The Good, The Bad and the Muddy!

When I packed for this trip, I prepared for cold, rainy weather. I prepared for days of heat and sun as well. And so far this walk has seen all the above, plus the special element of MUD. I have walked the last 80km uphill, downhill, on flat ground, and through many a vineyard in deep, red clay mud. The type of mud that sucks your shoes off, the type of mud that makes the quads burn and the butt ache with each pull of the shoe. The mud is the best suction cup i have every encountered. It can hold anything. Even me! But for better or worse I have persisted and have made my muddy way through town after town. And the beauty of the camino is evident as I enter each new town, village and city. Because instead of being greeted with stares of disgust I am greeted with many a friendly Spanish face and a cheer of Buon Camino!!! The Spanish are proud of the Camino and every town has arrows that guide me on my way to the next place of refuge for the night. The townspeople smile and wish me well. They offer me cafe con leche and at night I drink the deep red wines of Rioja for about 4 euros a bottle! And each time I stop on my way, thinking I cannot take another step in mud, someone will pass me by and say, ¨Buon Camino¨and they then grab my arm and walk with me until my smile comes back. I can´t describe the feeling it gives me to be on this walk, but I can say that every day my love affair with Spain grows deeper. Now I just have to figure out how to get out of eating the intestines that they serve for dinner! That is the bad part!