Badarán

I felt some trepidation this morning as there were several warnings online that Pasomalo, the trail from Nájera to Badarán is prone to landslides and is impassable when wet. It rained a bit last night and the forecast was for rain today at 11am. But A) the weather forecast has been wrong every day this month, B) I felt lucky, and C) I really want to see the UNESSCO world-heritage sights at the end of this Camino detour....

And so I decided to give it a go.

Yesterday, in chatting with Kristan, I confessed that I am not much taken with the phrase 'everything happens for a reason' and after walking with her for a few hours she told me... "You know, I think you might believe that things happen for a reason a lot more than you think you believe it"....

And that has really stuck with me today. She might be right. Because as I entered a spectacularly beautiful valley full of dew-sparkling grapevines growing from deep red clay, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'm here for a reason. Maybe that reason is just to enjoy one of the most places I have ever seen. Maybe the reason is not yet apparent.

One thing I know: as I stood, smelling grapevines, mud, wheat, and flowers; smiling at the sunshine sparkling on the hills; and watching birds soar and hop to their own sounds.... I couldn't think of anywhere else in the world I should or would rather be.

And there's a heckuva lot of peace in feeling like I made an excellent decision.Read more