Such nice people at our Hotel. I got up this morning, dressed and out before 7am. George is taking another rest day so I’m flying solo. I headed downstairs to breakfast. I thought they started serving at 7am but it must be 730am. I was able to get my coffee and yogurt and patiently waited for all the other items to be prepared. They have been so accommodating to George and I, making a special fruit platter yesterday. And now, making me my espresso rather than drip coffee. I ate some fruit, a croissant, and was efficiently fueled for my day.

Within the first five minutes, I met Pilgrim Cari from Florida. She was headed to the same town as I am so we walked together most of the morning. She’s solo and enjoying her time. I believe we will be ending the same day. There’s a lot of Pilgrims finishing mid-June. We have much in common, about the same age and she lost her Mom recently too. We shared our experiences of grieving and our gratefulness that we were with our Mom’s when they passed. It is good to have someone to share this with as my Mom has been so heavy on my heart during this journey.

One of the thoughts that keep replaying in my mind is how much I have. How fortunate I am to have a husband who is sharing this experience with me. How fortunate I am to have my health; my knees and back that are strong enough to carry a pack everyday without much worry. The knowledge that my beautiful daughter is watching our dog and keeping all things in order, taking care of the garden and making sure the house doesn’t burn down. There’s truly so much that I have and really nothing I lack for. As I look at the others on the trail, I never know what troubles they may have or not. Yet we are all here sharing this pathway in hopes of finding some sense of peace, some semblance of solitude and purpose for our life. Everyone I’ve asked about their thoughts have conveyed that they feel a sort of calmness as they accept their placement on this trail. The things that used to bother them seem to disappear. After walking hundreds of miles, you learn to let go of the frustrations, the little things that irritate you and embrace the love that is right in front of your eyes. Each step and every mile continues to bring us closer to the joy that God desires for our lives.

Cari and I make it to our first cafe of the day. I order Hot Tea and she gets Diet Coke. We check out our progress and congratulate ourselves for the miles we have already covered. This is a great reason to walk and talk with another. The miles just chip away. Cari was waiting for her friend Marsha to arrive and I nodded her farewell.

The rest of my day was quite flat. In fact I don’t think there was much more than a speed bump along today’s route. The scenery has been much of the same with wheat and wild grasses, and many more dirt fields as they start harvesting. The poppies are beginning to fade and there’s much more Buttercup and some new looking flowery weeds on the scene.

I received a text from George. He was able to get a Taxi to our future home for the night. He was already checked in and situated by the time I was heading into town.

It was an easy walk from the Green Dotted Trail on the Camino, to our room. Only 150 meters from the trail. In fact, when I arrived, I opened the window and was looking out on the Pilgrims walking the Camino. It’s good to be done for the day. Easy peasy 15 miler! Who says that? Just crazy ole me.