Camino de Santiago - route Frances

The end of a great challenge, and enlightening journey inwards.
I struggled in the beginning to find my place on the walk, the first week was one of bad weather, tough terrain, and three individuals learning each other’s walking ways. There were times I asked myself, why did I come back.
By week two, I knew there was a reason I came back and I started to find some peace in my walking. I realized that I wasn’t going as hard as the last Camino, and was forced to slow the pace from 40+ kilometers like I did last time, to-about 25 km a day, and I’m thankful for Kaz and Bill who made me realize that I wasn’t smelling the roses. Why I was driven to push so hard last time, I’ll never know, and it doesn’t really matter now.
I spent countless hours on my own, listening to my feet hit the gravel, I let my mind wonder and if you can do this, and leave a little room in your head, maybe,,,,,,,,,just maybe, you will learn something about yourself.
I made peace with something that had long been on my mind, and I hope I can take that peace home with me. Funnily enough, the Camino dumped it back in my lap in loads on the day I finished walking. I guess I’m being tested, and yup it’s all ok.
I was fortunate to have met and become part of a Camino family that I truly will miss, each and every one of them, most likely, unbeknown to them, taught me a little something along the way. I hope I did the same for them.
The last 10 days was a fantastic time, I walked happy, with no injuries, an easy gate, and not a mile went by that I didn’t get to say “hi” to a friend, or the traditional greeting on the way of “ buen Camino”. Some of the places we stayed were pitiful, some had great hot showers, which was the best thing at the end of the day, some were loud and noisy, some had squeaky beds and plastic sheets, some were 50 to a room,,,and some places were fantastic. It was all part of the journey.

I’m grateful that I can do this, and that I did this one again with friends, it was very obvious to me that each of us has a different story to tell, as we each walked together ,yet daily, we walked alone.
They say that one must be humble on this road, or this road will humble you, I was mindful of that..

It seems you meet new friends on the way as a matter of chance, but I always found later that it was most likely by design, the Camino is a strange animal.

Will I walk my 6 th Camino way, most likely not, but I will walk again, all things being equal, I have my sights on new challenges, maybe India , but I also want to go sailing.
Thanks to Bill and Kaz for walking with me, and all my Camino family I met along the way, there are so many things to be grateful for and I am that.   Now I get to go home, shave the beard, and get back to my other life, but maybe with a little more wisdom
BUEN CAMINO
Pat Holmes
2019

PS
today I put on my pack to go to the station for my trip to Portugal, I found that I missed having it on my back.