside and a little chilly, but I knew that would change soon as the sun came out. Walking out of the city was slightly confusing. Where is the camino? 

Sign you were on the right path:

I knew it would be a big day. The Pyrenees portion, while one of the prettiest, is a lot of up and down. 15 miles total til you reach a bed. The road gradually began to climb through the mountains. Passing sheep, horses, and farms along the way. Always with views of the beautiful surrounding mountains.

It was HOT. The sun was burning down, and it was uphill. Luckily I have learned from past heat hikes, put on my hat and sunglasses, and stayed hydrated! 

Most of the walk was on an asphalt one lane road, cars would drive by at times, but overall it was very quiet. The last five miles were on a dirt path, which was much to my relief as my feet were KILLING me!

There were so many little things I was noticing along the way: flowers, berries, spiderwebs, scat (only a gal from the wilds would take a photo). :)

Guess that scat?

At some point we entered Spain, but as one of my new friends said "if you ask any of the locals they wouldn't say they are in France or Spain, but rather Basque Country." Either way, the higher you got, the more dramatic (and lush) the views were.

And the sheep, cows, and horses were everywhere! You could always here their bells ringing in the distance.

The final stint was ALL downhill, which was BRUTAL! At that point my feet and knees were in pain. But it was through beautiful old growth foggy, forest.

And then all the sudden, I had arrived at the monastery albuergue, it was beautiful. I was tired and my feet were sore. And what would you know but right when I get there, take a shower and sit in bed, the priest comes by offering some sort of Spanish alcohol. Then offered a tour of the facilities to pilgrims. After the tour, I ate my first pilgrim meal: soup, trout, wine, and ice cream. Then it was time to rest the body and sleep. Day 2 was sure to be full of aches and pains....

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Camino Meditation of the Day

I know not everyone is able to walk the camino. So I'm going to offer reflections from the road for you to ponder. Today it's the question: What's your story?