Camino Frances, Uncategorized

Why bore myself to death when I can bore you, too?

See? More trees to walk through today.

Today was a long walk so I’ll keep this short. Tomorrow is an even longer walk so, if you are lucky, tomorrow’s post will be even shorter.

I don’t know if you are getting tired of me. I sure am.

And more horreos.

I find that after 450 miles walking the French Camino, I am pretty boring company. For myself, anyway.

But enough of that. See? Boring already.

This fellow got the hang of it beside the trail.

I guess the problem is, today was just like yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that — beautiful landscapes and trails, challenging hills, welcome company, excellent weather. Blah blah. Blah. Blah.

Not to diminish the experience. But that’s just what I’m doing, isn’t it?

This copse of oaks was nice.

You can tell I’m getting itchy for the finish in Santiago de Compostela— a mere 67.6 kilometers from Palas a Reí, where I sleep tonight.

I did laundry. I took a shower. I made my bed. I went shopping for trail snacks. I went out and had a gigantic plate of mixed ribs and fries at Cafe de Castro.

Café de Castro’s plate of mixed ribs.

Damn, were those ribs good. All species.

And I can’t stop yawning.

Tomorrow, 30 kilometers to Arzúa.

If I squint, I can almost see Santiago on the horizon.

Some long straight stretches, and (yawn) stuff:

That’s it. Lots of hills today, but we’ve climbed bigger ones. Beautiful, well-maintained trails. The wind has stepped up and taken on an icily autumn attitude. My down vest stayed on all day.

Trying for a healthier lunch today. Yesterday’s cheesecake was a low bar to beat.

Many more stops than usual for coffee and pastries these days. I hit a few.

A friend just said Catholic Mass starts next door in 15 minutes.

Might be a nice way to finish the day.

Good night dear friends.

Give us this day our daily cows (fewer and fewer, it seems):

Mama was still cleaning her calf.

The sheep would like a word with you …

Sorry, I’ll try to be more interesting tomorrow. I feel something amazing might happen … so don’t touch that dial.

Post script:

Today’s mostly uphill walk.
Tomorrow’s mostly up-and-down hill walk.

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9 thoughts on “Why bore myself to death when I can bore you, too?”

  3. Linda Mellish's avatar Linda Mellish says:

    I’ve read every post and looked forward to it – living vicariously. Several posts back, I thought I saw a cartoon like dog face in the ancient tree. It was on the right side. Did you see it? My European travels were mostly urban so this rural trail seen in pictures through your eyes was an interesting trip. Thank you. Linda Mellish

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  4. William Osborne's avatar William Osborne says:

    You’re definitely not boring, but here’s a suggestion you might address: Why did you decide to make this trek? What did you expect or want to get out of it? Now that the end is I. Sight, what have you gotten out of it? What have you learned about yourself?

    Just a thought.

    —Bill Osborne

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  8. cismexz12gmailcom's avatar cismexz12gmailcom says:

    When I first learned about the Camino, decades ago, it struck me that it was about self-reflection. Since then, I’ve learned there are many reasons people do it, not just self-reflection. Your days are very busy, from our perspective, but there must be miles of quiet, obviously of repetition. Does that allow for self-reflection? Not that any of us are wanting to intrude into the nature of the self-reflection, but does it happen to everyone?

    I attribute some of my characteristics as an adult to the boredom I experienced as a child, esp an adolescent, growing up in rural Ohio, as an only child. Bored, day after day, I began reading more. I also began ‘planning’ more. I organized a social event, a dance for teenagers in the neighboring areas, in our grange. I created fantasies about a musical production, I began to make lists! I pleaded for a teenage girls club, and that happened through the YWCA. Maybe I should have spent more time in self-reflection! But, alas, boredom has its function, IMHO.

    Can’t wait for tomorrow’s post, regardless of the number of characters……

    Crystal

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    • Every day walking, there are quiet times that lend themselves to all sorts of thinking. But self reflection is not something that can be turned on and off with just the right moments.

      I think I have been better served by a lifetime of meditation and occasional self-imposed isolation.

      Today I heard someone complaining that they don’t think the Camino yields revelations about the self. Well, each Camino really is different, so who is to say?

      Somebody asks, “How has the Camino changed you?”

      I don’t know. I tell them, “I’ll let others decide if I’ve changed when I get home.”

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