Day 2: Oviedo to Cornellana

Distance: 38km (cheated - only walked 10km)
Emotion: content, excited, emotional - all of it!

I am sat having lunch in the sun! ☀️ … the sun!!!! After walking over half way to my destination. The walk so far has been beautiful, in so many ways.

Before leaving Oviedo this morning (by bus), I stopped back at the Cathedral to pick up my Pilgrim Credentials. I’m not particularly religious, but it was unexpectedly emotional. Maybe it was the symbolism of beginning this journey, or just the overwhelming sense of peace at finally being here. Either way, I nearly had an embarrassing moment tearing up while the poor lady asked where I was from.

I’ll skip the bus ride to Grado, but once I arrived, the real walking began… my first steps on the Camino de Santiago. It started with an immediate uphill climb. And then more uphill. And more. It was a fast learning curve, but the effort was rewarded with stunning views and kind locals calling out “Buen Camino!”Once at the top of my (pretty small) summit, I exclaimed to the heavens that I had made it and started down the other side… instantly getting a stitch.

Since then, it has been quite smooth going and quite the adventure. I have met a man walking his horse, a group of guys from Mexico cycling the Camino, one of which decided to dive head first down a vertical drop off. He is called Javier and after I ran after his friends to get him some help, cycled after to me to say thank you.

So that’s the beginning of my trip. My feet are starting to hurt but that’s nothing compared to the experience so far.Weiterlesen