Perkified and it Feels So Good

     Today was easier than the past two. I perked up a bit. Perkified is a smidge above petrified (as in stone) at this stage of the walk. 

     Cloudy skies and a divine lunch with chocolate cream for dessert (a really rich pudding), and yah, that's all a girl hiking the camino really needs. (Oh yes...that and ibuprofen and acetaminophen...then I'm set.) (and band aids and moleskin and diet coke and the amazing bread here...) (and clean alburgues...) (you know--the simple things...)

     I haven't grown tired of the charm of this country. Sometimes when my feet and the weight of my pack are yelling at me, I just have to ignore them and look up and breath it in and be so so content. 

     I'm so happy for the journey!

Sister Wives

After a days walk, when I stretch out on my bed or bunk, my muscles shoot distress signals to my brain for an hour or two. I'm getting used to the way this feels. I take a couple ibuprofen and wait for it to ease. A hot shower helps and we have had hot water and showers every day. I recognize this as a luxury of a modern day pilgrim. 

I wish I could see a time lapse of the Camino through the centuries. We complain about our feet which are shod in well designed shoes. Our packs are engineered for comfort. We are wimps. 

And yet it is still a challenge. 

I need to give a shout-out to fellow pilgrims Juli and Dena who we spent two lovely evenings with. 

As you can tell, they like to laugh. When they discovered they were hanging out with Mormons they immediately tried to make us drink a hearty red wine with them.  

We were able to educate them about the benefits of diet coke vs. wine. 

(*Incidentally, in Spain it is a "sin" to drink coke without caffeine.)

 As they discovered how true we are to our convictions, they soon were begging us to be baptized and become sister wives with us so we can create our own reality show. 

We're going to send the missionaries right over. 

Cherries, Amazing Scenery, and Feet That Hurt

     Today was 11+ miles. We started in a fog that was silent and beautiful. 

     Every village has a cool old church. 

     Some are surrounded with graves stacked several high. 

     We bought beautiful cherries from a roadside vendor, (that I'm lying on my bed and eating as I write this). 

     And Laraine just took my stitches out...man I'm a cutie...

     And I'm through walking until tomorrow!!! 

     

     The alburgue looked mighty inviting...

     I think we will make it to Santiago!!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that...

- I'm not sleeping in a tent in a dew soaked field, but on a semi comfortable mattress  in an albergue 

-that I'm sharing an experience with my best friend unlike anything we could have imagined.

- that even after sharing a bed last night we are still simpatico

-that no dogs have chased us. 

- that I haven't had to pee outdoors yet

- that Spain believes in Coke not Pepsi

- For magical tree tunnels to walk through every day

- that no one is forcing me to eat octopus, the Galician favorite. 

- that every afternoon, I can call home and talk to Mark, who will be waking up and waiting for my call, who will have followed along our path on google earth so he knows where I've been better than I do. 

- that there are only 4 more days of walking to Santiago!

Endurance...Maybe Not a Good Tired

     Today I'm dragging...hashed, trashed, and thrashed. Even though feet are doing better...I sure felt the walk today. Five more walking days...so I have to buck up. 

     But lucky, lucky Laraine gets to share a bed tonight...she'll love it I predict. 

      I've thought a lot about my man, Kimbo slice today...I'm lonely for him. I'm missing a lot of things...m & m popcorn for one. He's had a rough go since I've been gone, losing his mom. He's a good person and I quite like him. 

     I've actually had mucho (impressed?) time to think and ponder on my life and my blessings. I have been blessed with great things...my family being first and foremost. 

      We have had dinner with two nice women the past two nights. When I told them that I married at 17 and was 5 months pregnant when I turned 18...they almost swallowed their gum. But I thought about my sweet first born James and how easy he was...how he slept all night from 2 weeks...and how even as a little toddler he walked around humming...and remains so constantly cheerful...well it's all good. 

     Then Maegan, Hunter, Jackie, and Luke joined the gang and I can only be grateful. 

     Life is really hard, harder than I dreamed it would be. And somehow simultaneously life is really good, way better than I dreamed it would be. 

     My darling daughters

     My son Luke who is in Peru. 

     All of us at Luke's graduation. 

     I didn't have to come to Spain to know life is good...

From Warrior to Wimp

There is a hierarchy of admiration on the Camino. 

Most admired are those who start in France and do the whole enchilada. That is nearly 500 miles. Those who walk it in its entirety, carrying their own packs, without skipping sections - just gutting it out to Santiago are the kings of the road

Then there are those who do a section, also carrying their packs. 

Then there are those who walk with a light pack, sending luggage ahead by a transport van company. 

In the last two days there are lots of walkers without packs

I feel a little jealous. 

When I put my pack on each morning it feels like an old friend, perfectly fitted to my back, warm and secure. 

After a few hours it feels like a gargoyle with a lead bottom, dragging from my neck muscles, heavy and burdensome. I am always glad to take it off. 

Good thing Spain is so beautiful

I don't know what these are but they look like the pussy willows my dad always brought my Mom in the spring. My parents were romantics. 

Today I'm grateful for cola cao, which, when mixed into steamed milk can cure anything, even backpack loathing. 

It's a Good Tired

    Eight miles today...eight yesterday...I get so I can't remember even where we stayed two nights ago or what day of the week it is. You may not believe this but to just walk, eat, wash clothes, sleep...repeat...repeat...takes you places emotionally and physically you haven't been before. 

     I don't know if it's the bonk on the head or the physical labor, but every afternoon when we arrive at our destination for the day, my eyes suddenly feel so heavy I can hardly keep them open. But it's a good tired. 

     My face is healing nicely and my new grandma thuh thuh thuh sandals are allowing my mincemeat little toes to finally heal. Life is good. 

     I'm sure missing all my peeps at home.