Poetry – Page 2 – Linda Scandore

To Market, To Market ~ Day 48 ~ May 24, 2014

Day 48, May 24
17 miles, 574 total miles
Altitude: 1,263 feet (daily high 1,830)
Weather: blue sky with clouds, 55-68F
Logrono

Shelves of chocolate bars, gummy bears, and packages muffins.
Boxes of cookies, crackers, cocoa puffs, and corn flakes.
Pre-shrunk packets of olives, cheese, and sausage.
Self-service vending machine shops.

Walk away from the yellow arrowed pilgrim’s path markets and find vine ripe heirloom tomatoes, regional cheeses, aged hams, and wine for incredible values. Shop like the locals.

Field Poppies ~ Day 46 ~ May 22, 2014

Day 46, May 22
14 miles, 544 total miles
Altitude: 1,430feet (daily high 1,673)
Weather: light rain 43-60F
Estella

Field poppies
Dot and bleed blood orange
Like fallen Templars
Upon a field

high b&b

Dance of Wheat ~ Day 45 ~ May 21, 2014

Day 45, May 21
16 miles, 530 total miles
Altitude: 1,131 feet (daily high 2,526)
Weather: hail, thunderstorms, rain, strong headwinds, overcast, sunny with clouds 55-62F
Puente la Reina

Like undulating seaweed
Beneath the water
Wheat bows to the wind
In rippling pale waves
Dancing beneath my feet

Caterpillars Do It ~ Day 43 ~ May 19, 2014

Day 43, May 19
14 miles, 514 miles
Altitude: 1,555 feet (daily high 1,624)
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-85F
Pamplona

Caterpillars do it.
Pilgrims do it.
Move in one straight line.
One behind the other.
All the wrong way.

A dozen of us having the greatest conversation missed a turn and had to retrace our steps.
Call us Pilgrims?
Call us Lemmings?

Over the Pyrenees ~ Stage 6A ~ Day 41 ~ May 17, 2014

Day 41, May 17
16 miles, 486 miles
Altitude: 3,116 feet
Weather: blue sky with clouds 55-75F
Roncesvalles
FRIST DAY IN SPAIN

Col de Bentarte, 4,386 feet
Col Lepoeder, 4,724 feet
Roncesvalles, 3,034 feet
Descend 1,690 feet in 3.1 mile

Toe-jamming boot time.
I can smell the barn.
Feet fly.

Should all fail, the last shelter stands with wood waiting for a match and warmth. Call 112. This is a potentially life threatening place where crises are real.

And Walk ~ Day 39 ~ May 15, 2014

Day 39, May 15
13 miles, 470 miles
Altitude: 124 meters
Weather: blue sky with clouds 60-75F
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
FINISHED FIRST HALF

For eight years I dreamed of walking the Camino from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago, Spain. Three years ago I learned The Way begins in Le Puy, France doubling the length of the pilgrimage. There is such a huge feeling of satisfaction knowing I have completed the harder half. Arriving in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port I feel like the sage pilgrim knowing all you need to do is walk and walk and walk.

White Blouse ~ Day 34 ~ May 10, 2014

Day 34, May 10
14 miles, 414 miles total
Altitude: unlisted
Weather: sunny 58-77F
Maslacq

White Blouse

Though I wash it every day,
All it becomes is gray.
White Blouse.

Chappel de Caubin.

Things Never Expected ~ Day 34 ~ May 10, 2014

Day 34, May 10
14 miles, 414 miles total
Altitude: unlisted
Weather: sunny 58-77F
Maslacq

Things Never Expected

Women in floral dressing gowns.
Men in blue pajamas.
Feeling more privacy in a mixed dorm,
Than a room for two with an unknown man.

Nature’s Play ~ Day 31 ~ May 7, 2014

Day 31, May 7
11 miles, 3867 miles total
Altitude: unlisted
Weather: overcast 58-73F
Aire-sur-l’Adour

As a child clings to his mother’s hand the first day of school, mud tugs to the soles of my boots.

Shoots of wheat standing at parade rest.

Muddy Footprints ~ Day 23 ~ April 29, 2014

Day 23, April 29

15 miles, 267 miles total

Altitude: 249 feet

Weather: rainy and cloudy 38-58F

Moissac

Muddy footprints will lead you here for this series of photographs from one knoll. My stride resembled Michael Jackson’s moonwalk as slick mud draws each foot backwards. Caked mud makes the boots heavy like iron weights. Is it worth the effort? Yes!