Today was an 80+ degree walk through the Meseta; lots of sweat, tight muscles, backs carrying too heavy backpacks, and some tears. Another four days of walking in the hot, arid stretch until we hit the cooler hills of Leon and Galicia. I feel as though my body has been through a prolonged exposure of heat and overuse. The next few walking days are shorter though, and temperatures are expected to be 5-10 degrees cooler.
Listening to the Pilgrims for two weeks, the Camino exposes fear, doubt, and insecurities. For most pilgrims, the Camino is in their head – planning the day, walking, heat, carrying enough water, nightly albergue reservations, where to eat dinner, etc. I’ve met too many pilgrims not making albergue reservations, finding the town full, and having to walk another 6-10 kilometers for a bed. I hadn’t predicted the level of anxiety pilgrims would need to overcome to walk another day.
Reasons given by other pilgrims on why they are walking the Camino –
⁃ Significant birthday, reset life priorities, health scare
⁃ Marital separation or divorce, spouse death
⁃ I want to be in charge of day, escape normal daily structure
⁃ Friendship, someone to speak with about issues and observations
⁃ Between jobs (younger adults)
⁃ To find my divine self, peaceful and connecting, listen to God
⁃ To recover from daughter’s mental health scare during depression
⁃ To be more tolerant of others, less judgmental, an act for someone else
Camino Gratitude 
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