The most significant moment of the day.

[annakappa]

So, you've got yourself out of your sleeping bag, dressed, gone through the "hygiene routine", packed your backpack, had a quick breakfast (if you're lucky enough to be staying in an Albergue that provides breakfast), you might have written a note in the Visitors Book, checked your proposed route for the day, shared an e-mail address with one of your fellow Pilgrims, had a quick look outside to see how the weather is. You deal with your feet - vaseline, compeed, duck tape, etc. etc., put on your socks and boots, said your thank you's to the hospitaleros and you take that first step our of the Sanctuary of what has been your Haven for the past 16 hours or so.
This is the moment when you step out once again into the unknown, even if you have walked this route before. Anything can happen along the Way. You might just not get as far as you intended to that day - or you may walk further. Maybe there's "no room at the inn". You might meet up with congenial fellow Pilgrims and decide to go to wherever they go. Anything can happen. Finally, you find an Albergue, check in, find your bed (what a blessing, especially if it happens to be one of the very last ones available). Then you go through your daily process of showering, washing your clothers, look for food, hang around on or off the premises of the Albergue, etc. etc.
Question: What is, for you, the most significant moment of the day? I know mine: It's that first step leaving the Albergue in the morning! Anne

 

[AJ]

Every day on the camino I have the best beer I have ever had in my life! That has to be pretty significant,

 

[KiwiNomad06]

For me it's usually a 'surprise' outdoors, often to do with the way the sunlight falls on something, whether it be a flower or a building archway. I love to see the way some things have a special beauty when highlighted by the sun.
Margaret

 

[Telluridewalker]

For me it was sunrise. I got into the habit of starting about an hour before dawn and walking in the dark under the stars (a wonderful respite from the July heat). Then, while hiking, I got to watch a beautiful sunrise unfold all around me- it was very magical. I'm not typically a very early riser, but for some reason on the Camino I witnessed more daybreaks than at any other point in my life.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

You've summed it up beautifully, Anne! Each and every moment is magical, and it's what calls many of us back, time and time again, to re-experience the Camino.

Stephen http://www.calig.co.uk/camino_de_santiago.htm

 

[dunc]

I notice from other comments that dawn is a popular 'most significant moment'.
I think that very few of us are lucky enough to feel excited about getting out of bed but the camino does that to you.
My routine was to get up half and hour before leaving the albergue at just about exactly sunrise.
There is something magical about setting off towards the horizon with your head clear of life's normal concerns and able to focus on what is around you.

 

[Sagalouts]

for me its that point when you hit your stride,you've had that first coffee,the sun has risen,your body has warmed up and working,your feet and legs have stopped hurting,your talking to the birds ( and they are talking back ) that first butterfly zigzagging in front of you,that feeling of being part of your surroundings of belonging,knowing that first cold beer is just 5km down the road

Ian

 

[CaminoGen]

I have to agree with Sagalouts...the moment in the day when you realize that you are one with your surrounding, that your body is walking "on its own". The first glass of wine is also good, as is a warm shower!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

it comes at different times of day, but usually it is accompanied by birdsong. Sunshine or rain, dawn or dusk, summer or winter, birds of some kind or another are out there "doing their nut." And it makes everything around it turn all lovely for a little while, IMHO.

reb

 

[fraluchi]

When the day, with all its efforts and adventures, has passed and I can blissfully exhausted lie down wherever I was taken, this is my mysterious moment.