I wanted to call this Make Your Own Assessment, but the above will do as it fits in well with Annemarie's poem that follows. The reason I was going to give it a different title was that we heard from all sources that today's walk was a brutal treadmill walk, and if you were going to bus a section, then this was it. We considered it only because we were having some difficulty sorting a place to stay, but after about 10 minutes of soul searching we discarded the idea and never looked back. We came here to walk...everything...all the way if possible. True, the first 17 kms are very straight, but it was also a beautiful walk.
We were up early and left in the early morning light as it promised to be a long day on the trail. As we stepped out, we were hit by cool air which brought very pleasant smiles to our faces...cold air...blue sky! Not a cloud in sight...finally the famously consistent Spanish fall weather had arrived, and as we left town we saw many other smiles despite the chilly early hour.
As I said, the first 17 are flat, but lots of greenery along side the road providing adequate spots to dart in to, to heed natures call after the morning tea, caffe con leche and zomma (orange juice). It's actually quite entertaining to watch, but for sure it's all eyes front an unofficial, but strictly adhered to rule of the road on the Camino. I've yet to see it broken. The first bar is a long way to go...17.5 kms so no way to survive that long for most folks, but once we all started to arrive there it was one busy place to get food and drink... Look at the smile on Annemarie's face...her feet are starting to work again! Just in time as we have another 27 kms to walk tomorrow.
This is definitely farming country...flat landscape like our prairies...
Look closely and you might see a few new hairs on the chin of this guy...will see what this looks like when I get done with 3 weeks more growing time. This walk is all about "changes".
Last night our pals Peter and Dave came by our humble abode with a couple from Lavalle, Que. and invited us to join them for dinner...very thoughtful of them. An excellent meal...Peter's Spanish is coming along nicely...about as poorly as my own! in any event we had to say our goodbyes after dinner as they are going to drift through this area as they have a week more than we do. Probably we will not see them again this trip, but we will see them in Oz sometime in the next two years...for sure!
Should also mention, we finally saw a stork in one of the nests yesterday...now the 5th country where we have seen them nesting...it is a Big Year!...you can ask me about this when you see me.
For you Caitlin...he's being riding in my hat now for some 400 kms...which reminds me...we have passed the half way point!! Just 389 kms to go now.
Buen Camino!
Little Adjustments
In life, in much of what we do, we make little adjustments
On the Camino this is also true, here are some comments
Our packs might not sit just right
We might have to loosen a strap or pull one tight
A blister might be forming on a heel
Fix it up with a bandaid and better it will feel
A stage might be longer or shorter than we desire
Other pilgrims will have a solution when we inquire
We might have planned to bus through a 'boring' stage
But we choose to walk instead and are glad we did engage
Little adjustments in our thoughts and attitudes too
Help us on those tough days to make it through
This is one of those lessons the Camino wants us to learn
We will continue to be aware of the value of little adjustments when we return
Hi Steve! Hope you're having fun with dad and he is letting you out to breath every now and again!
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