The Road Less Traveled

I got up super early today and was out the door by 6:00am.  Turns out it is still dark here at 6:00am, so I took a few minutes to ponder taking the alternative route.  It proved to be a delightful choice.  My first sunrise was stunning, the chorus of birds was magical and the path was without any traffic.  (Last year I did the main route and it was just a slog next to the highway.)

You really can’t get lost on the Camino as you just follow the yellow arrows.  However, when you wander away from the main path, there are far less arrows to guide you.  This year I loaded OSM maps and downloaded the Camino waypoints. Now I have an off-line map giving me a lot more confidence to wander.  So, wander I did…

 

The bypass route was lovely, but I had already booked a bed at an albergue on the main route, so I needed a way to cut between the two routes and the OSM maps provided the solution.  I was in the middle of nowhere when I came across a very surprised lady.  She asked if I was a lost pilgrim as I was not on any official Camino path.  I showed her my screen and she finally understood that I had a (potentially foolish) plan.  She wished me well and I thanked her for being my guardian angel. 

 

After I returned to the main route, I passed the albergue where I stayed last year.  You can see how charming it is next to the highway and the gas station.  

 


It felt great to be back on the Camino and it also felt wonderful to stop for the day!  

 

Side note:  I dedicate today’s walk to Linda, our neighbor for the past 35 years.  She loved to walk daily and feed the local crows.  Just recently, at 83 years of age, it became unsafe for her to continue to walk and live alone.  She is now in an assisted living home and only walking under supervision.  We never know when it will be our “last time” for anything.  So, cheers to Linda! 

 

Today I am reminded how lucky I am to be able to walk the Camino again.  I hope you have the courage to take the “alternative route” when you have the opportunity.

 

  14.84 miles

30,807 steps

 

Location:  San Martin Del Camino @ 42.497446, -5.804019

Comments

  1. McNeel EuropeJune 6, 2024 at 5:24 AM

    Hi Tim

    Cindy just called my attention to this blog you're writing along the way. I wish you best of luck on your pilgrimage. Thank you for sharing. I hope I get myself on it soon myself.

    See you soon!
    Joachim

    ReplyDelete

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