Recovery, Purpose

 After hoofing 15k yesterday,  i am feeling good. a little tender on the feet & a right left calf,  but easy to take care of.  The claim that walking yourself into fitness on a long hike seems to hold up.  I'm more pleased to have identified that my pointy shoes are crap for my wide foot. Something that hasn't bothered me on short walls.  I also used a small pack yesterday.  I'm guessing its about 20 litres capacity & I'm really thinking it's enough for a Camino walk when camping & sleeping kit are not needed. A light pack equals great joy & simplicity.  

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i have a theory that pilgrims are heavily drawn from among society's more well off. Of course the world's indigenous peoples, * at the other end of the scale, the greediest money makers are unlikely to ever attend,  but i am miffed that blue or  green collared workers are under represented.  This morning I picked up a book & after learning that the author laughed off the "clumsy" act of throwing her gold watch & wedding ring into the toilet & then read this:- 



A person that has consumed at the heavier end of the spectrum ends up feeling jaded & totters off to Spain a week after a "sabbatical in France". Well,  I'll restrain myself,  but its apparent that raising the airfare & taking time off won't be a problem,  nor the herniated disc from years of hard physical work. 

Interesting,  on the Long Distance Hiking podcast today I heard an American walker, Retha Charette, promoting the need for greater diversity pin the trails.   

The people of Spain & volunteers in the refugios strive to keep pilgrims' living expenses low, & they are too be commended.  However, arranging time off work & having money to pay for airfares work & to servicing bills at home while I'm away, are the largest obstacles to me walking the Camino. I need to work hard just to get there. If  i do manage to make the Camino i will go out of my way to congratulate those pilgrims whose mere presence is a minor miracle & remind others of the sacrifice of the staff & locals,  to make it all possible. I'm guessing that historically,  some of the most arduous pilgrimages have been undertaken by people who could not afford ( or want) expensive kit,  had disabilities or were burdened by life. 





 


 

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