May 1 Carrion de Los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza 12.96 miles 30,470 steps

We had a plan! After yesterday's decision to lighten our load, we left the monastery ready to send a package onto Santiago. Rejoicing in "the light", both sunshine and less weight, we discovered that since it's May Day the post office is closed. I went for a cafe con leche as Craig re-distributed our stuff. What's a pilgrim to do?

One more day of carrying couldn't be that bad when the sun was shining and my feet were feeling so much better since I changed to the green Superfeet and put the pink ones underneath after Craig "hacked" them so they fit.

We also altered our diet today. We're quite done with white bread and butter and jam for breakfast and ham and cheese for lunch and then a starchy "Pilgrim's meal" for dinner.

Breakfast now is fruit and nuts and yogurt. The strawberries and Valencia oranges were very welcome. And then along the route, we ate some ham and cheese and more fruit and nuts, sitting in the sunshine. The Supermercado will fulfill our breakfast and lunch desires. Oh lest I forget : chocolate's in there somewhere!

Now we're settled in a small hostal again and I'm sipping some vino in the lounge listening to the cacophony of languages while Craig relaxes in the room. We washed our clothes today with the sincere hope that they'll dry by tomorrow.

I'm reminded of the Spanish proverb:
Que bonito a hacer nada y despues, descansarse.

Attitude is everything. That's a gift of the Camino. Everyone is so friendly. Buen Camino is said many, many times a day as people pass each other. Aching feet, blowing wind, heat, cold- all that is part of the experience . Many people appear to be our age, in this stage of life. People walk at their own pace; I feel no competition and for me, that I am here walking, is remarkable enough.

Everything is "for the time being," verdad?

These towns are so small, perhaps population 80? And the continual procession of peregrinos dropping their Euros here and there must be a huge part of the economy. I would imagine that summer gets a little crazy with the numbers coming through, the heat, and perhaps a different demographic. Not sure.

So I'll end for today with the questions that came in and our of my thoughts today:
Who am I walking for?
How will this experience change me ? Will I know it if it does?

There is a difference between unravelling and untangling that thread that (I believe) winds through our lives. I like to think I'm untangling as I walk and take this time.

I spend a lot of time in appreciation of the people in my life (that's you) and the myriads of ways that our lives intersect.
I value the support and encouragement you give us on this journey. It makes life matter.

So right now as we sit here eating the best olives ever, it feels like we're in the flow of the Camino. No rushing allowed.