Wednesday, May 3, 2017

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAMINO

If you seek creative ideas, go walking


All is well on the Camino.  We are at the 70 mile mark in the town of Estrella ensconced in a really nice B&B in a room with a terrace and a view overlooking the city.  It is 4 in the afternoon and Cathie is taking a nap in a huge king sized adjustable bed.  Who said the Camino can't be comfortable.  It is siesta time in Spain and most of the business are closed till about 5. Even so our laundry is being done downstairs for the small fee of 4 euros.  Soon we will head down the hill into the old town to explore and to pick a restaurant for dinner, which is served starting at 8 pm.

Our B&B


The generosity on the Camino is contagious.  Jim, helping Cathie with her pack.  I saw someone carrying a woman's pack when she was struggling over the Pyrenees.  Sharing what food you have is common.  In Zubiri while drinking and talking with other pilgrims, Erica, a young woman from Germany was talking about being cold at night in the albergues.  She said the thin blanket provided was not enough and she was sleeping in her clothes to keep warm.  Cathie got up and when to our room and returned with her sleeping bag, giving it to Erica.  Erica was beside herself with emotion, that someone she just met would do what Cathie did.  Cathie told her that we would be staying in private rooms the rest of the Camino and the sleeping bag was just extra weight.  That my friends is the Camino.


Speaking of extra weight.  Walking across Spain with a bunch of extra stuff in your pack is only asking for trouble.  You feel every pound you are carrying.  There is a train of thought that one should only carry 10% of their body weight.  In SJPDP in the pilgrims office you can weigh your pack.  Cathie's came in at a whopping 27 pounds, way more than 10% of her body weight.  But girls have to have stuff to make them look pretty, right?  I have learned a long time ago that my suggestions usually fall on deaf ears.  What do I know anyway.  Well Jim, you remember Jim, the guy that adjusted Cathie's pack?  When he picked it up, he immediately made a comment or two how heavy it was and stuff needed to be removed to lighten the load.


Well, that got Cathie to thinking that perhaps she didn't need all the makeup for a hike across Spain.  So yesterday when we arrived at our stop for the night, we gathered up some of the needless stuff, put in a box and mailed it to Santiago, where we can retrieve it when we arrive there.  Cathie still refuses to give up her pillow from home.  Yes, she had managed to stuff a full sized pillow into her pack.


We are both basically doing fine physically, although Cathie is discovering new places on her body that hurt.  Normal aches and pains one gets from walking 13 miles a day.  Just so you know, according to my iPhone, that's 33,500 steps.


We are enjoying ourselves, the scenery is spectacular and the weather has be cool.  That makes for good walking.  Tomorrow the tempatures are expected to rise so it will be time to put away the fleece and long sleeved shirts.  Having walked for one week now we are beginning to recognize other pilgrims and remember their names.  This evening we sat at a sidewalk cafe in the main town square and chatted with others that we have become aquainted with.


I will end now and try to get this posted before I fall asleep.


EARLY MORNING IN PUENTE LA REINA 

 
PUENTE LA REINA (THE QUEENS BRIDGE)
 
APPROACHING CIRAUQUI
 
THE SCALLOP SHELL POINTS THE WAY
 
ESTELLA
 
PLAZA DE LOS FUEROS, ESTELLA

6 comments:

  1. Great post! Mom, and her pillow! Lol

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  2. My husband and I are following your Camino with interest. Your writing is wonderful. I recognize many of your photos as I walked in the fall of 2015. Bien Camino!

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  3. Gary said via E-mail
    Another fantastic post!!!

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  4. Bill said via e-mail

    Wonderful !!!! napping would be my first priority too :)

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  5. Shari said via e-mail

    Oh. I do love reading about your hiking adventure, sounds wonderful and the pictures are beautiful. Tell Cathie Hi and tell her she is doing a great job.

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