15 miles+

Pontevedra to Caldes de Reis

Up and going early, who knew what an amazing ending our day would have. Today is the long anticipated two night stay at a place that’s supposed to be amazing…according to Trip Advisor reviewers…but we’ve learned that reviews of places to stay are, of course, like reviews of movies: just because someone else just LOVES it, most definitely does not mean that we will…just sayin’! So, we held our expectations at bay and were amply rewarded when we got to our new little home for two days in Caldes de Reis.

The camino each day is pretty typical…some days more wooded pathways and others less, but always lots of old stone churches, bells pealing, asphalt back passageways, crossovers high above train tracks, freeways off in the distance, and lots of people greeting us with, “Bueno Camino!”

During our days of walking we experience so many physical realities that are also spiritual truths…which could, of course, be said about any journey, I would suppose, whether life itself or just “walking” through a day in a life. Today we really had no idea what God had in store for us amidst our trepidations going into such a long day’s walk, especially not knowing the real logistics of the path or through or to what our journey would lead us.

So, we were upp and at it early walking through Pontevedra:

We passed by the Appleseed Ministry Group store! 😉

…the shop window.

Appleseed’s logo.

…and continuing to make our way out of town…

and…you know Roger…forever making new friends…along the way…

Actually, some of our fellow pilgrims, if they happened to start on the same day as we did for Santiago, and if they are on our same schedule for how many miles to walk each day, we will criss-cross paths several times throughout any given day. It all depends on how often and when or where each group might stop for a break. This particular group of four are from Malaga, Spain. The couple were so engaging and I think held hands the entire 100km!

Even with all kinds of prep, we stopped to take stock of our supplies, and this all we had…sad!!!

But as promised in 23rd Psalm…“The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need”…and so we did. And when we had run out, there was a Peregrino Alburgue (Pilgrim’s Rest) with yummy food for us:

I know it looks nasty…but seriously, it was great…pork, potatoes and cabbage, doused with a ton of olive oil, of course!

We wound our way across fields, highways, a few wooded areas…and, of course, vineyards…

The Camino is a very interesting and impressive long distance walk with hundreds of years worth of history. Thousands of people through the centuries have made this journey coming from all over the world to make this pilgrimage…all for many and various different reasons. The walk itself has lots of people and towns and highways to cross and shops and hostels within easy access.

As with any journey there have been highlights and lowlights…Roger has had some disappointment that his knee has been bothering him, as he had worked so hard to get it in good shape. I am somewhat disappointed in the walk itself, as my expectations so often do not meet reality…and yes, I’m working on that! I do love the experience for sure, but it is not restful or peaceful or nourishing to my soul, as I had hoped. Instead I am finding the camino much like life itself…full of interruptions and annoyances where I am constantly trying to find peace in the midst of it all. Perhaps that is the lesson in itself for me. The Camino often takes us off the harsh pavement and chaos of people and cars and city life into the hills providing moments for stillness and silence and reflection throughout the day. The hills are there. The silence is there… God is here…whether I draw nigh or not. The truth remains. They are all there.

…and just when you think you can’t take another step……and before our final descent into Caldes de Reis…there was an awesome word of encouragement:

…where we were very, very happy to take our boots off at the end of this day…

…and climb into this beautiful princess bed!