It was bound to happen.
About a mile into our journey this morning, the skies opened up and absolutely poured on us. Not a gentle spring shower. Not a refreshing mist. This was the kind of rain that comes at you sideways, driven by wind that seems personally offended by your presence.
We were delighted to have rain ponchos. At least we were for the first five minutes. After that, they became giant plastic sails, flapping and billowing around us like deflated parade balloons trying to escape.
At one point, I turned to Julie and said, “We are two women in our 70s with financial means. What in the world are we doing paying money to walk through wind and rain?”
The answer, of course, is simple.
It’s all part of the Camino experience.
Three different Camino routes merged at the town where we stayed last night, so today’s trail was noticeably more crowded. It felt like a pilgrimage traffic jam. Suddenly there were pilgrims everywhere. If I had to guess, at least a thousand new walkers appeared overnight.
Despite the weather, the Camino continued to surprise and delight us.
We encountered another farmer herding his cows down the Camino trail. Imagine trying to explain that to someone back home.
“How was your walk today?”
“Oh, you know. A little rain, a few hundred pilgrims, and some cows commuting to work.”
We also passed a man standing along the trail playing a bagpipe for the pilgrims.
The route wound through beautiful eucalyptus forests and charming little villages that looked like they belonged on a postcard. Even in the rain, the scenery was stunning. The Camino simply does not disappoint.
Several people have asked about our accommodations, supplies, and how we’re managing the logistics.
Before leaving home, we hired a company called Follow the Camino. They arranged all of our hotels, included breakfast and dinner each day, and transported our luggage from one hotel to the next.
Honestly, they’ve been fantastic.
The hotels have all been unique and wonderful. The food has ranged from “perfectly adequate fuel for walking” to “I may dream about this meal for years.” Our luggage has magically appeared at every destination without a single issue. If you’re ever considering walking the Camino and would like someone else to handle the details, I highly recommend them.
Tomorrow we arrive in Santiago and complete our pilgrimage.
We’re excited to experience everything that comes with reaching the finish line—receiving our certificates, attending the Pilgrims’ Mass, and taking a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished.
Five days ago, Santiago felt impossibly far away.
Now it’s just one more walk.
I look forward to telling you all about it.
Until then—
Buen Camino!
Debby’s Fitness Journey 
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