El Camino - The Way #36

 Beginning The Official 100 Kilometers

Today began what we will call the "official" Camino. In order to qualify for the Compostela - the official pilgrim certificate - at Santiago - one has to walk a minimum of 100 kilometers before entering Santiago.  Today the Camino was very busy - we even had a section - similar to a few days go - when young children walked with their parents - or teachers - on a small section. The number of pilgrims was growing - with a few ladies who just started at Astorga - and others - who started the day before at Sarria - the "official" starting point for the 100 kilometer "club".  The walk today included a steep incline which we were not warned about - yet - none the less - we survived - along with the brothers from Idaho and one fellow who has enjoyed more than his share of the local vineyard.. One thing we learned was acceptance - of those who are different - who do not share your language - as the group from Germany - who entered today's albergue in full force. Today's walk was a short 13 kilometers - but a difficult one with multiple steep climbs - I have mentioned we were in the mountains - and very hilly terrain. Last night - after an early dinner - we skipped the pilgrim's dinner at 7:30 PM - and ate early - which allowed us to attend the Holy Mass at Iglsia Santa Marina - where a fellow pilgrim was moved to tears at the  meditation song after Holy Communion - a very nice Mass with a special pilgrims blessing. Afterwards we hung around to purchase an additional credential - our originals were filling up - and we need to collect a minimum of two sellos/stamps a day - we did not want to run out of space on our cards. Regarding Lent - we have one week before Palm Sunday - Holy Week - now is really a great time to get serious about your Lent for 2021.

Leaving Sarria we spy a bar advertising breakfast - yes time for cafe con leche y tostada

Now at this point tons more pilgrims just starting their 100 Kilometers

Village cemetery 

Bridge into the countryside 

Train crossing - pilgrims waiting

Arlene waiting - our yellow arrows

Walking in the morning fog again 

Where did they all come from? 

Foot - knee - hip - leg problems a reality 

Newer modern albergue

Yes busier - at least 15 pilgrims ahead of us 

Crib for drying crops

Many way markers get a graffiti treatment 

Surprise Miss Ostrich 

Waiting at our albergue for the night 

In Lent we normally spend a lot of time waiting - in prayer - in adoration - in meditation - waiting for God to hear our pleas.  It is all good.

Deacon Dale 

El Camino - The Way #35

The Camino is filled with all sorts of statues depicting pilgrims - in Northern Spain - the Camino is the life blood of so many locals - in some place locals would complain about strangers walking all over the place - in Spain - they love the pilgrims - their money - the freshness they bring to that area.  In Lent - those who introduce us to new insights - a blessing indeed. 

One Man's tin can - another's pilgrim 

Pleasant trail crossing a stream

Yes - some pilgrims ride horseback - lucky for them

horses not so lucky walking on stones

Another way sign - marking trails

Dangerous down hill - walk slowly 

if you look carefully there is a small gray triangle patch in the trees before  

the farm field - that is where we are heading 

Walking through the back yard of Northern Spain 

125 Kilometers - getting closer 

Hello Mr Bull

And in the middle of nowhere - a Coke machine - where did they get the electric

Heat - sun - dirt - rocks - a normal path

Way markers more frequent now every few kilometers 

And it's down and under and up a turn to the left - Hi Arlene 

A bridge made out of flat stones 

Time to make a decision - go left or right.

In Lent we constantly make decisions on which path to follow 

stay the course or make a change 

And this was the correct decision?

Looks can be deceiving - will she fall this down hill? 

Finally we are in "Sarria" - To qualify for the Compostella - the official certificate that says you walked the Camino - you must prove that you walked the last 100 kilometers - starting in this village and walked to Santiago 

St. Mary Church - if starting your Camino - get your pilgrim passport here

and official stamp to prove you were here 

City run albergue - very basic - cheap - shower & bed

Today we arrived in Sarria - another hot day - clothes filled with perspiration - this was the first public albergue we stayed at - very basic - ceiling just inches above your head if in a top bunk - I was - first time we saw other pilgrims walking around mostly naked with out a care who viewed them - obviously an European thing - not as shy as Americans.  After showering and getting into dry clothes - laundry - then headed out for wine and tapas and eventually dinner. 

Slipped into bed - night prayers - God is so good - no matter what your day has been light - always sending His blessings on us.

Deacon Dale 

El Camino - The Way #34

This morning we were greeted with fog - now in the Galicia region with a lot more green plants - more humidity which means our hiking clothes will be filled with perspiration very early in the day.  This albergue A Reboleira - one fo the best we stayed at - the evening community dinner made a big difference.  Often when we do even simple tasks - it's the simple things that make our experience even better - a simple Our Father - Hail Mary - can make a world of difference.

Our pilgrims from Australia getting their bike ready to leave 

Walking in the fog near the road - when our minds are in a fog - time to stop - rest

At this point seeing pilgrims ahead of us had become normal 

unlike all the previous days when we were alone 

And like that - more

Living on the edge - sitting on the ledge - yes big drop behind us 

As we walked up the mountain - we ended up inside the fog 

The Camino waymarks getting more frequent - many pilgrims place stones on top as prayers similar to lighting a candle - we left 500 Saint Gianna prayer cards as we walked

A down hill path hiding us from the hot sun 

And then we were back in the sun

Shade - but hard to see the rocks and tree stumps in the path 

Passing an 800 year old mill house

Made it to Triacastela  time to look for an albergue

Found it - time for a shower - dry clothes and you know what follows

Vino y Tapas

This was another shorter day - we are not in a rush - we allowed 7 weeks total and at this point we were ahead of the schedule because we jumped a few times mainly because of that blister on my foot that refused to heal.  Continuing our Lenten journey we still have about a week before Holy Week - so two weeks before Easter - still lots of time to make this Lent significant.

Deacon Dale 

El Camino - The Way #33

When I originally blogged about this day I titled it - Living on the Edge - a lot of our walking on this particular day involved walking close to the edge of the trail - Living on the edge - daring to go somewhere - to do something - out of the ordinary. Many people - individuals - couples - groups - dare to go beyond what is comfortable - to experience life beyond the ordinary. Experiencing the Camino de Santiago - places every participant - on the edge. Moved from an ordinary life - where almost everything is scripted - to an extraordinary experience - where every day is different from the day before - is living on the edge.  In Lent we are called to also - live on the edge - to do things we are not completely comfortable with - just as Jesus has called us to go out - proclaim the Gospel - whether convenient or not - comfortable - uncomfortable - to do as He commanded.  We walk by faith - knowing that He - the Lord of Lords - is with us constantly.  

Exchanging the dry browns for luscious green

In the hot days on the Camino - walking along these paths - shaded

 from the sun - 100F not so bad 

Alto de San Rogue Pilgrim Statue - another high point - literally

The town named Hospital - 145 Km away from Santiago 

And one day God painted the world with views like this - awesome

Old but still functional - NO matter what our age -no matter what our limitations

We are instruments of God - Never useless - no matter what anyone says 

As we get closer to the town of Sarria - more pilgrims joining the trail

At the top of the hill above - the last half of a kilometer was very difficult with a very steep ascent - we were rewarded at the top with a peregrino bar where we recovered with some cool drinks and a Bocadilla. To our surprise we ran into Beatriz and Jorge who we had shared a room with two nights previously. Energized we continued for another 5 kilometers to Fonfria our end point for today.

Today for our albergue - the Host insisted that we take a private double bed - cost only €20 but hard to rent to single pilgrims on tight budgets - we happily accommodated - same price for us compared to two single bunks and more comfy 

The dinning room across the street from the albergue - a renovated barn - Dinner included in the cost of  the bed & shower - Our second community meal - shared with all staying the night

felt like a 5-start restaurant in service and quality 

International pilgrims

Sharing tasks with each other 

Fellow from Barcelona on left 

Tonight we experienced a community pilgrim dinner - all those eating are from the Albergue Reboleira in Fonfria. Our walk today brought us only 12 kilometers closer - but we did a lot of steep hills which slowed us down. We are still happy with our progress and our albergue today is very nice.  At dinner conversation was lively and fun talking with Hendrik - from Germany - Evan and Sue from Australia who are tandem bicycling to Santiago and Andrea and Stefania from Italy. The restaurant staff sat us as couples next to each other but across and next to complete strangers which helped spark the excellent mealtime experience. As we get closer to Sarria - the number of peregrinos will increase dramatically as Sarria is the last city one can start from to qualify for the coveted Compostela - certifying that they have walked a minimum of 100 kilometers to Santiago.

Circular table encourages conversation with others 

albergue lounge 

This day was a very good day - difficult up hills - only walked 12 Km but progress of any kind - always good. As we end today with our prayers for thanksgiving - asking for blessing for whatever will come tomorrow - we thank Jesus for His faithfulness - that He is always with us.

Deacon Dale