Reflections and observations

Since my last update I’m well on the way of my big walk, already 7 days in. Tonight is in Los Arcos and im staying in an old Knights Templar hostel, where they recievwd people on the way to the holy land and then accompanied them as security.

When you’re walking long distances every day there’s lots of time to think 😊 so here are some highlights and observations so far.

Spring in northern Spain. Wow! Everywhere I look is so pretty with the wheat fields, the pea fields, the vineyards, the olive groves, and the amazing rapeseed fields. Bordered by poppies and wild rapeseed. Underneath blue skies and fluffy white clouds. The soundtrack of birdsong completing the experience. Just wow!

Mario Cart trail walking. An amusing little dance happens every day, similar to Mario Cart racing. Everyone is walking their own pace, mostly staying in different digs, starting and ending at different times, and sometimes walking different distances. And yet I keep bumping into familiar people as we pass each other or spend a rest together, just like Mario Carts with someone new in the lead all the time.

Joy. We all have different reasons for walking, but the objective stays the same, to reach the end. The shared objective means we’re all on the same page, and as a result everyone is happy and engaging with stories, jokes and anecdotes. It’s just so nice.

New records. Up till now the furthest I’d ever walked was the 85km Old Ghost Road. Tomorrow I’ll pass 150km. If I was more agile I’d pat myself on the back 😄. Still a very long way to go, and lots could still go wrong (my poor feet with blisters), but every step forward is a new personal best for me.

Eat the croissants. No one knows what tomorrow holds. The trail is teaching me to enjoy every step I take, I might never be here again, enjoy all the small things and don’t put them off. Breakfasts are usually a pastry with coffee and orange juice (why don’t we do this at home?), which is great. Just eat the croissant and stop worrying.

Grateful. On night #1 we were all asked to introduce ourselves and say why we were walking. I was proudly the only kiwi (everyone loves us!) and that I was walking as my great adventure. Going around the room there were some sob stories where some people were really doing life tough. I felt a little guilty that our lives and providence were so good and others were not, but at the same time very grateful.Read more