Day 8
18.3 mi.
Total: 120.4 mi.
This morning didn't start out so fresh but as we walked on to the trail my morning started to get brighter. Not only was it getting brighter by the beautiful sunrise, it was also getting brighter as we walked by a big, blue lake. The fish jumping in the air made me smile as did the ducks. It was a pleasant surprise seeing the little bunny rabbits pop their little head out of the bushes. We soon encounter a man sitting in a stand smoking a cigarette. On this stand he had cherries, apples, tostada crackers and a big book. These people are known as "trail angels". They sit on the trail with their stand and give this stuff out to pilgrims. I sign his book and leave a quote saying "Just keep moving!", he stamps our pilgrim passports and pushes food at us. He notices my walking stick that I found at a water font and he tries to explain to me in very fast and loud Spanish that it was no good. He points to a pile of walking sticks he has and asks me to take one. I kindly deny because I have grown attached to my stick and I didn't want to replace it but his kindness was so pushy. He kept saying in Spanish that it was all in my head and not my heart. I tried it out to make him happy and so I took it. I couldn't tell a difference between my sticks but he was happy. I ditched my old one. As I'm about to leave with my new walking stick he runs over and rants something to me as he points to the food. I knew he wouldn't be happy if I didn't take some, I took a handful of everything. (:
The atmosphere on the trail, and in the hostels is so welcoming and just so great during the day. Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time and life just couldn't get better. As the day grew longer my legs didn't get so tired. In fact, Bree and I had started a secret competition between us and a lady, that very casually and impressively, bent over and peed on a tree. She would surprisingly get ahead of us and we would kick it into gear and pass her. Along the way we made jokes to each other and shared stories but our main focus was not letting her beat us to the hostel. We would practice making our strides longer to stay ahead. As we enter the town things get a little bit more intense. We stopped on a corner and we were going to wait for March and Deija to show up but the lady was gaining on us... We decided to book it before she passed us and we knew March and Deija would catch up sooner or later. We are running through Najera keeping our eyes wide, looking for any yellow arrows or shell on the ground to lead us to the hostel. As we are trying to concentrate, all these other familiar things are happening around us. We see a dog peeing on the side walk in almost the same fashion she did and we pass a young boy just simply peeing on one of the small trees in the park like she did. All of these things reminding us that she was on our tails.. Mind you, this lady looks to be about in her late 50's or early 60's. We arrive at the hostel and it hasn't even opened yet and backpacks are trailing from the door and we make sure to have ours right before hers! The doors begin to open and people rush through the doors. She grabs her backpack and cuts in line! Bree instantly turns to me and says "She's a cutter!!!" and we both are disappointed. We called today 'Mission Impissible' , another great Camino memory. The game starts all over again tomorrow.
We settle into our bunk beds and then set out to explore the area. I grab my own personal journal and head out to a lovely river we passed. It had flowers growing in it ad the current was perfect. The temperature was all I could ask for on this hot day. I found a dry rock in the middle of the river and so I sat. I listened to the water flow and the birds chirp and the people talk as I wrote. These moments have become my favorite part of the day, it's all you could ever ask for and being satisfied and enjoying time without a computer or TV in front of you feels so nice. I feel like the trail has become my home, not the hostels I sleep in every night, but the Camino itself.
I walk to the super market and buy everything I want for dinner and lunch tomorrow and a few treats. A few things I am going to miss dearly is the fresh baguette and the chorizo with all the different cheeses. It's so delicious! Deija and I find a candy store so we have to walk in. Of course we buy a bunch of sugar, but then we saw our fellow pilgrims from New Jersey, we share our candy and exchange Facebook accounts on our way back to the hostel. I remembered that my South Korean friend Min was making a spicy Korean pasta and he wanted me to try it, I couldn't wait. The flavor was so explosive and delicious! I'm so thankful for all of these wonderful, funny, smart, crazy people I have met.. And it's only the beginning.
I was having a fabulous day... Until I go to lay down on my bunk bed. I happen to be sleeping near this older man. Our beds meet at a cross so his head is about two feet away from mine. As I'm writing this blog entry he starts to doze off and these loud startling snores start coming from him. He soon turns into a big, hairy, loud man with overly large tonsils. Another sleepless night in the hostels here I come!
Auna
Hilarious, Auna!
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