So why are YOU doing the camino??

This is the infamous question that nearly every pelegrino will ask if you begin a conversation on the camino. Most people have great reasons; they just quit/lost their job and are in a transitional point trying to decide what kind of work they want to do, they are trying to channel their creativity, or have decided to challenge theirselves in a way they never believed they could. Catie and Michael and I struggled with our reason for awhile, besides the fact that we wanted to experience Spain in a less-than tourist way (we´re accomplishing this- today we noticed people looking at us like we were homeless bums). We decided we might as well tell people we´re doing it to lose weight... seems like an american thing to do, right? Anyway, I walked 9 miles today with a man who had the best story I´ve heard in a long time. His name was Terry and he is from Nova Scotia. He is 68 years old and this is camino numero 2 for him... his wife passed away 2 years ago after a long battle and he promised her 7 things that she wanted. One was a red car, one was a cottage in the mountains, and one was for him to go back to school. So he did and in his studies of Spanish, he heard a lot about the camino and decided he would do it. He managed to do the entire thing (500 miles) in 30 days 2 years ago AND raise money for the heart and stroke association while doing so. In 2011 at the young age of 70, he will bike 6000km across Canada to raise more money from them. I enjoyed walking with him so much today and realized that is the reason that doing the camino is so powerful- you met people like Terry that motivate you and make you realize that even doing something as challenging as walking 200 miles in 13 days may seem, it´s do-able as are most of the things you set your mind to. I never thought I could have done this and each day it gets easier.. and it probably helps that my 4,289 blisters are drying up. I didn´t even siesta today!

Day 8 (yesterday) we followed the river for 16 miles in the glorious sun. Sweat and all, we were so happy. If I could choose three words to describe the scenery, the first few days would be city, industry and desert. The next handful of days would be mountains, foliage and nature. The last few days I would have to say pastures, streams and manure. Yes that´s right, cow poo. We´ve sure encountered that a lot the past few days. But when else can you tromp through mud and poo mixed and not even mind?? I practically jump in it now.

Last night we spent in Serria, one of the larger cities along our path. One of the unique experiences about the camino is that you walk with almost the same people every day and you begin to feel like a community. But each day, that community moves in each individuals own pace to a new location. Yesterday once we arrived, I wandered around the town to find some allergy medicine as all the farm animals have aggravated them. In this large city, I ran into so many fellow pelegrinos and we ended up having a beer with Phillipe from Germany (for those of you reading Catie and Michael´s blogs, this is not the same german and they´re just jerks so ignore anything they say!!), eating dinner next to a couple from Portland and going to a concert in the local church with Jean-Louis from France. It was hard not to run into pelegrinos around each corner and feel like you´re surrounded by family.

Today our journey was from Serria to Portemarin, an easy 14 miles. There were so many more pelegrinos today as Serria is a popular starting point for those that want to get the certificate in Santiago as it is just over 100km from Santiago and that is the minimum required. We passed through a lot of rolling hills overlooking the country and the little villages. Stopped in a little bar/cafe after 8 miles for a cafe con leche, which I´m beginning to like, and a homemade tarte de Santiago, a fabulous almond flavored tart. I spent the majority of the morning swapping stories with Terry and walked with another friend, Erik, for the afternoon. It was quite weird to not spend any time by myself today but was nice company. We´re staying in an albeurge for 3€ tonight, which is about $4.50. Compared to the 7€ albeurge last night, you know why it´s 3€. The bunk beds are pretty much all next to each other (I´m terrified to go back and see who I´m sleeping next to) and you have to go get a plastic cover to put over the sheets to sleep on. Jealous?

Only 4 days left and less than 60 miles before we reach Santiago. The 3 of us can´t believe it´s flown by so fast (although it never seems to around mile 10 of the day) and are anxious to get to Santiago and say we accomplished our goal. I´m excited to burn my boots. The weather is gorgeous again here today and there´s a huge lake just down the road so we may attempt to jump in it and then just relax for the afternoon, have a cerveza, read a book on the lawn. Anything to stay out of the dirty albeurge!!!

Kat- I´ve been carefully calculating each day and I´m pretty sure I´ve burned approxiametly 18,038 calories while walking. I think this is equivalent to about 568 blizzards. Can´t wait to get home and make up for lost time/calories :) Thanks for the comments!!

Buen Camino