I am not going to complain about the weather. Rather I want to detail its impact on my Camino journey. When it’s cold and rainy, your clothes get wet both inside and out. Inside from sweat. Outside from rain. On climbs I can take my mind off the rain and focus on the climbing challenge. I can then take my mind off the climbing by focusing on the wet and chilly conditions. That’s on the roads. Put me on the trail and I have to focus on almost every step. All those elements are simply part of the Camino. I accept that. The biggest impact these elements have on me- I can not let my mind wander and think about things spiritual or meaningful. Today was cold. It rained for the first 13 miles of my walk- about 4 hours. Battling the elements takes priority over thinking. That’s just life on the Camino. I can honestly say if I knew beforehand what conditions I would be facing, I’d still do it. Facing and surviving the wind, rain and cold required faith that I could get through it and inner strength fueled by faith to actually do it.

Camino Reflection- a few entries ago I talked about walking on the road in lieu of the trial when the trail was washed out and difficult to pass. I commented if the Pilgrims of old had the N525 they would have opted for it- no question. Then it dawned on me. They did! This route is called the Via de la Plata after the superhighway the Romans built to haul their silver out of the north. This whole route is based on that road the Roman’s built.

Just looks cold doesn’t it? It was

My lunch stop

I prayed- not for sun, but for the strength to battle the elements

View out the window of my room