When I travel with my husband, Steve, he takes thousands of pictures of our journeys.  It’s so nice and easy to look back at any adventure and see where we were and what we did.  He takes photographs of all the people we meet and some unsuspecting ones, most of the food we eat and all the places we visit.  He and I are in so many of these pictures.  It’s really quite an amazing journal of all of our travels. 

I am on day 5 of a 16 day walk on the Camino de Santiago.  I realized somewhere on day 3 that my picture taking consisted of an occasional picture of me before starting the day to send to Steve and let him know where I am and what I’m up to.  A sort of “proof of life” picture.  The rest of the pictures are of a sunrise or a field of cows but mostly I’m allowing the journey to be in the emulsions of my mind.  Nothing is chronicled except for what I remember and write.  Each day unfolds as it will with meeting lots of people, walking with Maureen, my friend from Peaks Island, and walking solo.  The last time I walked the Camino, the entire 800 miles from Saint John Pied de Port in France to Santiago, I was 68.  At 75 I must admit that I was worried that this was some kind of a fantasy that I could put on my backpack and walk an average of 15 miles up and down the terrain each day.  So here I am on day 5, a rest day and I walked the previous 4 days with a day of 24 miles, almost an entire marathon, and I was able to get up the next morning and do it again.  A day of 13 miles feels like a walk in the park.  Well not quite that but certainly easier than a day in the 20’s.  I am in much better shape than I thought I was and I can do a lot more than I thought I could.  Yesterday was a tough day.  It was downhill on rocky surface with unsure footing that went on for hours. In addition we were plagued by flies that spun around our heads. They didn’t bite but they were a complete nuisance. There was nowhere to stop and rest and have a cold drink.  No way to get rid of the flies.  I hoped for a huge gust of wind to blow them away but none came. Several hours later we ended up in a small town that  had a lovely outdoor restaurant filled with exhausted pilgrims all contemplating their next move.  The talk was all about the next section which was described as harder and steeper than what we had just completed consisting of about 3 hours and then another six miles after that to reach the town where we would be staying.  People began calling taxis and Maureen and I looked at each other and I knew then that another 6 hours of walking, which would have us arriving at about 9:30 pm, was out of the question.  Luckily we were both in the same place and we shared a cab with 4 other walkers and arrived at our hotel about 4:30.  A true advantage of being 75 is that I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but me and I was done for the day. 

Today has been a lovely rest day of sightseeing, after a visit to the laundromat, in this small but quaint Spanish town with a huge castle and of course the obligatory church.  I have come to lighting candles in ever church we pass and praying for those I think would benefit. We had a late lunch complete with wine and we will meet after a short rest to have a final celebratory drink and a snack before heading to bed.

Tomorrow we start again with a 15 mile walk that has some uphills and few downhills.  There are no more rest days before we reach Santiago on October 11 but I’m sure there will be lots of adventures and plenty to see. Maybe the flies will be gone and I might even remember to take a few photos.

Buen Camino Everyone.

With love and gratitude,

Marsha