Pardone’

Hola.

Exhausted.

After hours of walking, we made it to our beautiful apartment. Towards the end of the walk today, Bethany was tracking closely the distance and time remaining on google maps. “Two hours to go. One more hour. 30 minutes from the apartment. 20 minutes! Ten minutes!” Until she’s literally counting down the minutes remaining. After reaching the building, we slogged up to the 3rd floor, dropped our backpacks inside the door and gave each other a weak high-five. We made it!

Honestly, when planning out our walk, twelve miles or so daily seemed doable. After all, people walk more on some of the stages-even up to 20 miles a day. What kind of animals ARE they?!?

It’s been challenging.

Here’s what I imagined our Camino would be when we were planning it. Get started bright and early, walk steadily but not fast (it’s not a race, after all!) stop anytime we need a little break to have coffee and a chat with the locals, enjoy the countryside, stay hydrated, continue walking, and repeat. Then, after making it to our destination each afternoon, explore the town, eat some amazing food, and get a good night’s rest.

Then repeat.

Reality isn’t in line with my idealistic notions.

But we’re are not complaining, I assure you. After FaceTime-ing Dale today, he asked if we regret doing this and it is a resounding “NO!”

I’ve only dwelt on our physical challenges-but there is much, much more that I suppose will make the hard parts recede into the background of our memories when looking back someday.

And just having the ability to do this has been amazing. Experiencing the varied beauty of the trip – forests, farmlands, ancient buildings and churches – is an experience that I don’t think we will have again.

Many people have done two, three, or more Caminos, which begs the question, “why?” I’m pretty sure this will be one and done for me and Bethany. But apparently the lessons learned, the quiet beauty and the comradeship of fellow travelers seeps into your bones and, after being home for awhile, “they say” you’ll want to return! Right now though, if a fellow traveler says “buen Camino”one more time I want to say, “buen THIS!”

I can’t imagine feeling the urge to do another camino. And if I do talk crazy like that, please, dear reader, knock some sense into my forgetful head!

Too tired to talk about the amazing parts of our walk today. Maybe later. I have some blisters to nurse.

Maybe later I can elaborate on how Bethany had to dive into the ferns and trees when nature called unexpectedly—- and after making it out she said, “did I get it off my legs?”

It’s funny, NOW!

Buen Camino

We ate dinner at a pub right around the corner from our apartment.

This sweet man stamped our Camino passport by creating a wax seal. So cool.