It's now closing in on day 0, departure day. Preparation is well underway, some repacking and reorganising is being done to try and shave a few KGs off my, at this point, quite large/heavy backpack. And as I i am discarding items, the temptation to add other things is ever present, so far I have resisted.
Today, as I write this, (Friday the 13. Sept) I am spending the day hanging out with friends and enjoying the calm before the frantic final day (Monday) of packing. Everything will then be unpacked, checked, and repacked. That is also when final decisions will be made in regards to what makes the final cut, like a talent show final, but for hiking gear.
A few key items will be packed in a tote as carry-on, the bare necessities, if you will. So that if the airline looses my backpack I will have what I need to at least start the camino and then wait for my backpack to catch up with me.
This is a lesson I learned from some amazing Americans I met on the Primitivo—devout Catholics, no less! On a Catholic pilgrim route, quelle surprise!?! As an atheist wandering through catholic turf, I was sure I’d end up being an amusing curiosity, like a mosquito at a picnic. But instead, we walked the entire way to Santiago together, forging friendships that have held strong for eight years. Who knew I’d be swapping stories and laughter with folks whose idea of a wild night might involve a holy rosary instead of a rave? (Exaggerated for comedic effect, just for clarification)… but I digress…
Two of their group had to make due with what they had on them for the first few days while their luggage went on its own camino… becaus of this they quickly experienced one of the proverbs of the camino in the most direct way…
The camino provides
It is often quoted by pilgrims walking the camino, sometimes as an encouragement and other times perhaps as a silent prayer trying bolster ones own resolve to get through whatever hardship currently being faced…
Even though there may be some hardships and bumps on your way to Santiago de Compostela (both literallyand figuratively), the camino will always provide you with a way to overcome it and help you continue on your way, maybe not exactly in the way you had wanted or hoped. Like entering a british pub on a Sunday and ordering a roast dinner, but getting served fish and chips… only later to discover that those unfortunates that had the roast suffered a slight case of food poisoning…
Or as some wise people say…
"You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need"
And that is very much the case and vibe of the camino, often in more ways than just the practical aspects of walking day after day... it might give you experiences you did not expect, or you'll meet people from different walks (hah!) of life that you otherwise would not. Like me, meeting group of devout Catholics.
The following year, I made my inaugural visit to the U.S.—a sort of "tour of holy ground," if you will—to visit them and we even organized a small reunion. It turns out, the Camino didn’t just stop giving once I reached Santiago; it kept dishing out new adventures and connections long after the blisters healed. Just like my first Camino, it continues to provide unexpected experiences, all while I navigate the intriguing intersection of faith, friendship, and my own brand of skepticism.
(Some of the Americans, left to right: Fr. Illo, Claire, April, Martin, Olivia, Aaron, and Brian)
Everyone begins their journey on the Camino with the naive belief that they have a handle on what to expect—whether it's a spiritual awakening or just a good old-fashioned adventure. Most think they can pinpoint their reason for being there, often oversimplifying it to 'I just wanted to walk a lot.' Ah, the irony! The Camino has a way of scattering those tidy little expectations like autumn leaves in a gale, tossing them around until they settle in unexpected places. This is why the seasoned pilgrims, those who have braved the trail before, typically find themselves lacing up their boots for another round. As for me? Well, this will be my third pilgrimage, and something tells me it won't be the last. Clearly, I thrive on surprises.
So, while I'm not exactly bursting with excitement just yet, I have a strong feeling that once I start walking, the camino will work its magic. After all, it has a way of providing—like a cosmic sidekick, always ready with snacks and good vibes! Who knows, maybe I'll even trip over a fortune cookie or stumble upon a friendly llama offering sage advice. Here's to the journey, where every step might just lead to a laugh or two!
Buen Camino, ¡Ultreia!...