Everything Hurts!

OK folks, it’s official: I am exhausted! Stiff muscles, achy joints, sore feet, mosquito bites, sunburn, and jet lag are just a few of the occupational hazards of this journey. Today we added rain to the list of complaints.

Anyone who’s ever hiked with me knows I go about as fast as water running uphill. Yet, like the tortoise, I keep crawling along. Yesterday was a Personal Record for me. My pedometer says I took 28,000 steps, which at my stride, translates to about 12 miles. My strong little daughter is like a sherpa; she does all this carrying her backpack and still waits at the top of the hill till I come gasping along.

This slow pace has its advantages as it allows us to take in all the pastoral and architectural wonders along El Camino and talk with some of the other pilgrims and local people. 



A small detour between Portomarin and Ventas de Narón took us to some 2,000 year old ruins, known as “castros” which are like a hilltop fortress. These were buried under some mounds of earth when discovered.

 
Of course there are also so many old churches that even a good Catholic couldn’t keep track of them. And so many lovely gardens.







I’ve had lots of time for reflecting on the significance of our individual paths, where we are all headed, how we all basically want to live happy and meaningful lives. There has been joy, beauty, camaraderie, and discomfort on this trip and in my life. For some of us, life is an easy ride—an adventure, while others suffer or just don’t make it…


                    











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