For Every Ascent There Is A Descent
Those of you who know Ernest know that his sport of choice by far is road cycling. He thrives when he can climb on his bike and pedal away. He is already planning the next Camino on a bike. I would do the muesta on a bike but when it comes to the mountains..well…nope..I will need to take care of grandchildren then. As he has tried to help me fall in love with the sport as an exercise one mantra has become fixated on my mind. It is: For every ascent there is a descent! Man, was that true today.
O Ceiberiro was the cutest village and we stayed in a hotel that we shall remember the rest of our lives. One of the first things we do every morning is check weather. Ernest volunteered to stay for a week as next Wednesday it will start snowing there and not stop for three days. The high will be 30 degrees F. Actually we thanked God that we did not climb or descend in that weather We had a light breakfast and began to finish transversing our last mountain range to Santiagi de Compostelle. The trail was 90% descent. It was a long arduous descent. It was not “technically” difficult not a constant pull on the legs and placement of the foot to keep from sliding. We traveled 15.5 miles almost always downhill. We arrived in Tricastille about 3:30 and we are tired.
There were a number of different pilgrims today. One was a large group of teenagers who arrived with “rolly” bags. They galloped up the Camino for half a mile then boarded a bus. Then there were about six “thirty somethings” who had no packs and were “doing the Camino!” I told Ernest that was like getting your hair fixed in a beauty salon and thinking you were a beautician. We just plodded along.
Tomorrow promises to be very long day. We want to git to Sarria. Sarria is the town you MUST hike from to get your Credentials in Santiago. After this village many more peregrinos flood the senda. Whisper a prayer for strength for us.
He( The Trinity) spoke often today. We reveled in His truth. We kept saying. ” So that is what you mean!’ But I am too exhausted to tell you the story now. Forgive me, please.
We think that His greatest impact that we have seen through us is : prayer before meals. Ernest and I decided decades ago that if Muslims prayed seven times a day to an untrue God then we should NEVER be ashamed to pray before our meals. The reaction of those around us has been nothing short of , “What a great idea!” REALLY???
Buen Camino
