After several rest days we are on a train for Mieres, the last stage of the San Salvador camino. We wanted to walk the full San Salvador but were a bit worried we wouldn’t have enough time to get to Santiago and Muxia. We also have plans to visit a few places. Soooo we will do the last stage to get an idea.
I’m a bit apprehensive about walking the Primitivo. My daughter, Lindsay reminded me that people comment about how difficult it is. So we will see. I use the word apprehensive because scared is too strong. Apprehension for me is a mix of a little fear and a lot of excitement!!!
I simply need to remember what all we have done this year, and rely on good sense and that spark of adventure!!!
What challenges do you have today? How will you overcome them?
After our 31 kms and no clean rooms we enjoyed a couple of rest days in Leon. We were able to catch up with some camino friends and celebrate a couple of birthdays.
Our second rest day was all about more rest and errands. I needed new hiking pants (lost a little weight and mine were only shorts). The weather in the mornings has been very cool. We also sent back 4,2 kgs/9.2 lbs of unneeded stuff. Every camino I think we will get it right and still struggle. We will keep trying though. Although we are accepting not having to carry everything and sending things ahead. It’s really a gift to give yourself especially if you are suffering from an injury or just want the freedom of walking.
On Camino you have time to consider other sorts of baggage that it is also a gift to not send forward but rather put down and leave behind. The baggage of regret, disempowering beliefs, doubts, shame, (you get the idea). The same way a heavy backpack weighs you down physically, this extra emotional and spiritual baggage can hamper you for the journey ahead.
What is weighing you down? Maybe it’s time to let it go and leave it behind.
We started out from El Burgo Ranero this morning. It was cold and beautiful, well dark at first.
We walked the first 8 kms in the dark when suddenly Niel from Scotland came suddenly upon us. I will admit he scared us. He is a much faster walker than we are so he soon sped past us.
As we walked along the road in a nice path we saw ahead what looked like a bottle of beer on a camino marker. As we got closer we discovered it was a full bottle of wine with a note: for Noah and Debbie. We, of course, took it knowing Niel had left it for us. We found out that he had found the bottle along the trail. He carried it for a bit and decided since we had two bags we could carry it. 😂😂😂
We saw him later and he explained that to us. Noël shared with him that his name is Noël not Noah. He apologized. Noel wasn’t upset. Just wanted him to know.
Our day was going to be long because we couldn’t find anywhere to sleep for 31 kms. When we arrived at our accommodation it was on the outskirts of a small town where no bars/restaurants were open. There was a Dutch couple just ahead of us who headed up to their room. As we were getting checked in to say their room wasn’t clean.
After we got our keys all the way up the stairs I kept saying I hope our room is clean. It wasn’t. They gave us another key. Again a room not cleaned. We decided to check about dinner. Nope. No dinner, but we could walk back into town where there would be a restaurant open…at 9:00 pm. Nope.
We got a taxi for the 9 kms into Leon. I said to Noël, “if we don’t take care of ourselves who will?” It was a very good decision.
There are similar experiences in life off of the Camino. Stand up for yourself. Don’t think that you are being selfish. Look at it this way: on an airplane they tell you to put on your own air mask before helping someone else. So, take care of yourself first so you can be there to help others.
We have heard of so many people celebrating on the Camino. Birthdays, Anniversaries, milestones…it’s quite fun to hear the stories!!
A couple from Australia, Pauline and Keith, are celebrating several important events, two significant birthdays and a significant anniversary. Stephanie from Texas celebrated her birthday earlier on the camino. Today is Suzanne’s birthday.
Yesterday was a big day for many as it was the halfway mark for the camino Frances. When you reach Sahagún you can receive a half Compostela for reaching the halfway mark.
Halfway point for Camino Frances
There are also other milestones people have on the camino…overcoming fear, getting up another day and walking again, navigating the camino route, attempting to speak Spanish, climbing mountains (physical and mental and spiritual), taking time to breathe, sorting through issues…there are so many more.
It’s been another great day, we spent it with Pauline and Keith and Suzanne and Michelle. Happy Birthday!!
Enjoy these views. Hope you are well. Buen Camino
Noël found this potato and came out to the terrace singing to me about his love. ❤️
Tripping Into Grace 