Wednesday June 24 2015 Lindsay's Bday Grace

This is the day Lindsay James was born. She has brought immense joy and challenge and laughter and grace into our lives!! I love her!!!

I started the day celebrating her!!!

And with each step I remembered moments in her life--happy, sad, difficult and joyful--and thanked God for each one because without them all we wouldn't be where we are and today is a good place...as the psalmist said, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24

And with those thoughts in mind I walked. 

This woman, so typical of older women in the country of Spain in her dress, is carrying a full jar of water. Just thought it was cool. 

A view from my albergue

And when I get up the next morning I only have this much farther to wak to Santiago in the next two days!!!

Wednesday June 24 2015 Lindsay's Bday Grace

This is the day Lindsay James was born. She has brought immense joy and challenge and laughter and grace into our lives!! I love her!!!

I started the day celebrating her!!!

And with each step I remembered moments in her life--happy, sad, difficult and joyful--and thanked God for each one because without them all we wouldn't be where we are and today is a good place...as the psalmist said, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24

And with those thoughts in mind I walked. 

This woman, so typical of older women in the country of Spain in her dress, is carrying a full jar of water. Just thought it was cool. 

A view from my albergue

And when I get up the next morning I only have this much farther to wak to Santiago in the next two days!!!

Journey in to Grace

Yesterday and the day before yesterday were marvelous days on the camino. I commented that In that last day from Pedrouzo to Santiago I'm not quite sure how I got to Santiago. It was like I was walking on air and there was a tailwind at my back and I was in this incredible pace line...a trinity of sorts!!!  It was probably a little more dramatic than that for me---

---there were times that I walked the my feet felt on fire but on this day I was floating;

---it really felt as if there was a hand on my back not pushing but just encouraging me along and letting me know I wasn't alone;

---and I felt the beautiful and incredible pace line not only of those who have walked before but those who were behind; and even more than that the pacing of all who were walking with me virtually, in spirit---in a comradeship and community that pulled me through!!!

To go to pilgrim mass and to receive my certificate of Compostella and to be met by other pilgrims was such a joy too. We were all part of something---sharing pain, sharing an experience, sharing the joy of walking and walking and walking and what that means in our individual lives. 

I'm excited about the thought of coming back in a couple of years to walk this with my daughter, Lindsay and share in the wonder of the Camino with her. 

I'm also excited about the possibility of other pilgrimages...of being able to use this to develop a pilgrimage that others can do close to home where we can learn to appreciate the joy each day brings (even with the pain), move and be moved, and learn to take one step at a time always listening...to your body, to nature, to your inner self, to others, and mostly to the divine in all of that!!! In doing these things I think we make a more buen Camino (good journey) not only for oneself but for others also. 

Journey in to Grace

Yesterday and the day before yesterday were marvelous days on the camino. I commented that In that last day from Pedrouzo to Santiago I'm not quite sure how I got to Santiago. It was like I was walking on air and there was a tailwind at my back and I was in this incredible pace line...a trinity of sorts!!!  It was probably a little more dramatic than that for me---

---there were times that I walked the my feet felt on fire but on this day I was floating;

---it really felt as if there was a hand on my back not pushing but just encouraging me along and letting me know I wasn't alone;

---and I felt the beautiful and incredible pace line not only of those who have walked before but those who were behind; and even more than that the pacing of all who were walking with me virtually, in spirit---in a comradeship and community that pulled me through!!!

To go to pilgrim mass and to receive my certificate of Compostella and to be met by other pilgrims was such a joy too. We were all part of something---sharing pain, sharing an experience, sharing the joy of walking and walking and walking and what that means in our individual lives. 

I'm excited about the thought of coming back in a couple of years to walk this with my daughter, Lindsay and share in the wonder of the Camino with her. 

I'm also excited about the possibility of other pilgrimages...of being able to use this to develop a pilgrimage that others can do close to home where we can learn to appreciate the joy each day brings (even with the pain), move and be moved, and learn to take one step at a time always listening...to your body, to nature, to your inner self, to others, and mostly to the divine in all of that!!! In doing these things I think we make a more buen Camino (good journey) not only for oneself but for others also. 

Signs and birds -- climbing into grace

So yesterday I was walking alone all day. 

It was fine I quite enjoyed the solitude and the time to reflect. 

At lunch I stopped at a little coffee bar and got some bread and cheese which was enough for three so I packed part of it up and took it for later. 

While I sat I decided to call ahead to see about getting a bed. Since there ar so many more people walking the Camino since Sarria (the 100 km boundary spot) so they can receive their Certificate of Compostella it's much more difficult to get a bed. I called seven places. Finally deciding that I obviously was not going to walk as far as I wanted. I tried the town before Ribadiso which was really just a hamlet. And apparently the albergue only had 6 beds. I was sure I was going to be calling another place in another town. 

Thea. Answered the phone and I asked, "Hable Englis?" He said, "un pequeyno." Or something like that. So I said, "camas por hoy?" Hoping that I had asked for a bed for today. He asked, "today?" "Si!" And he did. One.  I reserved it. 

When something like that happens you walk with a little joy in your step. Plus you don't fee like you have to hurry quite as much. I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be farther along but relieved I had a bed. It is miserable to walk up to albergue after albergue and have them say completo/full/no room. 

As I made my way along the path and the day got hotter and hotter nd I was happier and happier that I was not going farther than Castaneda. I was about 2 kms from my destination when I came around a bend on a wooded path. There on one of the familiar marked with the shell and a yellow arrow was a little tiny bird with a bright orange chest. I wish I had a good camera but I thought I could still get a good picture. I stood very still and and got my phone out of my pocket but she jumped down from her perch to the ground and hoops several steps and then flew high in the air. Disappointed I said out loud. Are you trying to tell me something? And with that turned another corner and sure enough there was a small hill to go up. I looked in the air and said "thanks for letting me know that I had this small hill to climb!" And I started climbing. As I reached another bend there was another marker...

...only this time there was a large blackbird sitting on it. My first thought was "crap, this can only mean one thing!" And with that the large blackbird jumped down from his perch and hopped on the ground for a few steps then flew high in the air. I thought "you are telling me something!"

And with that I turned the corner and laughed. And said, "crap this hill is five times as big but then that blackbird was at least five times as big as the orange-breasted bird. At least they warned you and you were paying attention!" And I kept laughing as I climbed. 

Looking up about two thirds the way...

Looking down about two thirds the way as it curves on down!!!

I got to the albergue and was met by the most delightful people. The woman fixed me the most amazing dinner. I stayed with three other guests Daryl and Mary from Australia (I'll tell you more about) and Estelle from Madrid, Spain. 

And saw this sunset...a good day

A Day in the life...of a pilgrim

After a day of rest we got up, not too early, had breakfast and started out from Sarria. It was a cool morning with a dense fog/mist hanging over the town. 

We headed up through the village and up and then down across this bridge

Then it was up...with lots more pilgrims on the trail...some pushing there way around, some not speaking the customary "buen camino", and all the while I was trying to remember the spirit of the camino...to be gracious, share, make others feel welcome, appreciate those who walk with you today... (Sigh) this was going to be difficult with so much pushing and shoving. 

The steep climb seemed to go on and on. And that was my advantage. I climb a little better than most even on sore feet

And then I saw him again...the singing, "hallelujah" man!! 

He showed up like an angel. He saw me and before I could greet him he said " "hallelujah mi hermana" "gracias! Buen camino!"

And it seemed the sun came out. 

Actually we just had climbed above the fog but it felt like it. 

And we walked on with birds singing, frogs croaking, and cows lowing...

The smells, sounds and sights were all around us

This sweet woman had a pail on her cane over her shoulder. 

And then we made it to the 100 km marker. 

Woohoo!!!

But there were still a few more miles to go for the day...and a few more things to see!

And supper!!

Tomorrow will be another day full of adventure!!