Day 4 – Camino thoughts – Date 4.18.2025

I entered France to begin this trek 5 days ago.  I am traveling alone and I know no one.  I started walking Tuesday and today is Friday.  We left Pamplona and are walking west.  The terrain is changing.  I have never seen open fields of lush growth like I’ve seen here in Spain.  It is beautiful.  I noticed the horses wear “cow bells” around their necks.  I call them cow bells since I’ve only seen them around the neck of cows from my Wisconsin roots.  When I heard and saw them on horses, my next thought was why do farmers needs these bells on the animals?  Then I noticed that many of the fields where these horses roam have no farm near them.  They are in acres of land with fences around them but no farm or farmer in sight.  Made me wonder if the bell sound is unique to each farmer.  I tell you this because these are thoughts while walking the Camino.  There is a difference being on vacation as a tourist and being on vacation as a pilgrim.  I am a newbie in this pilgrim world but I kind of like it.  Look at the pictures I upload today.  We are walking through these fields seeing incredible landscape.  Not seeing it wiz by in a car on the highway.

You will see a picture of my hiking boots with a small white “shoe mitten” that one of the hotels had in my room.  I put this picture together with the imaginary caption “Shoe mitten – yeah I don’t think so!”  With the rain we’ve had, there are often puddles on the trail surrounded by lots of mud.  It is hard not to get your boots full of mud.  Especially when your foot slips off one of the stepping stones and you land in the mud!  I either need about 20 of these little mittens or one the size of the Big Gulp! 

What a difference 4 days makes on the Camino.  I arrived here knowing no one.  In 4 days, I am walking on the Camino and come up to this really cute outside cafe this afternoon.  I think, “Oh, I wonder if I know anybody here?”  Turns out I knew 2 people!  It’s crazy.  If someone told me in 4 days I would know about 15 new people I wouldn’t have believed it.  I also realize I have turned into a Camino snob in 4 days too.  The trail was more crowded today with “new people”.  Who are these strangers?!  Pamplona is a starting point for many people and as we get closer to Santiago, the route will get more crowded.  So in 4 days I am already starting to claim the path as My Camino!  Geez!

And here is another snobbish thought I had today.  Recall the mud puddles I mentioned earlier.  I was walking behind a gal who got mud on her shoes.  She stops right after and starts to attempt to clean off her shoes in the grass.  I think “Newcomer; must have just started in Pamplona.”  Geez, who made me in charge of the Camino.  I think the lesson I am learning is giving grace to all just as many have extended grace to me.

Okay one more funny picture/thought and then I am off to bed.  You will see a picture of an elderly man walking on the trail.  He is not walking the Camino as he is not wearing a backpack.  I took this picture because children (their strides are small) and this elderly man are the only people I have passed while walking.  This is a humbling experience for me.  I am slow.  I walked for 6 months all around my home training for this.  I was always on a path by myself.  I never thought I was a slow walker.  Well by the standards of what I’ve seen on the Camino, I am slow.  I think it’s good to remain humble.  Honestly I never met a boastful person I really liked.  So I guess I don’t necessarily card for that Trish that thinks she owns the Camino!

Buen Camino