I've not posted in a few days because frankly, I've just been too exhausted. I think I've walked almost 50 miles in three days. I have seen such beauty I've cried at the site of it. I have been the beneficiary of incredible kindness too. Yesterday was a really hard day not as hard as day one which was 21k from Roncesvalles. Day 1 I walked 9 hours, the last three straight down in rocky terrain. Just when I had no juice left and I could not take another step the RAF soldiers I met in Roncesvalles showed up, they are a fun bunch. When everyone is walking in the same direction you pass each other and meet at lunch /dinner or albuergues and tapas. One of the same guys passed me today running UPHILL in rocky terrain, with a pack on, in CROCS! I was humbled. Day two my walk was from Zubiri to Pamplona, it was a REALLY long day. Yesterday was the day I found out that when the book says it's 20k it's not really 20 K. I was so disheartened to look at my fitbit thinking "yeay, I'm almost there" only to discover, nope I still have three more miles. I took great comfort when I thought three miles that's 4 laps around Discovery Lake. .Gregg and I do that in 45 minutes I'll be there soon. Except NOT. I must have looked quite pitiful cause a policeman stopped me at the entrance into Pamplona and took my pack and carried it. I quite literally sobbed the Oprah ugly cry. He walked with me until I could see my albuerge which another peregrina was kind enough to reserve. More tears followed when naked and alone I discovered that my shower stall had a bench to sit on, which meant I did not have to stand while I showered. When you have walked 14 miles you just don't have the bandwidth to stand a minute longer. I love Pamplona it's a beautiful city with amazing history. To my great credit I resisted shopping in the many souvenir shops because then I would have carry it so that's incentive enough not to. Today was a bit easier. It rained, then I got swarmed by wheat fleas (freaked me out, BAD). The beauty of the Camino is breath taking. I had another fellow peregrina remind me to look back to see where I've been and how long I've come. It's interesting the things that I think about waking amongst birds, flowers, waterfalls and deep forests. Today I sang to myself "Jesus loves me, yes I know for the bible tells me so" then Sting's "Fields of Gold." And the Nicaraguan "Misa Campesina" which is loosely translated to mean folk mass. Singing keeps my mind of my aches and pains, and obsessing how much longer I have before dinner and a shower. Tomorrow is another day. Thinking about walking to Estella. There is an albuerge there that is run entirely by adults with intellectual disabilities. Also thinking I might take a short day. Feet are fairing ok no blisters but I could use a break. Currently I'm sitting with about a dozen peregrinos from Germany, Holland, and Korea, we are watching Germany play Poland. Funny night! Between all of us we can communicate in a combination of french, Spanish and English. Here are a few snaps.
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