The Hospitales Route

Day Twelve (Camino de San Salvador Completo)

Camino Primitivo Day Five - Samblismo to Berducedo

No walking stick is needed to wander the wild of the mind, the high country of the heart.”

― C.M. Rivers

Today I walked the Hospitales Route on the Camino Primitivo. It is, like the mountain route on the San Salvador, a walk I have been imagining for months. To complete it today, with the beautiful people I have come to know on this route, was a privilege. It was a wild, beautiful walk, with clouds appearing and dissipating in seconds. I will confess my American entrepreneurial mind drifted a bit regarding how much pilgrims might pay for a “Magic Carpet,” like the one for kids at Meadows Ski Resort, to get up the mountain quicker. I also thought about how much I could make selling lunches to the Italians on the mountain - they were too busy eating and drinking yesterday to shop for tomorrow. And I laughed with my dear Swiss companion so much today - her and her trusty Swiss Knife. I had no idea Swiss people actually used Swiss knives?

This is a hard, rugged and rocky path. But to have so much joy along the way - it makes the miles go quicker. I am thankful to be here, in this moment and with these people.