Life at the pace of walking

Life hits different when you experience it by foot. We see more, hear more, and remember more. And more memories feels like more life lived. 

It’s day 2, and nearly 30 miles in, it already feels like I’ve experienced so much. As a new friend pointed out, if you zoom out the map, we’ve barely scratched the surface of this journey. And I love that. The end isn’t yet in sight. 

We often rush somewhere to exchange existing in a car with existing on a couch or at a party we don’t really want to be at. We ask ourselves why take the slow or scenic route when we can speed and arrive 20 minutes or even an hour sooner without asking ourselves what we’re giving up or what potential experiences or observations and joys we’ve we traded away for the extra time. 

I got a late start this morning. I heard the rain falling and felt the cold air, so I let myself snooze in my cozy bed for a good half hour or so. 

At this point, I was already running late, so I took my time with a nice hot shower and breakfast before finally hitting the road around 8:30.

I knew I had a reservation in Zubiri, so I wasn’t too worried about trying to reach an albergue (pilgrim hostel) which often take guests on a first come first served basis. 

It turned out for the best. By the time I had breakfast and got out the door, the rain had stopped and the sun was beginning to rise, beaming through golden-white clouds into a brilliant blue sky. 

I began my walk with a smile and felt gratitude to experience another day of beauty.

Even as a fast walker, which I am, one still takes in so much more than driving or even riding a bike. Walking is the tempo of life. 

Pilgrim’s also often start their days early on the Camino to minimize sun exposure, but that wasn’t much of a problem today. Most of today’s walk traversed cavernous paths of trees, with just enough sun passing through the protective canopy to light up to a brilliant green the dewy moss covering tree trunks and crumbling stone.

While there was still some elevation gain, about 1,500 feet, it wasn’t nearly up to yesterday’s extreme of more than 5,000 feet, making today’s 13.8 miles feel almost like a rest day.

I didn’t really stop for a formal lunch, but I packed a banana and sustained myself with more wild blackberries until I stopped for a pilgrim’s lunch at a food truck.

I made it to Zubiri around 1:30. I headed directly to Bar Valentin to debrief with fellow pilgrims over beers. Good conversation and connection with a new friend inspired me to gift my first scallop charm.