- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances SJPP to SdC Oct/Nov 2015
Frances Burgos toSdC March/April 2016
W. Highland Way August 2016
Camino Somewhere September 2017
Day before yesterday found me, once more, doing my major loop at Silver Falls here in the Pacific Northwest. I was feeling a bit lazy as I had decided to walk with a 15-pound pack rather than 22 pounds. That said, I was also deciding that 15 pounds feels better than 22. As I was trudging quickly along considering what to leave behind, I saw a family posing for photographs near a tree.
As I got closer, the gentleman said, "Perdon, photo?" I thought, OMG, they are from SPAIN!! so I asked him...and sure enough, "I'm from Northern Spain".
I excitedly showed him my Camino scallop shell (a special one made from cardboard) and he laughed really hard, and told me that I would need a real one. We conversed for about twenty minutes, and he assessed my gear:
1. You're not going to wear those shoes, are you? (I was wearing Salomon trail runners). I told him I was trying them, but that I would probably going to be wearing my Vasque boots--mid top and leather. (what was the word for leather?? this was hard for me in Espanol).
2. Take excellent care of your feet, said he. He remarked that he had seen many pilgrimages stopped because of foot problems.
3. Take warm clothes and a waterproof poncho and rain pants (my plans).
4. He loved it that I had given myself 43 days to walk, a day to get back to Madrid, and another day to fly back to the states. He liked the flexibility.
5. He asked how much I was training, and said he thought it might be much more than most people.
6. He said to take the first four days really slowly and carefully.
It was a really delightful conversation, and his little daughter--ten years old!--is going to attend school in Corvallis this year, which is where my husband is from.
Meeting this sweet family was just one more reminder that I was called to walk this Camino. I can't know why, but I wonder at it and it makes me happy. Daughter's wedding 19 September. Fly out to Madrid 28 September!
As I got closer, the gentleman said, "Perdon, photo?" I thought, OMG, they are from SPAIN!! so I asked him...and sure enough, "I'm from Northern Spain".
I excitedly showed him my Camino scallop shell (a special one made from cardboard) and he laughed really hard, and told me that I would need a real one. We conversed for about twenty minutes, and he assessed my gear:
1. You're not going to wear those shoes, are you? (I was wearing Salomon trail runners). I told him I was trying them, but that I would probably going to be wearing my Vasque boots--mid top and leather. (what was the word for leather?? this was hard for me in Espanol).
2. Take excellent care of your feet, said he. He remarked that he had seen many pilgrimages stopped because of foot problems.
3. Take warm clothes and a waterproof poncho and rain pants (my plans).
4. He loved it that I had given myself 43 days to walk, a day to get back to Madrid, and another day to fly back to the states. He liked the flexibility.
5. He asked how much I was training, and said he thought it might be much more than most people.
6. He said to take the first four days really slowly and carefully.
It was a really delightful conversation, and his little daughter--ten years old!--is going to attend school in Corvallis this year, which is where my husband is from.
Meeting this sweet family was just one more reminder that I was called to walk this Camino. I can't know why, but I wonder at it and it makes me happy. Daughter's wedding 19 September. Fly out to Madrid 28 September!