One year ago I was walking from Los Arcos to Longroño (per my GPS a distance of 18.65 miles). I started walking at 6:40 a.m. with a German man who drove me crazy. We got lost before breakfast and shared a laugh over cafe con leche with other Pilgrims at our lemming behavior. In my journal, I noted that this was the day I laughed the most (to date) and I met the first person who, instead of telling me my pack was too heavy (like every other soul on the Camino), said I should be proud that I could carry it. It was a welcome perspective.
I earned another new blister, saw two rainbows as well as snow-capped mountains, was passed by a man on a horse (the only day this happened), and took a homeopathic crystal from a stranger from Vienna to help my feet.* I shared a hard story to help another and along the way encountered beautiful stacks of rocks (cairns) with notes tucked away. I wrote that it reminded me of the prayer wall in Jerusalem. Sometimes we have to physically leave something behind in order to do it emotionally.
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| Between Los Arcos y Longroño May 19, 2016 |
That day's quote from GBC P@1ge was especially fitting after the walk:
"I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back. And most surprising of all, that I could carry it." - Cheryl Strayed
* There have been only two times that I can recall accepting medicine from a stranger: this occurrence and while I was on my Giligan's Island I Think We're Going to Die Alaskan Cruise. In general kids, don't accept medicine from strangers.
♥♥♥
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