Spa day

So today a lot of pilgrims took a rest day in Leon to shop, be a tourist or visit a spa.  My plan was to keep walking towards my goal.  After 21 days of gorgeous weather, I walked outdoors to rain.  So, I adjusted my attitude, took off my backpack and dug out my REI rain poncho.  (I had hoped that it wouldn’t be used the entire trip.)

After messing around with the snaps, I finally figured out the poncho and started out of town.  After only a few blocks I decided that my hat was still needed, so I stopped again.  There was a lovely restaurant open for coffee as I regrouped and coffee sounded better than rain.

Back on the trail, I paused yet again, after trying to get the poncho on over both my hat and pack.  I was standing in the rain struggling when a lady stopped and helped with my struggles.  Like the hand of an angel, she pulled the poncho over my backpack. I thanked her as much as I could, given our language barrier, and tried to ask if she wanted to walk with me to Santiago.  I don’t think she understood my words, but I know she knew I was thankful for her help.

This got me thinking as I left the city of how much better life is when people are nice to each other.  What happened to common courtesy and being friendly?  So now one of my Camino goals is to be kinder to more people that cross my path.  Please encourage me and join me if you agree. 

As the rain fell and I walked on, I realized that I was also enjoying a “spa day” inside my poncho.  Seems that between the humidity and my exercise, I had a little sauna action going on.  Although it made for a good joke with other pilgrims, I hope the sun returns soon.  I am not a huge fan of the poncho.

Yesterday I shared a picture of a lion coming out of a manhole.  I like to think that this is my “spirit animal” and that mentally I have this much energy each morning to hit the Camino.  Then later today I found the bronze statue that really represents me on the Camino.  There is no happier feeling than when you remove your shoes and put your warm feet on the cool stone.  This makes for a happy pilgrim!

I have one more day of urban hiking tomorrow and then we head for the mountains.  Lots of folks say that we will then experience the very best part of the journey.  I am excited…

 

23,845 steps

  11.71 miles

 

Location:  Villadangos del Páramo @ 42.524946, -5.757176