• Monday, May 14, 2018, Day #4
• Gernika
• Distance 12.3 miles; total 60.6 miles
• 1,452’ ascent and 2,502’ descent; 30% hard surface
• Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Weather: 55 degrees; partly cloudy
End of the day,
Not much space,
And yet an abundance
Of good companionship.
1st Ibiri Auzoa
2nd Ibiri Auzoa
3rd Monasterio de Zenarruza
We’ll leave the lights on for you…and the did. I’m the only guest at Résidence Le Saint Christau Thermes. It’s just me and my yellow backpack in this enormous inn.
Unfortunately, I’m too early in the season for the thermal baths. Shucks.
Even this pilgrim needs pressed cotton sheets and a home cooked dinner every so often.
Lamb chops…
Unlike the uniform spacing of pearls on a necklace, the spacing between the Gîtes is not uniform. There can be huge gaps between Gîtes. Today I walk either 9 miles or 22 miles; hence, the long miles for today.
Supreme Gîte. The host did the cement work and the hostess the tile mosaics. It has a separate building designated for yoga. Yes, I did my Mysore practice to the astonishment of others.
Desiring to savor my moments on the Camino, I’ve decided to abort my agenda in favor of a slower pace, less mileage, and more relaxation. Rather than be driven by a destination, I’ll make the most of the day.
Looks like I’ve become the company of eight French nurses who hike a week’s segment of the Camino each year (I haven’t done the math to figure out how many years that will take) and two German women who travel with a Canadian man
Pilgrims have commonality. We all walk to a destination with no more then we can carry on our back. In the evening we come together at gîtes sharing our walk and a bit of ourselves. Respect for privacy, possessions, dining, sleeping habits, and comfort are common qualities shared at the gîtes.
Would the world’s leaders learn more of peace and harmony by walking with no more they can carry on theirs back and sharing bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens with people from different countries?
Never any people to be seen on afternoon strolls through villages other then other pilgrims; all be it, the few five we are.
Beginning the day.
I collapsed on the first paved lane after a difficult climb. Gipsey Kings played through my earbuds (Celine Dian wasn’t cutting it for hard climbing). Wouldn’t you know the only vehicle seen all day, a postal truck, crested the lane and almost ran me over. Next time I’ll be more cautious where I collapse.
Linda Scandore 