Day 19

Day 19 – Castrojeriz to Fromista
25k – 356k to date

Today was one of those days that tests the human spirit, what you say David you are just walking around a country in Europe. Let’s get the rules stated here, you must leave your hostel by no later than 8:00am, you are literally thrown into your walk by eight. Second, you can’t stay 2 nights in the same hostel. Third, you can’t check into a new hostel till sometime starting after 12:00 noon and sometimes as late as 2:00pm. That leaves you nothing to do, but walk in the mornings, even when it is rainy, windy, windy and cold. Today was windy, windy, windy, rainy and cold…….

But that is the way life is, sometimes we have sunshine and sometimes we have foul weather, either time, we must go on in life. Today was one where we all went on in the simple life of being a pilgrim on the Camino. It was pouring rain when I left the hostel, so after about 20 minutes, I found a half way covered spot and waited about 60 minutes for a break in the rain. That break came and several of us made for the trail to put kilometers in as best we could. The next test came with a 1.2k climb, at an average gradient of 12%, with the wind blowing directly into you, that acomplished, the next challenge was the descent of 500m at an 18% gradient. From, there, life was easy, other than a lot of mud, till the half way point. Then the rain started again and the winds just kept howling. The rain finally let up in time to get most of the clothing semi-dried out by the time we hit home for the night.

Don’t feel sorry for me, I hated it during most of the day, but now I love having gone through that challenge. Also, there were a lot of pilgrims other than me doing the same thing because we are all loving getting to trapse across this nice little country. At lunch, Tom from CA just said “this will make dinner taste really good, so let’s get back at it”, when I was complaining of cold hands and wet feet, oh, Tom is 76…… I write this to give you a feel of what today was like.

The views today were limited, but I am moving to a stronger agricultural region as I noticed several sprinklers and many more green fields today. We still see buildings older than our country and really nice people.

Tonight, I had to catch up on some things, so I am in a hotel for the night. It was 25 euros, it is amazing the bargains businesses make to pilgrims. I loved having a full bath/shower and the ability to stretch out in the room. Tomorrow night is back to a hostel at a convent where nuns sing folk songs as the evening entertainment.

The last few days I have really missed family and friends. We never realize how special our daily existence is until we step out of it for an extended period of time. My life truly is blessed.

I look forward to tomorrow!

Phillipines 4:13

continue to day 20