Day 24 - Here Comes the Rain Again

Oct 4

Destination - Rabanal del Camino

Distance - 20km

Hours of walking - 

Terrain - 

Weather - rain, rain, go away....

Nature - rocks 

Misadventure - Where did Brenda go? Mitten shopping of course. 

Every day we plan our next day out so we have a game plan. However.

Rain at midnight 

Rain at 2:00am

Rain at 4:00am

Rain at 6:00am

Breakfast at 6:30am - what to do, what to do. All pilgrims are hanging about debating what to do. Wendy was going to take a cab to the next town anyway, as she is still mending, but in the end Dee and I made the hard decision to join her in the cab. We are both 'mostly better' but one false step and our days of healing will be for not. And the rain has made for hard walking. 

It reminded me today of something our friend Maria said. She said the owner of the Alburgue in her first stop said there are three things that are important on the Camino (and I would say in life!) I know I have been working on more lessons than this, but I'm trying to focus ... 

1) Listen to your body - we tend to wait until our body screams at us to stop. We don't wait for it to heal before we make it work again (maybe my swollen leg tonight is indicating that!) I know I do this in real life all the time. I push my body until it can't take it any more and it forces me to take a break. Last week I pushed too hard walking alone and was over confident. I didn't pay attention to the things I know are true - take breaks, stretch (I know girls, coach forgot to stretch) and drinking water. We all need to pay attention to the small stuff. We get one body. And on the camino that is all we have to get us through. Our health. 

2) It's about the journey, not the destination. I have been learning this lesson inch by inch. My 2014 synchro team started to teach me this. I see so many people on the Camino wrapped up in the kilometres they are walking and not enjoying the steps. Tomorrow is a big day on our journey and I want to make sure the three of us enjoy it all together. That meant we had to forgo some kilometres. The journey. 

3) If someone offers you help take it ; don't be too prideful. Oh yeah. That's a big lesson to learn. It is a safe place to lean on others. It's a place that is so giving. I'm hoping that will be one of my habits form in +21 days. Give and receive. 

I'm not going to say that these lessons will be learned by the end of my journey. You all know I am far from perfect. But on this trek you get lots of reminders and I am trying to be mindful!

We arrived in an amazing little town. It reminded me of what our friend Kelly said 'I think Spain grows rocks'. The whole town is made of stones. It is incredible. 

Stone fences everywhere. 

Streets of rocks

Amazing doors and knockers

Showing us the way

We wondered around town and found the makings of a picnic lunch shared in front of a fire in our Alburgue. 

Meat, crackers, cheese and olives = our favourite meal

Toasty fire in a cold day

Quaint restaurant for dinner - do we dare say our best pilgrim meal yet?

Chicken Sasserole 

While it wasn't the day we had been planning, it was an amazing day on the Camino. Lessons can be pondered not on the trail as well. Sometimes we need peace and quiet to reflect and spend time with those we love. 

Cheer of the day from Wendy - 

Cheers to buying toe socks and pads for heel spurs (she is heading on the trail tomorrow!)

Cheers to a great picnic in front of the fire. LIFE IS GOOD. 

Here is a quote from my mom. Thanks mom - miss you.