In The Rhythm

Haha!  I continued my celebration of solitude by sleeping in this morning!!!  It's 6:30 am and I'm just so comfy snuggled here in my cocoon-like sleeping bag. Im listening to the 50 or so pilgrims in this dormitory as they attend to their morning packup routine quietly and quickly in the dark. ... I now find comfort in the familiar sounds of rustling plastic bags, clips and zippers and creaky floors... 

It's lovely to not have to fit into anyone else's requirements. Yeah me!!!  Now THIS is freedom!

Wow:  somewhere in the last 17 nights in each of these strange places I have learned to actually like them.  Here in Astorga i could have opted for a private hotel room with big towels and no one snoring beside me. But ive grown to like it here with my fellow pilgrims. Who knew?

7:50 pm

Sadly, it seems my much abused Nikon camera has decided it's had enough of the Camino.  Ive had much fun with it and expect more fun over the summer viewing and editing my favourite camino photos. 

 Interesting:  my original draw to the Camino was that I felt it provided a relatively safe way for me to explore and photograph abandoned rural Spanish villages. I laughed cynically at all the crazy mid-life mystical, spiritual awakenings everyone talks about...

But now I'm here without my camera...Hmmmm:  I feel the Camino has something else in store for me. I'm not sure what, but I'm convinced it is for my benefit somehow...

Fortunately, I'm well into the rhythm of my pilgrimage at this point and nothing really bugs me anymore. I even found myself walking slower today (or maybe it was the driving cold wind and rain in my face).  I'm more relaxed and at peace with whatever happens next. 

My body surprises me daily. Overnight all my little aches and pains magically heal themselves. I always feel fresh and strong in the morning.  Maybe the Camino is teaching me to trust that everyday is a new beginning.  It seems like my body and my mind are finally trusting that all will be fine and there is never a need to worry about the future:  My backpack isn't so uncomfortable anymore, and despite the approach of a snowy mountain range, I feel prepared. I have also been shown repeatedly that there are always more kind souls yet to meet on my travels - we are all walking in the same direction.