I had one blog where I mentioned some things about the living quarters in the albergues (hostels) here. But I wanted to give a few more details on a couple of items.
To save electricity and water, most everything is on an electric eye or a timer. For example, the shower today had a push faucet. It ran for about 15 seconds and then shut off. So I continually had to push the button for more water. But perhaps the most frustrating thing is being in a stall when the lights go off. Sometimes you can wave and get the lights back on, but other times you just have to finish your business in the dark. Probably more info than you wanted. 😆
Today on the trail, I saw something interesting, but not really surprising. In an obviously intentional move, a very nice cooking pan had been placed on a raised flat rock, very carefully, so it wouldn’t fall off. It was the type of pan that you would use for backpacking or camping. There were also some items inside that pan, even though I didn’t go up to investigate further.
I regret that I didn’t take a picture, but I was walking with another pilgrim in the dark and he didn’t have a headlamp, so I was providing the light for both of us, and I figured he would think a picture of a pan was silly. But, of course, he hasn’t seen the silly pictures I have been taking for the last month!
The owner of that pan (and whatever items were in the pan) had come to realize that the benefit of those items wasn’t worth the effort of carrying that extra weight — which helps lead me into a promised Part Two of a blog that I began three days ago regarding some observations/lessons that I have learned from other pilgrims on the Camino.
So let me just use this opening picture to segue into one more observation to complete that earlier blog. This is probably one of the most powerful lessons that I have so far learned about pilgrims on the Camino.
This is huge: Pilgrims, while walking the Camino, try to carry as little weight as possible!
When you are walking 500 miles, two pounds here or even one pound there makes more of a difference than you would realize. I have shed some things from my pack and have even started trying to estimate how much water I will need, depending on the distance of the stage, the amount of uphill terrain, and the temperature. Depending on those factors, I only fill my water bottles with the amount of water I estimate I will need. I don’t want to carry the weight if I don’t have to.
At some of the hostels you will even see a box with a little sign on it that says, “If you no longer need some of your equipment or clothing items, you are welcome to put them in here.” That way, other pilgrims can benefit from those items, should they have an emergency.
It is always intriguing to look at things pilgrims have discarded. Many times there are shoes. Now I wish I would have looked for shoes my size, since mine are blowing out! You will also find all kinds of clothing or books — it’s amazing the treasures you find!
But, as pilgrims walk the trail, they realize that there are some things they just don’t need. Even though some items are in very good shape, they still feel it is more beneficial to lighten their load rather than carry them on the trail!
The lesson is so powerful! We, as pilgrims on the Camino of life, have a tendency to get bogged down with many things as well. The book of Hebrews, in chapter 12, tells us to throw off anything that hinders us in the race. You might want to just go to that Scripture and read it, like I did today.
As I meditated on this thought today, my prayer for me might be a good prayer for you as well: “Lord, please show me anything, even good things in my life, that are unnecessary weights bogging me down. Help me to throw them off and lighten my load so I am not so burdened down as a pilgrim on the Camino of life!”
I don’t have any funny stories or dreams to tell you about today, but let me just briefly give the daily trail report. When I left my hostel this morning and stepped into the dark streets of Portomarín at 6:15 am, I’ll admit, the weather got me down.
This is what my trail was like through the foggy dark woods.
The last few days I have been treated to, and have shown you pictures of, an incredible view as I looked down on the layer of clouds below me. This morning, my elevation was low enough to where I was IN the clouds that I had been looking down upon the past few days.
As I began walking, it really bummed me! Because even with my headlamp, I could barely see well enough to walk. The fog was so soupy and thick, and full of moisture. Even though it wasn’t actually raining, I could see the tiny droplets or mist that make up fog. A time or two, I even veered off the trail because I couldn’t see where it went, even with the help of my headlight.
Fortunately, the trail this morning headed upward for the first couple of hours. The only human being I saw during that time was the man I referenced earlier who didn’t have a headlamp. He had actually gotten lost, so he joined me, and stayed right beside me, sharing the light of my headlamp.
We kept on walking up and up and up. I clearly remember the moment we got above the clouds. I did a double take! From then on, my headlamp was able to penetrate the darkness. It was just in time to begin seeing the first rays of the sun turn the horizon red. And once again, I was treated to an incredible display of God’s creation!
One more quick wrap-up devotional thought that really encouraged me today. Even though the beginning of my day was dark and cloudy, as I kept walking and kept checking my app to make sure I was still on track, at the right time I broke through the darkness.
To those of you who may feel like you are walking in the clouds and darkness right now, I would encourage you to keep on walking! Keep checking the App and make sure you are still on the Camino, and you will eventually rise above the clouds and see the Son! So be steady, stay on course, don’t quit! God rewards faithfulness!
Glad you joined me today!
On a sad note, another pilgrim died on the Camino today. That makes at least two that I am aware of since I began my pilgrimage.
Eucalyptus trees
You can tell these are new pilgrims — their packs are different — more like school bags.
My buddy from India
My Croatian family
The stew I had for supper — not really what I was expecting!
Approximate total miles: 560
Approximate miles walked today: 16
Approximate miles remaining: 115