A Pilgrim's Life Is Hard

A pilgrim's life is hard uttered one of my companions as she swung her feet out of the bunk bed at 6 am Sunday morning to begin the day's journey. She is the mother of. 43 year old and has been walking the Camino since April 19 from Le Puy, France. I think she has a pretty good idea. 

After breakfast we headed out from Zubiri. After not even half a mile in the rain I realized my Fitbit was not on my wrist. I told my companions to go on. I took a few steps but I didn't want to go all the way back so I unpacked my bag right there in the way. I didn't find it. But I remembered that the Camino is about learning new things and one of those is letting go so I decided too early on. At the next village my new friends were there. They asked if I had checked all of my bag. I did yes everywhere but the water bag. I looked and there it was so apparently it wasn't time to let go. Not quite sure what I am supposed to learn yet from that but still listening. 

We left Zubiri and it was still drizzling. Th ground was wet from days previous days of rain. And we were headed downhill. There was a paved rock path that had been put in what must have been dirt and rock. But it was steep and and slippery. I was taking the side trail which was muddy but a bit safe and not as slippery but I needed to switch sides because the path narrowed too much. Yes...that's right...24 pounds of pack and me flew up and landed on my left buttocks. I injured my thumb slightly (blood blister). Camilla and Marie came back and rescued me giving me aid and staying with me, nursing me. 

When my children were little and they fell down I would say, "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again."  I heard myself say that and saw my children as I sat there. So I got up and finished 11 miles. 

We came to Pamplona and saw where the Bulls run. Stayed at the hostel Hemingway. We ate pinchos not tapas (reference to the movie The Way)

It was a good day!!

I was obviously SLIPPING into Grace!!

On the road again

I as finishing my post last night and was dozing off and somehow deleted it all. So started reconstructing it in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. Went back to sleep and dreamed I was at the beach. I woke with a start at 6:15 realizing I have miles to go before I sleep or get to the ocean!! ;) buen Camino and I will finish yesterday's post later!!

Today's photos Day 3

Blog coming in a bit. 

This morning starting out

Abbey being restored by a couple of former pilgrims. 

Oh for all my cycling friends and enthusiasts if you look carefully there are cyclists down on that road....

A small glance at where we've been...

Love is there...right in front of you!!!

Somehow my walking companions and I ended up on the cycling path. It took us to the same place. But I wonder how that happened? Yes you can do the Camino on a bike!

My walking companions. 

Pamplona 

One of the streets where the run the bulls. 

I will post my adventures of the day in just a bit. . And they were many. 

Day 2 walking the Camino-downhill

Today's walk began in the rain. I heard it raining through the night over the snoring and people getting up to go to the bathroom and the other night noises. As I lay awake I wondered what it would be like walking down the mountain everyone said would be today's walk. Rain, mud, downhill didn't sound fun. 

And so we started...in the rain. Before we got too far out of Roncevalles we passed a farm and there was a little, old man standing outside his barn waving and saying to us who passed by "Buen Camino!" Which means "have a good walk!" He asked the woman in front of me where she was from she told him Italy. He kissed me on both cheeks then he asked me to take a photo with him. 

Oh did I say it was cold too! ;)

From there it was breakfast in Berguete. Cafe au lait and an egg sandwich (so good) Ernest Hemingway stayed here often. 

Then it was walking, visiting with other pilgrims, listening to their stories, struggling to understand and translate between languages. 

Then my animal picture today was of this parent and baby horse. They came all the way across the field for me to get their picture taken...

I will say that people  kept  saying that the walk today would  be downhill and while it was not the climb we had yesterday--for miles on end--their understanding of downhill all the way and my understanding of downhill all the way are very different. 

Tonight I am staying in Zubiri. I am in a room with a group of French women who started walking on April 19 in Le Puy, France. They will walk 1600 km or approximately 1000 miles by the time they finish. I am in awe of them. They have welcomed me in and in some ways taken me under their wings. Two of the women are older and when I was heading up a hill they both told me to slow down in French, but I understood what they meant, take it slow, pace yourself. 

I've met some wonderful people, been able to enjoy nature, be silent and listen, been challenged with each step--and it is only day two.  I feel very blessed

Tripping into grace again...

Some photos from yesterday's walk

Another blog coming later...

Here are some highlight photos from yesterday's walk. 

The first look back after we started up. 

What look like Eagles to me...whatever they were they inspired many of us to get up the mountain. 

The sign reads St Jacques de Compostella 765 km to go. Not sure about this because one in Roncevalles reads 790???

This would make great mulch. Kid you not it was at least leaves a foot deep. Why would I take a photo?  Most comfortable walking surface by far!!!

So much tripping in to grace!!

Signs signs everywhere signs

I had an amazing day today. I have many things to write but still having issues with wifi so will keep it short. I want to post pictures but couldn't get them uploaded I will try again tomorrow. Suffice it to say...

I saw lots of Eagles. And was lifted on them today. Walked by green pastures and still waters. I lifted my eyes to the hills. And listened for the still small voice of God. 

I was even asked if I had gotten any signs yet and I replied "Yes. Did you not see that sign that asked pilgrims to walk on the left and single file? Sometimes the divine speaks very simply. We just have to have the eyes of our soul to see and the ears of our heart to listen."

I have walked many miles today. I am pooped but energized ;) This walk was almost tougher than the marathon. In fact it may have been. But I have 585 more miles to go...

Sharing peace and joy

I won't be writing this often I promise but since I was traveling by plane all day I had more time...

When I got to the airport this morning it was virtually empty. I was thrilled thinking that the airline personnel will not have had time to have dealt with difficult people. Well the problem with that theory is who knows what they have dealt with before they got to work? Maybe they had a bad evening? Maybe they didn't get a good night's sleep? Maybe someone in their family is dealing with a health problem or some other issue--money, drugs, separation? Maybe they had a rude server at the fast food place they stopped at for breakfast? It could be any number of things we have all been there. 

Well I walked right up to the ticket counter and what started as a very pleasant experience turned into an unpleasant one. I'm not sure what happened but I indicated I wanted to keep my backpack with me and she said it was big. And then when I realized there was a line forming behind me I said I had another smaller backpack with me and could step aside and repack it some. She said "I don't care what you do, you are going to get me in trouble and I'm  going to mark it that I tried to get you to check your bag."  

I didn't realize that she had already printed my boarding passes. She looked at my stuff on the counter and looked at me. So I got my stuff and left. I went and sat down and repacked my bag and went through security (which never fails that I ALWAYS  "randomly" get selected for extra checks) and then on to the gate. 

And sure enough I'm on a really small airplane and had to gate check my backpack. I don't really enjoy flying. Have landed in Chicago where I had the most peaceful flight I have ever had. So, in some ways I really wish I could go back and talk to that woman and share with her some peace and joy. Maybe someone else is able to do that for her today. I pray that happens.