And a tiny bit of gratitude

Late morning for us. Usually we’ve walked for 2 hours by now. But this morning we’re training. Busogrinos yesterday, trainegrinos today.

A new day and hopeful once again.

THANKS

Thanks for a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed

Thanks for not being out in that storm over the mountain

Thanks for the options we have.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Yesterday we were organising to jump the Olvidado path and head back to Bilbao.Various reasons, but in a nutshell the joy of moving and exploring, the connection to people and landscape comes in tiny splinters of light. We’re isolated metaphorically. The distances are long; long patches of dry, flat earth interspersed with intervals of climbs and impressive mountain views . Only problem, often too anxious and weary to absorb them, and too busy chasing the yellow flechas that point the way or following a wikiloc. The organisation: how far can we walk, is there anything between for food or rest, where can we stay tonight? When we finally reach a place it is sometimes away from the heart of the town with limited connection with the people or life here.

…. Some of this has been a part of every Camino we’ve walked. But here what we see and experience is, at times, only partially balanced by the organisation and the slog.

So this is about looking back on yesterday

Yes , started off well leaving Aguilar and walking through attractive landscape , Here’s the rainbow promising a bright day.

Past a couple of farm houses next to the fields. Silent as it’s getting hot. A necropolis on a hill top and a few crumbling churches. No coffee/bars.

First break an Irish peregrina walks towards us and the next 10 km pass quickly as we talk and walk. Reach a bar at the river

Elaine is walking the next 20 km. We say goodbye and head to the bus stop

We’ve done 20 and that’s enough.

The next half hour, it would have been three hours walking, we are busegrinos.

And the world goes swirling by from the comfort of our Alsa bus. Look at the climbing we’ve missed.

Arrival at destination and another round of finding somewhere to stay. Of course right across the opposite end of this town of Guardo. We have to settle for the Hotel who answered the phone. It’s on the edges of this sprawling town.

Train to Bilbao tomorrow maybe ? Right now we’re in two minds.

Then 2 hours later we walk the 2 km back to the centre and after couple of wines in a fairly busy bar next to the plaza, we’re going to give the Olvidado another shot.

So this morning we’re resuming the Camino Olvidado:part train today and all walk tomorrow.

A mix of bus/train/feet, for us peregrinos now, mixed journeying to break each stage into a manageable proportion. The mountains ahead we are told are the most memorable part of the Olvidado.

“Life is a journey not a destination “