Frens on the other foot

 

From Dick….

As we sit here in our smallish European hotel room (meaning really small,😎), my good wife has asked me to contribute to the blog. Please don’t expect the same high quality prose she has given you, she’s in a different writing class than I am!

In any event, we have finished our journey over about 40 % of the entire El Camino, or a touch over 200 miles and just under 500,000 steps. It seems odd to not be on the path walking, but mind you, I’m not really missing it.

Frankly, I’m amazed that I’m even here! I much prefer trips taken on a motorcycle, stopping at nice hotels. When we decided to take this trip, I thought, “how hard can it really be?” Well, it was hard! From nearly being blown off the mountain the first day by winds gusting to 55 mph, to 20 degree inclines that went on forever, to gully washer rain squalls, to 85 degree hot sunny days resulting in significant electrolyte imbalance (which lead to really painful hand and foot cramps)….did I mention I can be a bit of a wuss? And I could go on…

And then there’s the other side of it. Beautiful crisp blue sky mornings, level paths😎,eons old forests that speak volumes in both their majesty and silence. To hearing “cuckoo” birds (yes, they exist), to meeting so many different people from so many different walks of life. People needing some physical help as well as asking if we needed any help. A group of middle aged ladies from Cork, Ireland whom frankly kicked this aging athlete’s butt with their pace along the way, but never failing to give a cheerful hello, every time they passed us. The football dad who played at Maryland and whose oldest boy is now the long snapper at Maryland. The young doctors to be (Nanc would know the names, she always does), who are both starting new positions at Mayo Clinic when they return to the USA, (the medical world is in better shape than I thought, if this is the caliber of young men and women going into it). And I could go on.

An unexpected benefit was the opportunity to spend 2-3 weeks in very close contact with my wife (as you all know, she’s quite something!) interpret that how you will. It is a custom on the Camino to greet folks with a hearty “Buen Camino” or “good way/walk”. It is similar to giving other Harley riders the Sideways V when approaching….I don’t like that either! Nanc must have said “Buen Camino” two million times! Not exaggerating! The thing that amazed/irritated me was that she always said it with a smile…always! Are you surprised? As I said, she’s quite something.

And we walked….walked…..walked…..walked…..  BTW, we are now quite seriously fit. 

Spain is a far more beautiful country than I imagined. Hills, mountains, rivers, vast farm land and pastures, and full of really nice people! Did not see even one golf course! Oh well, no country is perfect.

A word about our traveling company. Just seriously fine people! We got along and truly enjoyed each other’s company.

So now we head home. We have a few more days coming up in Portugal and two in Spain with old friends. I must admit to some nervousness about having to get a negative Covid test in order to get in the plane next Thursday (a little prayer for that would be appreciated) and thanks for prayers already offered on our behalf!

So was the trip a success? I think so. It will require some introspection and wine (Spanish wine is great and cheap). Would I recommend you do it? Come and talk to me!

Final thought. I could not have gotten through this w/o Nanc. She’s a Rock Star!

See Nanc, this is what happens when you ask me to write for you! I love you!