The end of this road.

I have been avoiding this post. 

It's the end of this adventure and honestly I am pretty sad about it. Spain as treated us so well. The landscape is breathtaking, the people are lovely and the food has been amazing. The adventure/journey was everything I expected/hoped for and more. 

The last stop on the Camino de Santiago 

The past few days I have had a touch of sadness over the realization this dream. I have been planning preparing and dreaming about the road to Santiago de Compostela for the past six years.

Many of you have planned this dream with me, discussed the Camino and watched the film, The Way. I have carried you along with me. 

Where Martin Sheen threw the ashes. 

Having arrived at the conclusion of this journey I realize on an even deeper level that the journey is the destination.

So much to Todd's chagrin I have already started planning my next journey.  There is another ancient trail in Japan. I can't wait to hike it. (I keep telling Todd we have to go there quickly as we have friends that currently live in Tokyo)

I've found so much joy in this journey. Thanks to you all for being a part of it!

Fences, Boarders & Boundaries

There are many beautiful fences and boundaries lining the path to Santiago de Compostela. It was a comfort many times, especially when we were passing a dairy farm. 

At one point we came to a pasture at the end of the trail. There was no clear boundaries between the Camino trail and the pasture the bull cows were eat in. We felt unsure about continuing forward. We walked back to the previous sign and it directed us back to the pasture with no fence!  

Having walked back and forth a few times Todd decided we should go for it. I was so nervous. We walked a few feet away from several bulls with nothing but air between us. When we were almost to the next gate I came across a cow pie in the middle of the trail!

Isn't that just how it goes!  If we don't have proper boundaries we just might get a cow pie in the middle of our experience. 

A wooden fence with flowers near the sea. 

The original fence that got me contemplating boundaries. 

A rock and ivy wall during the mountain pass a few days walk from Santiago de Compostela. 

In the mountains with another ivy covered wall. 

Trees covered in moss create the boarder for the last part into Santiago de Compostela. Amazingly beautiful!

Trash Talk

(Fun with the selfie stick)

There is a lot of trash in Spain. The other day we were walking on the Camino and a Spaniard walked out of a shop and started on the Camino a few steps ahead of us. He promptly open his back and began peeling off the wrapping and tossing it on the ground. He left his own trail. Todd & I were astonished. 

Today as I was walking past a stream I was noticing all the beauty. And then I came an empty beer can next to some yellow flowers. I wondered why someone would dump their trash right here. It left me thinking about my own trash. What do I do with my trash?  Pollute the experience of other?  Dump my trash for someone else to clean up?  Stuff it?  Hide it and give others the impression I don't have any trash. Pretend it's not there. Sprew it on someone in a moment of anger?  

Unfortunately, I've done all of these things with my trash at one point or another. Today, I make every effort to get rid of my trash, put it where it belongs (usually in the trash bin) and move on. Try to make things better than when I found them. 

8 things I did today on the Camino I've never done before!

1. Crested the peak of a mountain. (The very top)

2. Crested the peak of another mountain!

3. Walked by some windmill on the peak of a mountain. 

4. Thoroughly thrilled to see a monastery. 

5. Had a monk yell at me. (I didn't know they did that, but I guess religious people get angry too)

6. Had a picnic dinner at a monastery. 

7. Slept at a truck stop above a 18 wheeler truck wash. (So bummed I forgot to take a picture)

8. Figured out a puzzle on the Camino. Occasionally the makers will have P.K. & a number. Peregrino Kilometer (pilgrims miles)

The bridges of the Camino

There are so many beautiful bridges on the Camino de Norte. As I walk across each bridge I have reflected on the times in my life I have used/needed a bridge to escape or get reprieve from a trial or burden.  Sometimes the bridge represents a person who has assisted me and sometimes it is a gauge for where I am at in a particular experience. 

In this picture I am almost across the bridge and currently I am almost to Santiago de Compostela. 

Often I have to make an effort to get on/to the bridge. 

Many times I can't see what's on the other side. 

The journey is the destination. 

There are others to guide me if needed. 

Bien Camino

I saw the sign...

There are so many signs along the way to Santiago. But sometimes we have to pay extra close attention, the signs are always there, but they can be difficult to see. 

 

If it wasn't for all of the signs pointing the way, we would be so lost!  Also, it's important we know what is a sign and how to read the sign. 

 

The shell is the sign showing the way to Santiago. One of the reasons why the shell is a sign for Santiago is there are many roads that lead to Santiago de Compostela. The grooves in the shell represent the many roads leading to one point. The wide or outside of the shell is the direction you should have come from and the narrow part of the shell is the direction we want to go. 

My life is filled with signs, warnings and direction. Sometimes I recognize the signs and sometimes I am so busy enjoying the view I forget to look. Sometimes the signs are hidden and I have to really study and search for the sign. (Sometimes I misread the sign because I don't know how to read it). 

When I am aware and follow the signs I always find my way. 

 

https://youtu.be/UEIAPvz6HeI

Lessons from The Camino

The other day Todd & I were walking after a rainstorm and came upon a very muddy path. We hiked a few meters in the mud and decided we didn't want to get muddy so we backtracked and went looking for another path. 

The decision to try and avoid a foreseen difficulty lead us to a most unfortunate adventure. 

Today when we came upon a muddy trail, I thought, yeah, it's a bummer to walk in the mud, but I can do it. No problem. 

I wonder how many times I've come across a difficult task/experience and instead of facing it head on I have tried to skirt around it. 

I'll have no more of that attitude. I can do hard thing and I sure as heck can get a little muddy in the process. 

As the great Helen Reddy says, "I can do anything, I am strong (Strong). 
I am invincible (Invincible). 
I am woman!"

http://youtu.be/MUBnxqEVKlk

 
Camino by the sea. 

 
Pilgrims church clothes. 

 

 

Young at heart ❤️

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.  ~ Maya Angelou

We are in a beautiful coastal city, Gijon. Moving ever westward towards Santiago. Each day has brought adventure, beauty and risk. Just what I need to remain young at heart. Yesterday, when Todd and I were in a pickle on a seaside cliff, surrounded by thickest and mud I had memories of my childhood. Walking across the street with my brother John into the wild. We would go to Africa on a safari or camping in the mountains. Wherever our imagination would take us. My imagination pushed me forward, past my fears and the difficulty. I finally turned to Todd and yelled, "I am fifty!"  

He gave me a strange look and said, "What?"  I said, "I am 50 years old!  This is something I would have done when I was 8-12 years old!  I am too old for this!" 

I believe for me, it is in the thriving, passion, compassion, humor and style that I remain young at heart! ❤️

 

Gijon was the last stop on the Silver Road for the Roman Empire. 

 

Underneath this cathedral in the background is a Roman bathhouse from the 4th century. 

Picture from Friday the 13th

 Apparently my photos from yesterday did not post.  

Pre-fall

 Pre-fall

 

 If you zoom in you can see Todd's muddy pants. 

Lies my teacher told me...

The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plains. 

We are nowhere near the plains and there has been a lot of rain. We were fortunate enough to have pleasant weather as we walked today. The problem is, it rained all night. The Camino we were on today was quite rugged and very muddy. We walked a total of 9 hours, 14.5 miles and the equivalent of 47 flights of stairs. (My pedometer doesn't track hills as stairs. It has to be steep, like a staircase to be logged). 

During the course of the rugged terrain, I slipped down a portion of the mountain, into a thicket of thorns scratching both arms to my elbows and later slipped on a rock and fell down on my tailbone and then knees and hands, breaking my walking poles in the tumble. 

(Oh, and I passed about 7 black cats on this Black Friday!)

The views were gorgeous. We had an awesome picnic on the beach (pre-fall) and we  spent most of the day by the ocean. 

The bad news... I now have a hole in my favorite Lulu Lemon sweater. 😟

 Pre-fall

 Pre-fall 

 If you zoom in you can see Todd's muddy pants. 

The road not taken

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Today on the Camino de Santiago I was considering the path I was on. There were times we were near the freeway and could hear many cars driving by.  What made me choose the road I am on today?  For both roads lead to Santiago. 

 At some moments I felt I was on the road less traveled by. Then during quite introspection (today was very rainy so Todd and I spoke less to each other) I reflected on the many footsteps that have trodden this path to make it so. The Camino de Santiago is well worn with deep groves from the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who came before me. 

As I reflected on their journey I was thankful for the path that was created for me. 

Often times we may feel alone when we choose a path, and that we are on the road less traveled by. I disagree with Robert Frost, that in hindsight we see the road we took made all the difference because as human beings we have a desire to comfort ourselves for our current situation. 

I'm grateful for all the roads I have taken because they made me who I am today.  I gratefully acknowledge the experience, history, advice and knowledge of those who have gone before me. It is not in the solitude of the journey but in the humbling and seeking guidance from others that allows me to grow. 

Can you see the puddles & mud?

 

 I'm sopping wet here...& carrying my own backpack. 

 Pilgrim life. 

 

The parable of Todd and the bull

An important practice of a pilgrim is to pack light. Sometimes we recognize the need to get rid of old habits. Or maybe it's time to spring clean. Maybe we are going to walk 300 miles and we physically can't carry a heavy load. (As in my case). No matter our stage in life, we can all take a moment to inventory what we carry with us. What we can let go of, and who/how we can assist others in making their burden lighter. 

Can you guess the difference between Todd and this bull? (Other than that they are both bullheaded). The clue is in the photo. 

 

If you didn't guess, Todd is carrying my backpack. 

Because Todd carried my backpack 21 of the 24.5 miles we walked today I thought a lot about burdens. How often I have sought relief from my burdens. Who has stepped into my life to lighten my load?  Because of my faith, how often I have turned to my Lord and asked him to take "this" burden from me. And when I am relieved, do I remember gratitude?  

How many times today did I thank Todd for carrying my load?  Many times, but not enough!  And to all who have assisted me on my journey, who have made my burdens lighter...THANK YOU!

Todd with both our packs. 
 

 Pre 24.5 miles.