On the Camino, mornings are awful. You might think that the actual hiking would be the worst, but no -- it's the mornings. They stink.
In the individual dorms (that can sometimes hold 20-30 people), mornings are chaos. Starting at 5:45 the noise begins. It's usually a trickle of people at first, but grows into a steady stream. No one can sleep through all of this noise, but some stick fast to their beds until they are kicked out by the management (usually at 8 am).
Many things have to be done before departure (besides brushing one's teeth). Blisters have to be wrapped, Vaseline applied to feet, the backpack has to be packed up, water has to be put into the Camelbak, and the walking sticks remembered.
There are some who really like to hit the trail early. That is smart in summer, as it does get hot. But in spring, there is less heat, so rushing makes little sense.
I like to start a few minutes before sunrise, so I can actually witness God's creation of a new day. Sunrise around here is taking place a little after 7 o'clock at this time.
Since the albergues rarely serve breakfast, I start the Camino for an hour or so, then find a bar in the next town that serves rolls, sandwiches or tortillas (not like the Latin American ones, but like omelets). With that good protein/energy, I'm ready for the day.
There is always something hurting when you walk long-distances. It could be a knee or the back, or (in my case) the feet. There is always the potential for blisters developing, so you have to pay attention. Sometimes things will hurt one day but not another. Sometimes parts of the feet will only hurt for an hour or so. I can't explain it; suffice it to say the body is a mystery.
Somehow God gets us through the pain.
Usually there are one or two big challenges along the way, usually in the form of a big ascent. These are tough, but build up stamina and provide a good aerobic workout.
When you're only 5 km (3 miles) from a town where you want to lodge for the night, your mind starts playing tricks on you. You start thinking as you walk, "Surely this is a lot more than 5 km." And when you can't seer the town in the distance you start thinking, "Could I have walked by that town and not seen it?"
All of this is true!
When you hike through some beautiful mountains, a forest, or even just farmland, you naturally glorify God. Only God could have put this all together. The same goes for smelling tga wonderful scents and flowers of spring.
Beauty is an important part of a human's life. Without beauty, we have consigned ourselves only to what mankind can do. Nature is far more beautiful than what we can build or crate. That's why natural building materials will always look good, while man-made ones won't.
Upon arriving at an albergue (hostel) in the afternoon (I like to be done with my hiking for the day around 1 o'clock), there is mich to do. First thing is the all-important shower. The question is: will there be hot water or not? (usually there is). After the shower comes the fun part: doing laundry by hand. This always slows me down, as I hate doing it, even though it was I who dirtied the clothes.
Then it's tome to find space on the clothesline to dry the clothes. Drying clothes on the clothesline can take time, but it's so worth it. I can't believe that we in the States have gotten rid of clotheslines -- it's the natural way! When I was a boy in the 1960s, our backyard was full of clothes on the line. Now, I've been told that some subdivisions outlaw clotheslines. Why? Does it decrease property value to see undergarments on the line?
Don't throw out your dryers, as you'll need them occasionally (wet days and winter). But think about this natural and money-saving way.
Next comes either a nap or the exploration of the city. I can go for either.
Around 7 pm is a Mass for the pilgrims, somewhere in the city, followed by dinner at a restaurant with specially priced pilgrim's menus. The other option, which I chose tonight, is to cook for yourself in the albergue kitchen.
Finally, it's off to dreamland in the albergue dormitory, with many others who snore.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
