The Things I Learned on my El Camino de Santiago

Good morning everyone:

It has been 6 months since I started my El Camino de Santiago (May 21 was my first day of walking).  Interesting, I have realized that my Camino journey is really my whole life.  The El Camino gave me an opportunity to slow down and reflect on my amazing journey.  I am so grateful for everyone in my life right now and all those I have met along the way.

In the past few years, I have learned that people can change and more importantly that I can change.

So this post is about the list of what I learned on the El Camino.  When I made this list a few months ago, I tucked it away, thinking that I would add more to it later on but when the opportunity came, this week, to share it with Lloyd Jones, Martin's father, I realized that the list is really complete. 

If you are thinking of walking the El Camino de Santiago or just wanting to know more about it, there are many blogs like mine, where you get the feel of the journey.  Enjoy my "take aways" and I hope that you will find your own, when you go on your own Camino.

The Things I Learned on my El Camino de Santiago

1) Take time away from people when you need it.  There will always be more people coming along.

2) Wear a wide brim hat, it keeps the rain off your glasses.

3) Watch for and accept kindnesses as they are given.

4) There is a difference between care taking and kindness.  Be aware of your motives.

5) Be gentle with yourself.  It is a long way and you have time.

6) Roll your sleeping bag up from the head opening to the feet, that keeps the dust from the road where it belongs.

7) Sometimes an extra 300m (one way) off the trail for coffee (and a pee) is worth it.

8) Everything in your pack needs a place, that way you will always remember where it is when you need it.

9) Sometimes idiot mittens were helpful as children... attach things to your pack.

10) Remember to bring everything you need to the bathroom in the morning, it will save you many trips.

11)  Be nice to slugs and move them out of the sun, everyone needs help once and a while.

12) Our bodies are amazing and can adjust to many things, even 30 km days.

13) Take time to smell the roses.

14) It can be fun to cook a meal with friends.

15) Remember that everyone you meet is there for a reason, it's ok to learn what you need and let them move on.

16) Like people in our lives, you will sometimes need a break from your pack to maintain a good relationship, send it ahead when you need to.

17) Always help a local Spaniard, if the opportunity arises, we are in their home.

Love 

Lauralee

My first 1/2 Marathon, October 30, 2016, in Niagara Falls.

Waiting to go home...

So the past three days have been a whirlwind. We made it in to Santiago and it was hot, 25 degrees in the square.

I started to cry as we came into Santiago. Not at this point but as we walked passed the man playing the bag pipes

As many of you know, my father passed away in April 2013. There have been many times during my Camino that I have had signs that he was here with me on this journey and this was yet another.

Martin and I took a few more fun photos:

This is the Templar Peregrino behind us.

By the time we got to the plaza it was hot and I was tired and the amount of commercialization was a bit of a turn off. So we took a couple of pictures and went off to find our accommodation.

Later we took a few pictures after we got ready for dinner, note the new dress, no peregrino garb for my final night.

This has been an amazing adventure for me. As it comes to a close, I can't begin to sum up what I learned and I am told that it takes several months to fully assess the many "take aways."

What I know this morning is I met people from all over the world with a single goal, walking to Santiago de Compostela. We all made this our own Camino and we were so blessed to have shared it with each other.

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. It has been so much fun to write my blog each day knowing that so many of you were following along. You all gave me strength and encouragement to keep going every day.

Love

Lauralee

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet

when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

I made it!!!

Two days to go...

The excitement is all around us. There are so many pilgrims walking now as many people start in Sarría which is the official 100 km starting place to get your Compostella. There are many school age Spanish teenagers as they all must walk the Camino.

Today, we had to walk on an additional 3 km because there was no space in the scheduled town. It was difficult but so worth it. We are in a 14 bed dorm all by ourselves. No snorers for us tonight. Martin got a tour by the owners because he started talking hostels with them. I don't think I mentioned but Martin owns the Ottawa Backpackers Inn in downtown Ottawa. Martin is a second generation hostel owner, as his father  and late mother own(ed) a hostel in Thunder Bay which Martin grew up in. So this knowledge combined with his MA in Economics make him an very successful business owner.

We went for dinner after we got settled and we had this amazing waiter. He was serving at least 100 people in this square and he was unbelievably quick, efficient and really together. We were so impressed we gave him a huge tip and generally you don't tip in Europe.

The walk today was beautiful in the sun and through the shade of many trees.  We went through the town of Melide. I saw this young girl with a Dora the Explorer balloon. It reminded me of friend who once said I reminded her of Dora. So I had to take the picture, it took a few tries but I did it and then there was Lauralee the explorer...

And of course the house of my favourite colour.

There is so much more to share but I don't have time tonight. We are meeting many friends in Santiago on Tuesday for a big party. It will be summer solstice and Candace's birthday. So we have several reasons to party, not to mention finishing 776 km plus 6 km for the two times I had to go back for my stick.

See you all soon

Love

Lauralee

"Remember,

twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do

than by the things you did do.

So throw off the bow lines.

Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

Four walking days to go....

We made it to Portomarín. We are less than 100 km to go. Martin loves selfies so I had to include this one. The sign post behind us shows 99,939 m or 99 km to go.

Galicia is a lot like Vancouver or the Gatineau hills. So this is very familiar except the cows on the side of the road.

I miss Avro a lot and I try to make friends with the dogs along the way. This is Lutzy. She is a German dog that seems to know I am missing my dog. She is walking the Camino and you often see her in his owner's lap after a long day.

We are four days from Santiago and I felt I had pulled a muscle in my left calf. It was so painful to walk the last 3 km but I made it. We are staying at the Villamartín Albergue/Hotel so I saw it as a sign for self care and booked a massage. My calf is feeling better and I will do my best to take it easy tomorrow.

Martin reminded me that I have walked over 700 km so far. It's quite amazing and I am so grateful.

Take care everyone and I am less than a week from being home.

See you all soon
Love

Lauralee

Ok It Helps If Your Rain Gear Repels the Rain....

So the forecast for the next three days is Rain, Rain, Rain.  We started out today and it was cold and rainy. No getting away from it. So you do your best. I have not had rain since day two of my trip (25 days ago). I guess I forgot that my rain gear doesn't work very well. And it really doesn't work very well in torrential downpours. I have been rethinking the amount I spent on my rain poncho ($7.87 at IKEA). Perhaps the Mountain Equipment Coop poncho for $120 may have been a better idea. Oh well maybe next time I will put more thought into this particular purchase. :-)

This is the picture early in the day when I was still somewhat dry.

This is the marking to say we have moved into Galicia, great wine and seafood will be had by all.

The trick to get through a cold rainy day is just don't stop because once you stop that's it. You get cold and it's really hard to get going again. We stopped. Then looked at the weather report, then looked at the weather report again. All bad news.

It took all I had in me to do the last 3 km. We actually ran a good part of the way, with my backpack, in the rain, soaking wet. But we were successful and there was still room at the Albergue.  Yeah!!

We walked 24.4 km but we wanted to do 30 km to catch up to where we are suppose to be today.

Tomorrow is another day and we still have 6 walking days to get to Santiago.

Lauralee

PS my friend Eric will make it to Santiago tomorrow. An amazing accomplishment, 27 days to walk the Camino Francés.

"I exist as I am, that is enough,

 if no other in the world be aware

 I sit content,

 and if each and all be aware

 I sit content."

 Walt Whitman

The Rain in Spain...

So today, we made it through most of the day without it raining and then about 3:15 it started to rain. We got a late start (9:00 am) so we only made it 20 km of our 28 km scheduled for today. The next week of walking is between 18-24 km each day so we will be able to make up our 8 km without too much trouble.

The super positive thing is we checked into an Albergue with a private room, two twin beds, private bathroom and a real bathtub (not the miniature ones I have come across). Martin went for a nap while I had the longest bath. My feet and legs are in heaven right now.

So backing up a bit. We made it to la Cruz de Ferro. It was an amazing place to spend time and to reflect on my journey. I placed my rocks and left them behind with hope and excitement for what the future will bring.

The next day, Martin and I were walking through Ponnferrada and we decided to take a little break from walking and tour Castillo de los Templarios (The Templars' Castle)

It was the best time ever.  I even got an opportunity to explain my understanding of military strategy based on my "Age of Empires - Castle Battles".

It was loads of fun walking through the castle.

When we finished, we still had hours of walking to do so we set out determined to make it to Villafranca. We talked about many things along the way but what stuck out the most was how important it is to actually stop and smell the roses...

In the end we made it into Villafranca late and tired. It was a 30 km day not including the castle tour. So we were happy to get into our room and then head out for dinner.

You meet so many people on the Camino. We have met this lovely 77 year old man from Fort Langley, BC, his name is Roy.

Roy lost his wife a few years ago and he has been raising money for the Langley Hospice that cared for her http://langleyhospice.com

Check it out if you have time. If you are inspired to donate let them know Roy from the Camino sent you.

I am currently listening to the rain falling outside and so grateful we stopped early and didn't push on to the next stop.

We have 7 more walking days to Santiago

See you all soon

Love

Lauralee

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Lao-tse