This is the Symphony of the Camino as we hesitantly leave our warm beds at 6:00 am.
(Sidney organizing from her bunk bed).
Izabela and I hit the Trail after the normal Pilgrim's breakfast of bread, butter and jam washed down with coffee or orange juice. Mine was more like Sidney's normal cooking, as the smoke billowed from the toaster. (This will not come as a surprise to Wayne or my children).
(Sidney's special burnt Pilgrim's Toast).
We walk along with our walking staffs picking our way, while the wind whips the rain into our poncho and the crunch of rocks meters out our rhythm. The skies are overcast and it is cold, but not unbearable. We are on the Mesita, which many people choose not to walk because of its severity. We will be on the Mesita for 11 days. Actually, it is quite beautiful to this Texas girl. The endless wheat fields sway in the wind and offer a splash of green punctuated with a swath of rich, red poppies. It looks like a brilliant van Gogh painting of swirling rivers of lively color.
(Pausing to appreciate the wheat field adorned
with red Poppies).
Suddenly, the sun popped out amongst the powder blue sky full of those kind of puffy clouds that softly bump into each other. It was a magical moment. We simultaneously dropped our back packs and greeted this gift with exhilaration and gratitude.
(The exhilaration of sun,
freedom and the Camino).
One day starts to flow into the other so we like to take note of the uniqueness of each place where we abode for the night.
Two days ago we left Burgos, a major city in Spain. Many Pilgrims counted themselves lucky if they got this far and by this point, they had walked out of their shoes and clothes.
(Sidney talking to OLD Pilgrim).
It meant everything to the weary Pilgrim to get to the grand Cathedral of Burgos where they could take refuge and pray.
(The great Cathedral of Burgos, one of the largest in
Spain).
Izabela and I are now in Castrojeriz, an ancient city nestled on the side of a mountain. Atop the mountain are ruins of a 13th century castle that knew glorious days gone by of charming senoritas and bold knights.
(Castle resting on a glorious history of beauty and valor).
We are now at 205 miles and feeling every hard earned inch of it. We MUST be at 250 miles by Wednesday to make our schedule.
Each overnight stop, we must get our Camino Passport stamped. This is to prove we walked the whole way like the Pilgrims of old.
(Sidney & Izabela proudly show their Camino Passport as it
begins to fill up).
We were prepared for the Mesita to be barren, hot, and shadeless. So in anticipation, I watched for the last tree and gave it a big hug.
(Hugging the last tree as we entered the dreaded Mesita).
But it has turned out cold, overcast and threatening for now. Perhaps it will change.
Tomorrow will be a challenging day of 16.7 miles of fighting the rocks, a very steep ascension and another one of those ! descents. Any time there is an exclamation mark it means "extra vigilance required,". I just don't like those "toe jamming in the end of your boots" descents. But we will manage. Wish us luck and energy.
Feel free to contact me at sid4wayne@gmail.com.
Love, Sidney/Mom/Grandma
If any of you want to contribute to the reason for this walk (to feed, clothe, protect and educate the Venda children in South Africa) you can do so with a check made out to Helping Hands Touching Hearts Charity and send it to 27565 Spring Valley Dr.; Farmington Hills, MI 48336. Or, you can go to our web site
www.clotheavillagenow.com and click on the Donate button on any page.
I must tell you the story of the Miracle Of The Rain a little later.
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