Rain Take Two - Day 18 (May 1)

We woke to rain. We walked in rain. We ended the day in rain. All day, rain.

There were two choices of paths from Fromista to Carrion de los Condes and we chose the road less traveled. It was the right choice, at least for the majority of the way. This path went through farmland kept green through antique irrigation canals. The path was sandy so no added weight to our boots, that is until the last mile and a half before the road rejoined the other more developed path. The thing about walking in mud is that it sticks to your boots so your joints never get a break. Either they are experiencing the weight of your pack as your foot lands or they are suffering under the added weight of the mud when lifting the foot back up. Definitely tiring.

We stopped at a delightful albergue/restaurant where there were ducks, chickens and dogs running about amongst the hammocks in the courtyard. A quick lunch and a quick stop at a little church for some pictures and we were once again on our way.

Country Church

Something we have seen a lot of in Spain are stork nests. They are found atop churches, monuments, chimneys, almost anything tall. Today we saw one in the most unique of places - on top of a cluster of grain bins.

There is a reason that there are a number of wind turbines along the meseta - there is a lot of wind. Not exaggerated winds but gentle and steady that create wonderful waves in the wheat fields as we passed by. Unfortunately pictures cannot adequately capture what the eye sees. It was beautiful.

About four miles from Carrion, the path came alongside the highway so for the first time since we started our journey, I decided I would listen to music from my playlist. The very first song that played on my random mix was one that made my spirit soar - Memories by Ryan Stewart. As we neared town, still walking next to wheat fields, a song came on that so reminded me of my dad it brought me to tears. And what was more amazing was that two white elevators greeted us as we walked into town, just like one of the approaches to my hometown in North Dakota.

We arrived early, around 2:30 and thought we would have ample time to catch up on some things, clothes washing being one of them. In fact we chose Albergue Santa Maria, in part, because they had a lavadora and secadora (washing machine and dryer). Well, evidently everyone else made the same choice because there was a line-up to use the one and only one that was there. So... hand washing it was. The rain had since subsided and there was a gentle breeze outside that we were certain would dry our "quick-dry" clothes so we chose to hang all 30 plus items on the line. Mistake. Just as we finished the rain started again so we had to move them all to lines inside the building in hopes they would dry there.

Santa Maria Iglesia

We then went in search for food for the next day's journey as it was an 18 kilometre (yes, I am beginning to think in terms of kilometres instead of miles) trek without a village to stop for food. On the way we passed Iglesia Santa Maria so went inside finding beautiful low key surroundings with places for pilgrims to light candles - very peaceful.

May 1st is Labour Day in Spain and few stores were open so meandered until we found one where we purchased some fruit, enough to sustain us if we had a breakfast before we left.

Returning to our albergue to deposit our treasures and to check our clothes before our peregrino meal, we opened the door to find four beautiful nuns leading vespers with many of the pilgrims surrounding them. Of course we decided to join in and we were so glad we did. One of the nuns absolutely radiated joy as she spoke and played the guitar. They spoke so many words of wisdom about the camino - that it is not "The Way" but "Our Way". That although many have walked the footsteps to Santiago before us and with us, their steps are not our steps. Our steps are unique to each of us.

Vespers

After vespers we proceeded to check on our clothes only to find a fellow peregrino, Barbara from Austria having problems getting her clothes out of the washer. And our clothes were definitely not dry so while we continued to try to help her, we put our clothes in the dryer for a cycle and got them reasonably dry.

By now it was well after the time to get a peregrino meal so we headed to a bar/restaurant where we had a hamburger and fries just in time to head back to our albergue before lights were out at 10:00. Another day logged in our journey.

Lesson of the Day: It isn't "The Way", it is "Our Way".

 

 

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