What Hurts the Ego Is Good For The Soul
We live in a small southern town in Georgia, USA. Our home is old for the South and we have a front and back hall. In the back hall, we hang our packs. We weight them and wear them when they train for trekking during the week. Above the packs, we made a sign that says “WHAT HURTS THE EGO IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL!” Yesterday our ego was humbled and our soul is better.
We knew it would be hard as the distance and change in elevation would be difficult for us. We had breakfast and were on the Camino by 8:30. The rain was steady and temperature tolerable. Our Basque taxi driver had told us that this area of France and Spain had had an inordinate amount of rain and snow in the last month. What we “innocents” didn’t translate that too was….drastic flooding. Babbling brooks became torrential streams. Rivers became raging watercourses. The rain increased all day as the temperature dropped. The way became of increasing concern for safety. There were no villages to seek refuge. We continued for SIX hours of strenuous exercise. When we reached Roncesvalles Ernest began throwing up and was deeply chilled. After much difficulty and the saving grace of having help from our European/American daughter, we were able to get a taxi to take us to our hotel.
Long story made brief. We took a taxi to Pamplona at Clinica Universidad Navarra Hospital. Ernest had contracted a bacterial food poisoning. Camino for this time is finished. It was finished for us anyway. Snow was to return today and the terrain was a steep decline. We were done. We LOVE trekking but were over our heads with the weather; terrain. Perhaps we should try the Camino in April.
We are in a nice hotel in Pamplona. We won’t do any bull chasing but we hope to enjoy this beautiful city. Presently we are watching reindeer races on television. Who knew there was such a thing.
There were so many ways that our Father attended us yesterday. From concerned Pilgrims; attentive, loving children; an outstanding hospital with a nurse who spoke English who STAYED with us till we were dismissed and called a taxi for us. He wrote the story and kept us safe.
We are pleased to say that we are not sore at all from yesterday. The training paid off. We will continue this hobby/sport with more wisdom and a better soul.
Buen Camino
Jan and Ernest