Today’s stats: 20 miles/500 ft elevation. 

Our Camino family of 3 has expanded.
Many pilgrims talk about their Camino “family” - the people with whom they walk day in and day out, stop at the same towns and stay at the same albergues.

I don’t have that experience and feel that the Camino “family" gets overblown somewhat. For most of us, the groups we walk with ebb and flow. We socialize and talk to people, but we all move on and go our separate ways.

My take on this is that I have a very loving family and dear friends, so I am not here in search of a "new family.”
I have found many remarkable and interesting people on my Camino. There are people with whom we share walks, talks, beers, meals, and information, but I would not call them "family.”

I just love the Camino social life. It flows, it is open, unexpected and changes every day. For the most part, my Camino is me walking, just being there, and not talking. It’s me savoring the moment enjoying the simplicity of life. All I have to do is walk. Everything I need is in my pack. I meet new people every day, and I get to choose who I want to talk to.

Today, we had a fellow Californian who saw the bewildered pilgrims trying to find their way out of town in stark contrast to our group navigating the way with remarkable confidence. She made the obvious choice to follow us. We thought it would just be for a couple of miles, but she was determined to stick with us for the whole 20 miles even though she didn’t have a reservation at the albergue where we were staying. She was my inspiration today. When we got here, I took one look around me, and my heart fell. After a long walk on a windy day, my inner princess wanted a luxurious hotel. But then I saw the look of pure joy on Barbara’s face when she was told there was a bed for her in the dorms, and I said a little prayer of gratitude for all of the many blessings in my life (including a private room with a clean bed, a hot shower, and the soap we wisely carry with us.) Buen Camino!