Learning (again) to slow down…

Day Ten (Camino de San Salvador Completo)

Camino Primitivo Day Three - Casazorrina to Tineo

“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all – the risk of spending your life not doing what you want, on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”
– Randy Komisar

Mornings can be a challenging affair on the Camino. Bunk mates who are rustling their bags too early, not having prepared their pack the night before. The person wearing a headlamp who thinks the red light setting won’t shine in anyone’s eyes, as they scan the entire room and ceiling for something they’re missing. The person stumbling into the room in the early hours, high on Rioja and tapas. And this morning, when an 8:00 am breakfast is very slow arriving and you really wanted to be on the road at 7:00. But you wait, because the coffee promises to be good and the rye bread with butter and tomato preserves make you want to cry it’s so good. This is just one moment in the entire slice of your existence - good bread, coffee, and fresh tomatoes are worth slowing your pace for.

Today’s walk was mostly uphill, but not too difficult because of the forest that wraps itself around the trail. It was a day of pastoral views; waterfalls, cows, an occasional horse or goat, and huge rolls of silage. Espina was holding a market day, and the lot behind the Main Street was full of cows, bulls and horses for sale. The bars were packed with farmers, drinking beer and settling deals. Fifteen miles of life today spent doing what I want, watching a Spanish Sunday unfold. I have made many mistakes alone the way in my life, but spending time walking these roads is not one of them.