The day

24.7 km to Roncevalles, says the book. Tough (as expected) first day, few general surprises. Specifically, going down is harder, and harder still when fatigued. Passing a water station without checking or automatically filling your supply is a mistake. And indeed, the Camino provides! Both water and community.

Seke Hyung through Pyang Ahn O Dan in a Pyanees mountain. Location better than form, barefoot in a grassy high meadow.

My thanks to Steve, Ro, Catherine, Michael, and Mary, among many pilgrims. I met Air Force and Navy veterans, at least. Walked with a former balloon pilot, a jeweler, a corporate executive coach, a phd economist with self-diagnosed “Peter Pan” complex, mother/daughter walkers from Mexico, father/daughter walkers from Australia, and many others. This is a good Camino (Buen Camino).

Visited church in St. Jean, thanks to reminder from Ro. (She is walking one day dedicated to my sister.) Walked from 8:30 to 5:30, nine hours over the mountains to Ronsevalles (sp). Lovely day, sun and warm. Predicted weather on this part Tuesday was motivation enough to only stop in Orisson for topping off water and cider.

The meditation

Today, my thoughts included examples of complementary but opposing forces. Walk the plan; be open to conditions. Be quiet; engage in storytelling and conversation. Rely on myself; carry little. Carry the experience of black belt; behave with the white belt’s openness to learning. Energy; rest. Listen; sing (or facsimile).

Dinner with pilgrims, from Hungary, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Ohio, Minnesota. Better wine, good food.

No bad Charlies, during sleep. A cacophony of snoring more harmonic that crickets. And woke by guitar music by a volunteer covering the Beatles with more joy than practice.