The final siren on the first day

Where to start! Maybe with I made it! I walked 28 kms, over 9 hours and 45,000 plus steps.

What a huge day both physically and emotionally. So many big emotions. So many big hills.

The People

I met so many amazing people today. Two Croatian ladies in the morning who we were fortunate enough to get a photo with before they left us for dead. They were in their mid 70s and set a cracking pace. They offered kindness laughter and medicine (this we didn’t need).

My walking buddy for 500 metres from Switzerland who was carrying his pack, walking on his own and was funny, witty and kind enough to tell me I had left the zipper on my pack open.

My Belgian friend who sat with me airing out our feet, talking about the heat, the never endings hills and that there is no where else would rather be as we sat in front of one the most amazing views between xx and xx teach me how to say thank you in Belgian and swapping stories of why we were on the Camino appreciating the little things like how good the sugar in a Banana tastes when you have walked up to1025 elevation, the slight breeze drying the sweat on your neck and again looking out over snow capped mountains feeling grateful for the new friendship, warm conversation and a few minutes respite.

My Kiwi mates at dinner who turned the most horrendous flight over into a positive road trip with out speed limits.

My German Friend from Hamburg who sat with me for 10 minutes before his meal, and shared his story - his second Camino, how today felt for him and where too next.

There were so many more - shared stories, shared experiences and the very best of what it means to be human.

Reflection

Seeing the very best of human nature today when everyone was in physical pain, under a intense heat from relentless sun made my thoughts wander to people fleeing conflict all around the world. They leave with the shirts on their backs and children tucked in close without the luxuries that I walked with today of clean drinking water, food in packs or the certainty of kindness, a warm bed and stable homeland.

I am saddened and yet in awe of people fleeing Lebenon who have had to walk for more kilometres than i did today with out food and with out clean water to give their kids a better life never knowing if today is they day they are going to die or to have to give a child/loved so they can have the chance of a safer furutre.

What courage that must take, what determination and strength and i was torn between admiration and helplessness that I can’t do anything to change that or help them in the immediate future. I can’t begin to imagine what its like for them - I am privileged to come from a country that is stable by comparison, where I am encouraged to have a voice , where I can support those who don’t have voice,

I thought about those who had walked these roads before me as soldiers or pilgrims, the difficulties they would have faced .The uncertainties they faced, the fear and isolation or loneliness that comes with war.

It left me feeling an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for the life I have and the people I have in my life.

Today I practiced the displine of stopping, resting - taking in the view around me. Not surging through just to get to the end. I practiced slowing my breathing -taking of my socks and shoes at each stop. Taking care of myself. Being kind to myself. Thinking about others.

Placing a hand on shoulder as I walked past someone struggling, other did that to me too. It offered silent encouragement and support ‘I in this with you and you can do this’.The weary smiles and sympathetic looks as everyone understood the struggle was real in the last 5kms.

Today was a reminder to me of the very best of human nature - in spite of the Trumps and the Netanyahu’s of this world we still band together through shared experience to show kindness, support and protection.

There is so much more to say but I am so dam tired now I can barely see the screen. Thank you everyone for words of encouragement on my posts and blogs.

Thank you to Neale who is walking this journey with me and is always beside me, encouraging me , loving me, humouring me but above all loving me with extreme patience when I am at my worst.

Burn Camino