Day 7

Tuesday September 21, 2010

Day 7 on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Los Arcos to Vianna

Dear Blog Readers,

Leave Los Arcos around 8 a.m. after stopping for tea and a croissant.  On the way out of town realize I forgot my ring and earrings at the hotel.  Hurry back in the hopes of not losing them, but telling myself that like the photos of the first 4 days trekking, I cannot find on my camera that if I don’t find the ring and earrings than so be it, they are just material things.  However, they are on the night table where I left them.  So, head out of town again.

Today it is very hot, no shade trees along the paths.  This makes for a tiring endless day with many steep uphills and just as steep downhills.

Travel through one hamlet called Sansol - in the town square there are trees and benches.  The two Americans, Stan and Eugene, who answers everything `yes mam` are in the square with the other young people trekking together today, among them is Vanessa from Quebec, Lars from Holland and Kathrine from England (near Windsor she says).  We met her the first night in Roncesvalles.

Lots of grapes being harvested along the vineyards and pilgrims help themselves to the bunches of grapes in the open vineyards. We are now in wine country.

Long before arriving in Viana, it can be seen in the distance, which makes the last 5 kms. take forever.  An American said it best the other day in the square, where many pilgrims sat having a beer - Walking the Camino is the most grueling thing a person can do to their body - by trekking 20 - 24 kms. every day for 34 - 44 days.  In a person´s lifetime they never subject themselves to this type of physical endurance.  I do understand now what happens to the Iron men and women during the race in Penticton.

Arrive in Viana around 2 p.m. stopping at the first bar with other pilgrims to have something cold - Coke never tasted so good. Trek today 20.5 kms.  Steps 20,766 (those uphills and downhills). 

Blessings from the Camino,

Yasmin 

p.s. Remember Raise a Reader Day is Sept. 29th.

My personal thoughts for today - I think the worst part of walking the Camino appears to be the last 5 kms.  After six or seven hours walking, when the body and mind are exhausted, the last push seems unconquerable.