Those who like Japanese literature will recognise the title...I read it before this camino and felt an affinity somewhat with this 16th century (?) poet. You might care to read it, for the Camino de Madrid is also a narrow road to the deep north. Inspired by Basho, I wanted to keep a wonderful journal on the way, but didnt, of course. I was always too tired and thus have spared myself the turgid task of reading my notes.
This CM is a gem among caminos, and I found it absolutely wonderful. With only 300ish doing it last year, I found back an important element of my first CF so long ago, when not many walked there. The people I met on the CM were generous and helpful: the vast landscapes where the camino joined the far horizon were utterly liberating, and the pueblos and cities were immensely rewarding. I will be back on this way again. I am very content to have walked there. I love it to bits. When I finally stopped some kilometres from Sahagun, despite being tired, I was a bit high, a bit charged. It was pleasing to immediately fall into good company, and this helped to ground me somewhat.
My walk ended as said, near Sahagun and I witnessed the huge numbers here where the CF meets the CM. I took an hour out to see the numbers passing as I sat on a pueblo wall, my feet still throbbing a little from my walk. Here I had the pleasure of meeting again two key and truly hospitable people of the camino, who are energised by the Way and in turn enrich the lives of others**. I also enjoyed meeting Lydia, a forum member on her happy way to SDC, striding out strongly; she's walking still. There was a kindly and good man from Fife who conducted himself with dignity - also a forum member- who I met briefly, before he left for the Camino Inglés. I thoroughly enjoyed much good talk and good table; the bottled sunshine encouraged me to talk more bollocks than usual, if that's possible.
On the way back, in Madrid, in La Reina Sofia museum, I had the pleasure of a good exhibition of Workers Photographs from the 1930s; Soviet Union, Europe and the US.
Back in France, I had a day of effortful and intense garden work rolling back the jungle, for I will be off again soon.
In a day or two, I will happily give back to the Camino a little of the kindness** given to me. There's a suitable balance here - two weeks of receiving, two weeks of giving.
** "....and in the end,
the love you take
is equal to the love you make...."
This CM is a gem among caminos, and I found it absolutely wonderful. With only 300ish doing it last year, I found back an important element of my first CF so long ago, when not many walked there. The people I met on the CM were generous and helpful: the vast landscapes where the camino joined the far horizon were utterly liberating, and the pueblos and cities were immensely rewarding. I will be back on this way again. I am very content to have walked there. I love it to bits. When I finally stopped some kilometres from Sahagun, despite being tired, I was a bit high, a bit charged. It was pleasing to immediately fall into good company, and this helped to ground me somewhat.
My walk ended as said, near Sahagun and I witnessed the huge numbers here where the CF meets the CM. I took an hour out to see the numbers passing as I sat on a pueblo wall, my feet still throbbing a little from my walk. Here I had the pleasure of meeting again two key and truly hospitable people of the camino, who are energised by the Way and in turn enrich the lives of others**. I also enjoyed meeting Lydia, a forum member on her happy way to SDC, striding out strongly; she's walking still. There was a kindly and good man from Fife who conducted himself with dignity - also a forum member- who I met briefly, before he left for the Camino Inglés. I thoroughly enjoyed much good talk and good table; the bottled sunshine encouraged me to talk more bollocks than usual, if that's possible.
On the way back, in Madrid, in La Reina Sofia museum, I had the pleasure of a good exhibition of Workers Photographs from the 1930s; Soviet Union, Europe and the US.
Back in France, I had a day of effortful and intense garden work rolling back the jungle, for I will be off again soon.
In a day or two, I will happily give back to the Camino a little of the kindness** given to me. There's a suitable balance here - two weeks of receiving, two weeks of giving.
** "....and in the end,
the love you take
is equal to the love you make...."
