Two Novice Pilgrims
What have we learned in five days of pilgrimage? One thing we know for certain is this is different from hiking. We can’t really put our thoughts around it! Why is it different? Sometimes we talk about St. James. One of the brothers that Jesus called the sons of thunder. Their name indicated that they certainly were not mild and meek men. We discuss the fact that all Jesus disciples except James’s brother, John, died for the truth they knew.
Is it how we are treated that makes this different? ALL are encouraging! ALL wish us well! ALL expect us to respect God and love Him! “BuenCamino”(Good Pilgrimage)…whatever the reason you are walking..be about that business and do a good job!
Is it that even though we walk together we have hours of solitude? We sometimes walk for miles with the only words spoken verbally are, ” Are you okay? Did you see that hawk? Aren’t the mountains comforting?” The rest of the time Ernest’s brain is in his “nothing box” and mine is reflecting. ( Ernest calls this thinking/praying!)
But it is different and we are called! We KNOW it. We are pilgrims!
The day was hot! Almost from the get-go we were experiencing intense heat. We stopped in a small village at a grocery store for more water, two oranges, two clementines. They along with peanuts will be all we need for lunch. There we also found two things to get wet and put on our necks. RELIEF!!! I was able to purchase a very inexpensive hat to keep the sun off my face. My ball cap is not sufficient We had cafe con leche. We began the trek that promised to be long. We walked 14.35 miles. We were at our albergue with a private room by 2:00. We are fine. We are tired.
The country is BEAUTIFUL! The pilgrims are the sweetest people from EVERWHERE…. Germans, Italians, Hungarians, Chinese, Koreans, Irishmen, those from Wales. Only one woman so far and she was Italian.There are very few Americans.
Tomorrow we will take a different role. Tomorrow we will walk to an ancient Spanish town and sightsee. We will then catch a short bus to Leon. The walking entrance to Leon is the location of the most deaths of pilgrims. They are hit by cars. It goes through a very “rough” section of industrial Leon. We will board a bus for 1.50 Euros.
We wish we could impart the Camino to you. We miss you but we are so happy to be here.
Buen Camino!
