May 1, Navaretta

Yesterday was a beautiful walk through hills and seeing villages and a church steeple in the distance that you approach as you get closer to town. It started freezing cold with the wind in my face - lots of clothes including hat, gloves, gortex and shirts. I was feeling pretty good at 20km so pushed on to the next village. After about 1 km it started to get harder - the terrain was easy and the same but my legs were getting tired and my shoulders felt the weight and for the first time the muscle in my left calf was tight. Anyways I got to Longano and got one of the last beds in the refugio. It was up 3 flights - the last set like going to the sky - up in the rafters were about 30 single beds side by side. Enter from the end. Noone snored in the whole room to the best of everyone-s knowledge. In spite of the beams over some beds, all slept well. Kind of funny and certainly friendly.
My mind had a discussion yesterday about whether the mind should be in charge or the body. So I decided that to work hard one must put in effort but then of course in yoga they always say be kind to yourself. So I pushed for the last 10km as the managing mind was in charge. However, today I travelled 10km (instead of the 30 yesterday). I am enjoying the time and hoping that one muscle loosens up. Also I might try to lighten my pack a little at the next town - I don´t expect it to be easy but I wouldn´t object to a little easier.
This is more physically challenging that I had expected and being in shape for it is taking longer than I expected. I tell myself that even hi-performance athletes - and I am not one of those - even take a break to stay in peak shape.

The people - well, I have met a few and watched a few. The thoughtful Portuguese guy, the fun Kiwi, the Irish, the English minister, the friendly great shape Dutch couple and numerous Calgarians and a couple from Kamloops. Then all of those that I can´t understand because they don´t speak English - Germans, French, Italians and trying my Spanish seems a waste of time. I know that I don´t remember much from last year but hey they look at me as those I am nuts some of the time. If they did answer my question I certainly wouldn´t get it anyways except for the body langugage (which can tell a lot). I hate to stereotype but yesterday, with permission I sat in a chair. When the ówner´ returned he glared straight down at me, took the chair beside, turned it 180degrees away from me, shoved his ass right into my knees and sat there. So I stood up, got another chair and sat a few feet away with my French Canadian friend. The rudeness of some people. Some of these ´pilgrims´are running a race and not seeing much - it seems to me. Every day I see people racing to leave and racing to the next point. Now it seems that there is going to be a shortage of beds at some of these places. Some time in the near future they will need to develop a system of allotting so many on per day. There are more people that places available. And of course, some people leave garbage out - not much - but it is there - so some education needs to be in order, I guess.

I am not sure how I will handle it all - I don´t plan on rushing from place to place - and 35 days really seems to be about the minimum - 20 km is comfortable for me so far. Who knows maybe one day I will wake up and it will be a piece of cake but somehow I think that I am dreaming. I have always liked to push a little - but recognizing how much - to create the right balance for me is important.

ENough rambling for now and I´ll share my experience again later.