Day 23

“One of my friends reminded me of these wise words: “If you forgot to bring it then you didn’t need it” Perhaps this is difficult for us to ponder especially in a culture where we have so many things at our fingertips…but what if you didn’t…” 
How true. When you are walking daily and have your belongings on your back you appreciate this thought even more. 

Lindsay and I started in Salamanca with a large suitcase and two smaller bags not to mention our backpacks. We pushed them and carried them all the way to the bus station. Then all the way through Madrid. And after that to the train station to Pamplona and all the way through Pamplona to the bus station to St Jean Pied de Port up the hill so that we could send the large suitcase and the two smaller ones on to Santiago. It was challenging. 

And even with all of that our backpacks were too heavy. Two days of carrying told us that. The third day we decided to send them on to Pamplona and just walk. It was a big hill day so the heavy packs would have slowed us down and hurt our feet and backs. We sent 8ks/18 pounds on to Santiago (that included my boots which I decided not to walk in because a blister had started). 
We have let go of a few more items that just were weighing us down and we weren’t using. I have given away medical supplies that others needed more. And there are things in my pack that I haven’t used so when we get to Leon I will lighten my load a little more. 

I haven’t felt like there was something I wish I had brought that I didn’t have. 
Less is more especially when you are carrying it around every day. And it gives you empathy for others at least it does me. 

“If you forgot to bring it then you didn’t need it.”
Buen Camino 

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