10/2/2019, 08:00
The curative powers of sleep are quite amazing! Last night, I got 8 hours of totally uninterrupted sleep and awoke this morning refreshed in body, mind and soul; ready to tackle another day on the Camino!
10/2/2019, 14:00
You may recall the animated clay character, Gumby. As a child, I remember watching cartoons featuring Gumby & Pokey. And I had my very own Gumby toy which I could flex, twist and turn, into positions that the most accomplished of human contortionists could only dream of.
Flexibility is one the traits, virtues if you would, that the Camino teaches. Yesterday was a prime example:
We had planned for 3 days of 15-17 miles each before reaching Logroño on Thursday. However, after yesterday’s 15-mile day, which was recorded as a 23+ mile day on all of the tracking apps on our phones (& felt more like 23 than 15 miles!!!), we decided that two more days like that would be the end of our Camino, if not the end of us. So, with the flexibility of Gumby, we changed our plans and decided to travel to Logroño over three, not two, more days. So today, we walked a leisurely 8 miles to Villamayor de Montejardin. It felt really good to travel only 8 miles with the prospect of two more days of about 12 miles each before reaching Logroño on Friday.
However, there was a downside to this change of plans: Steve and Donna Geisinger must be in Logroño on Thursday to begin their return home, so they were forced to travel to a village further along the Way but left us with good memories of our short time together.
The upside is that we have reconnected with two of our original Camino family members, Jane and Charlotte (UK).
Earlier today, we passed through Irache, known on the Camino for its winery, Bodegas Irache, and the public wine fountain, from which we all enjoyed the free-flowing vino tinto (“red wine”). While not without its trials, the Camino most definitely has its benefits!
Jim Olshefski