I guess this post will sort of be all over the place. First, I need to clarify some confusion from almost a year ago.
Anyone who’s wasted their time reading my blog knows that my first day on the Camino last year was hard and I struggled, as did most Pilgrims on that climb over the Pyrenees.
After I blogged that day, my mother (happy birthday!), a friend and Susan emailed me with encouragement and told me that “you can make it”. After rereading my entry from that day, it became clear that some thought I was going to quit because I said that Orisson was the last place I could “bail out”. I meant that if I went past Orisson, I was committed to the high route (Napoleon) versus the low route (Valcarlos). There was no way at all that I was going quit, I would have crawled over the top…had it been much further, I may have had to.
I have 3 friends that are going back to the Camino this May-June, the Professors (Chris & Steve) leave in June to do the Camino Frances again but taking more of the alternate routes. Chris is blogging, you can follow her at http://andtheuniverseconspires.blog/ . My friend Katja is going back for her 4th time to do part of the Norte and Primativo. What I wouldn’t do to be joining them. I wish them, Buen Camino and I look forward to reading Katja’s blog. If you’re interested, it’s in German but Google translate does a good job: https://vagabunterleben.net/ .
I’m really looking forward to our vacation, Iceland looks both fun and expensive. Besides looking around, we’re going to do some glacier climbing and will relax on our final day at the Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal spring and spa, https://www.bluelagoon.com/ .
Ireland got much better than expected. My friends, Bernie and Nigel have offered to show us around the south and west of the country, they have gone far beyond my original thoughts of just visiting them while we were in the area. Thanks to them both.
Germany follows with visits to Frankfurt and Berlin for quick visits with Katja (fresh off the Camino) and Alex.
Hopefully, our remodel job will be done when we return, maybe not, who knows?
So, sorry about rehashing the Day 1 story, sometimes I just a little slow.