What a day! While I knew that this would be a climb, the reality of climbing was something else. There was a point earlier today that I wondered how anyone could possible do this in the rain as it would be a complete mud slide. However, we pressed on with the temp around 18 to 20C with overcast skies which made it a lot easier than the previous days of 35C or so. Walking high above the sea with the vistas being so incredible has been a wonderful experience. I had forgotten what it was like to walk in the silence of the wind and the earth with only the sounds of the bells on the animals to keep you company. We are enjoying the wonderful smells and sights along the coast. There are few women along this trek and a lot of men - plenty on bicycles even on the very high and tough paths and some guys running along. Must be the locals keeping fit!! I would not want to do this walk alone.
We arrived over the hills and into a small village beside the ocean on an inlet and took a ferry across to the other side where we sat and had lunch. It was such a wonderful experience. We have had the experience over and over again of the Spannish people offering help to us even when we do not ask for it. It is such a warm and welcoming place to walk. You could only see Spain like this if you were walking.
The trek today was a very tough climb and most of it was up - to the total of 24-26 kms depending on the book we choose. We had a long walk through San Sebastien and at the end, nearly gave up on finding the alberque. As happens on the Camino, just when we were about to get into a cab and head to the next town, a young man approached, fluent in French, and pointed the way to the albergue which was about a 3 minute walk from where we were. Once there, we were welcomed by a lovely pair of hospitaleros and were showered and settled in and drinking wine at a local bar in no time at all.
We are planning to try to walk about 22 kms each day depending on the climb, but if today was any indication, and if the weather holds up as it has, we should be OK for this. However, my legs are literally Scccreeeming with aches by the end of this day of walking 9 hours!! so we will have to take it as it comes and hope that our feet hold up.
We are so lucky to be walking together. We are miles ahead of where we were when we stared the Camino France solo two years ago. We know the ropes, have a plan and know what to expect and how to do this, so it is like starting the beginning as we were at the end of the first Camino.
The sounds, the smells and the feeling of walking, except this time high in the hills, brings one closer to God and the very special way in which you can appreciate silence, soul and the splendour of the universe around one.
We read a blessing each morning provided by our Camino Sister Linda, which situates us just where we need to be - walking with heart and soul fully engaged in the experience of just being, listening and observing what there is to appreciate about life and being fully alive.
Off to my glass of wine!
MAggee
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