Inward Bound

Stars
Girl from Texas
Inward Bound
Octopus for LUNCH
ORUJO!!!!

Stars!!!!

I forgot to tell you that I slept next to a window on one of those starry nights, where the moon is low and the stars shine bright-- it was at the albergue in Astorga--come to think of it I don't recall many albergue's with windows-- very bright lights at 7am, but no windows.

Anyway, I was noticing the window, and the stars above (without my glasses on) when I noticed one star radically brighter, so bright I put my glasses on to make sure it wasn't something else-- and no, it was just a bright light in the sky, peering down on me, and me up at it, knowing that it had some connection to this Camino-
Santiago de Compostela in english is translated as "St. James in the field of Stars". So I saw my first star (again, most nights I'm in bed so early I never look outside).

I met the girl from Texas-- remember I said I was told there was someone from TX--- well I met Cara tonight--San Antonio, took a CARGO SHIP to Spain (two weeks), and is walking the whole camino, so my first American doing the whole trip. 29 yrs old and really loved her two weeks on the ship-- with 30 or so crew and a girl from Poland and her!! And now the camino as well.

My body's natural position is LAYING DOWN-- I have determined this last night in the albergue in Sarria as I had been sitting, etc, during dinner but laying down in bed and stretching the body told me that the only natural recovery for a body, and foot pads, that walk 7 hours a day is to LAY DOWN-- despite one month of this, every night I reach a level of fatigue, and pain, that makes it seem that it's the first night of this experience. The difference between the first night and now is I actually recover fully by morning, as gravity doesn't own me when I am laying down!!!!

Inward bound--- I was wondering why they call "outward bound" "outward", because I know their real objective is "inward". It's very similar on this trip. We walk with nature (and sometimes in small cities, like last night in Sarria-- I wasn't mentally prepared for a small city after such a majestic walk the last two days---)

Anyway, inward bound-- the external event of walking, on the camino is one aspect of the trip-- the other aspect of the trip is what happens, should one be open to it, on the inside-- in ones thoughts, mind, heart and soul---

I guess some people do the camino with merely touristic type objectives--- I guess-- but for me, knowing some of the history of this walk, the 1200 years it has existed, the countless pilgrims that have taken on the mountains, the weather, the elements, for the saving of their own soul, it seems to me to degrade the walk to have as your primary objective to "see the camino"--but I won't be judgmental--- I bet anyone who starts out thinking one thing allows it to evolve with each step, as I have, such that whatever YOU THOUGHT you were getting yourself into becomes something so MUCH MORE than you imagined--- hey, "it's just a walk", right???? RRRIIIGGGHHTTT!!!

I know why I'm here, and that's enough for me--

Where am I, right now, speaking of this "inward bound" person?

I am at lunch after a solid morning 10am- 1:30pm of walking-- we crossed the barrier where Santiago is LESS THAN 100 kilometers away--

Lunch, since I am with Pepe, is traditional Galacian fare-- and we have moved from Red Wine to white, and it's no jamon & queso!!! Today we have octopus, a Galacian specialty!!! For lunch, with some soup, and not typical of me but very typical of Pepe, we have wine (white wine for the first time in Spain for me--but we are now in the area of where fishing is primary, so white will be very prevalent, I am told).

Anyway, as a courtesy the Restaurante has offered the "house" ORUJO as the after lunch digestif--- what is ORUJO? You ask? I would say it is "Spanish GASOLINE"!!! In achohol form!!!! But fortunately, they have a "lightweight" version called Orujo Herbal, which I can actually drink without my body shaking.
It is not uncommon in bars for breakfast to see Cognacs and beers aside cafe's!!!! Or a little cafe con Orujo!! ladies and gentleman, START YOUR ENGINES!!!!!

So, we are less than 100k, less than 62 miles, and almopst four days away from Santiago!!!! I've been walking for over a month, and with each step now I try to stay within myself, knowing that God willing I will arrive in Santiago to celebrate Thanksgiving like never before--but I have much walking to do, and I need to continue to let my mind, my heart, and my soul go where they might over these days so not to rush Santiago, or Finistere!!!!

And the Orujo Herbal has settled in, and hopefully won't slow me down too much for the last 9k of today--

And I go back outside, which will allow me to go back inside as well--

Inward bound, all the while my feet take me forward!

I am sure there will be a song that can express my enthusiasm for this part of Spain, the people, and the Orujo!!! But I'm going to need to let that Orujo work its way and get back to you on the musical expression for Spanish Gasoline--

For now,
Peace, from Ferreiros, 98k away from the field with the Stars

Peace,
TT

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