I woke up before 7:00 AM to the sound of what I thought was rain - but it was actually birds. Brenda had indicated that they had been making noise all night. I don't hear much as I use ear plugs (and have been since my first night in the hostel with the 30 some snorers). My bed was curved a little so I did wake up a number of times and my legs were sore (not that they were not already sore). The room we had was a guest house type of experience with four beds and a private bathroom. This seems to work best for us as far as actually getting some sleep.
The night before we had the pigtails dinner that almost every place we have stayed offer. At our table was a German girl and her boyfriend/husband (I'm not sure if they are married or not). They were riding the Camino on bikes and she had just given up. I think they were heading to the next major town and she was going to put the bike on a bus and ride it all the way to Santiago to wait for him to finish (he was going to continue riding the rest of the way). She was a little high maintenance for me - but it was interesting to talk to them. She was studying to be a physician and he was a Business Analyst with an HR speialization. He worked in Frankfurt - but lives about an hour away from there, one way. They were an...well...interesting couple.
Dinner was fantastic as they prepared a seafood paella in a huge pan and a very large salad platter. We always have bread - every meal - and wine as well. It seems as though it's just part of their culture. They also brought us some fruit an cookies after. The Spanish people are extremely hospitable. Along the Camino, they St up these guest houses and act as hosts to the Pilgrims that come by. They are kind and generous people.
We pre-arranged breakfast (with most of the places do), and it was excellent - as always. Toast, butter, jams, meat, cheese, fruit and coffee with milk. I had my second cup of coffee in two days. What's strange about that is that I don't like coffee, but it's so prevalent here that they look at me strange when I say that I don't want any. So, I give it a try occasionally.
We finished breakfast and headed out on the road in full rain gear. Today was going to be a wet day. We walked out of the town directly into the countryside in the rain. One has to have good rain gear on a trip like this. The scenery was amazing! There was purple Heather everywhere along the way. Fog rolled in for almost all of the journey to the point where you could only see about 50 feet in front of you. The trail was muddy and wet in a lot of places. It also went up and down alot! Today we will actually be at the highest elevation of the trip.
We made a stop at a small village along the way and ordered a bit of food. I also had an Earl Grey tea. I'm not sure if it was the cold and the wet that made that tea so enjoyable - but it was amazing. At our table was a couple of older ladies who were on the camino. One of them was from Edmonton (is it a small world or what)? She lived in River Bend and her name is Boygenna. She was travelling with her sister who spoke spanish but no English. Boy gonna spoke English and Polish (polish to her sister). She asked me why I was on the Camino I told her about my story of being a cancer survivor. With tears in her eyes she relayed my story to her sister in Polish. I reached out my hand and touched her on the elbow and thanked her for her compassion. She squeezed my hand and smiled.
Just then the people we met the day before came in. Dave entered the room and saw me there - of ring his thanks for me calming down his wife yesterday and telling me that he owes me a beer. We all laughed about it as his wife, Shirley, walked in. She gave me a hug. This is what the Camino is all about - the people and their stories. We continued on our way and the paths got steep and dificult. It seemed like we ever going up forever. Finally it broke and we were able to see the way down. I have to admit, going down is harder than going up. Your feet take a beating. I'm a little sore right now (time for another tylenol).
As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I have been carrying my stone to eventually leave behind. Today was that day. We came upon a place that they call the Iron Cross. It's a large Hill made of rocks that many people have left behind as they journey along the Camino. When we came up I knew that this was the plan for me to also leave my stone. A weight I had been carrying around with me for the last two years.
My pack hangs in the foreground and you can see me in the middle of the screen placing my rock on the pile. It's time to put my cancer behind me. I will live with it forever, of course, but this small gesture is a way for me to not have it in my present any longer. I believe that I will continue to tell my story to those who need to hear it. But for this moment - it was a time for me to say goodbye to a challenging part of my life. I cried a little. It was a freeing expereince. Another one I will never forget.
We walked on and finally arrived at the first village. We had all had enough so we found a place to stay - which happens to be brand new. Same arrangment: room for three, Pilgrims dinner and breakfast and hit the shower. Unfortunately for me, the hot water was barely working. I talked to the organizer as I took some of our clothes to the laundry area for washing. She contacted someone and had it fixed - so at least Jim and Brenda had high pressured hot showers. I guess it was another sacrifice today.
At dinner we sat with two gents (traveling separately). A man from Sweden who had read about this for 10 years and was finally doing it; and another man from the US who was a missionary helping those addicted to drugs an alcohol. As it turns out, he's a cancer survivor as well - yet again we shared our stories. We shook hands and thanked God for allowing us to continue what He has called us to do.
The waitress said she had a surprise for us - and she put on the movie, "The Way" which is about a man's journey on the Camino. I'm watching as I type this.
Today was a powerful day. We walked. We struggled. We overcame. And, we left behind things that we no longer want to affect our present - even though they will always be a part of us. I'm sore and tired - but I'm glad I'm here. Today was a great day!
Buen Camino.
Curt
The picture with the fog in the background makes me want to go on that walk!
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