Camino Photo of the Day: Luggage?

The next morning, April 27, this sight greeted us in the common room of the albergue. There are always those who for whatever reason send their bags ahead using one of the transfer services that have sprung up all along the Camino. Normally this happens because the pilgrim is older, injured, or just plain overpacked. This is the first time, however, that I remember seeing a pilgrim with suitcases, much less three of them.

Date: 27 April 2016
Place: Triacastela (Galicia, Spain)

Today’s Map:

Mirrored from Pilgrims on the Way.

One Month to Go

Just thirty days from now, Francine and I will be boarding an airplane for Spain to begin our third Camino. While this one will be quite a bit shorter than the others – two weeks as opposed to six – that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. This is a spiritual journey, as well as a physical one, and who can say how the Lord will choose to work?

Look, I’m as guilty as anyone of judging pilgrims by the length of their journey. I was famously furious on our 2013 Camino at the horde of fresh-faced pilgrims we suddenly met at Sarria, at the 100 kilometer mark.

I mean, some of them had pressed hiking pants with sharp creases.

But in less than a day, I got over it. At the same point of the Camino in 2016 it was more an attitude of amusement and care on my part, rather than anger and frustration.

I sincerely hope we provide some road-weary pilgrims with a bit of amusement at our fresh attitude and cleanliness. We’ll be walking about 160 kilometers or 100 miles, so we’ll see that Sarria influx about three or four days into our own Camino.

Meanwhile, we have been training. Walking most days, and for distance on the weekends. Nothing, of course, completely prepares you for the actual Camino, but every little bit helps.

Ultreïa!

Francine and I share a laugh on the trail

Mirrored from Pilgrims on the Way.