Well last night was a little late. It was interesting watching a village pah..teh.
The feature act was a drag pair imitating a famous spanish sister duet who argue a lot. The crowd loved it..they really joined in.
The day started well..cool and overcast. It ended up as 27km through the most delightful countryside you could imagine however about 5km of climbing was hard...but not for an intrepid kiwi!
The low cloud hid the height of the climb...but that was o.k.
I am at Gontan...27km walk today and maybe 155 km to go.
I am outside this cafe and about 20 teenagers have appeared from nowhere. .this village is tiny..football park maybe nearby? They have gone now...crazy.
I do enjoy the time after the walk each day. Time to catch up with friends and time to wind down. There is an all present stress until you make your night's alburgue. ..will I make it? Once you have arrived it is great..a real sense of relief.
There are 4 french people in the group I am currently walking with. ..a couple and a mother and daughter. They are very nice and include me in their conversations. They have just checked that I am joining them for dinner. Very nice.
In one of the conversations I had today, I was reminded that I only have one role while on tbe camino.
Me.
Not principal, not father, not parishioner, not colleague, not friend. ..... just walker.
How will I cope back at work?
I am a little worried about returning to normal life after so long of being selfish. I am not sure that I will cope...people on the camino know..those who have done a camino know... but it does worry me. I will have to build in some very quiet time...just me and Matt...to try and keep tbe balance.
It is 1830 in the evening...the sun is still high and hot so I have moved inside to finish this post.
Tomorrow brings another day...but with a difference. This is now an unexlicible pull that is dragging me through. I arrived today and thought..I can do another 15km (I couldn't) but there is an almost magnetic pull towards Santiago. It is in all the conversations and in all tbe greetings from the locals.
One more week will see me in Santiago. .that's unbelievable...totally.
Scary thought...life after camino. ...very scary
Adios amigos. ..manyana
Hi Tim,
ReplyDeleteI love your reflections in this about being "just me". That's what pilgrimage is supposed to be about, I guess it comes to all of us in different ways...and you'll be a different Tim. Not too much so, I hope - but we're prepared for anything!