Today was a 17 mile hike full of hills and lots of cafes and bars; finally! My goal today was to have breakfast at one of my favorite small village cafes, and it ended up that we made it for lunch! 10 miles without food thinking it was just around the corner!
Going from a tranquil environment to a busy Camino is a little daunting. The Frances is very social because there are many places to stop and get to know other people during the day. On the Primitivo, there is a lot of quiet walking. So, to hear a lot of conversations constantly on the trail now takes some time to get used to.
The hike of 17 miles was good, but after 12 miles, my focus was always on the destination, unfortunately. We got an early start so our day did end earlier than normal. Luckily my fall has not seemed to affect my walking although my face is a bit of an annoyance. I am lucky.
We are meeting some new pilgrims from the Frances. Most of them started at Sarria and many are already planning their next Camino. We are seeing lots of sore feet and knee injuries on the new walkers and it is hard to not resent how clean and fresh they smell.
Josh wants me to ask Maria if he can buy a gallon of vinegar in Lanjaron to wash his pack! He has already given it a shower once!
Another reason that I walk the Camino is that my mind has time to be curious again. I smell new smells, notice small changes around me in the woods, wonder about the farmers’ lives, invent stories about people who pass me, and see colors….