The Journey Continues

A year ago today I logged the last and longest day...

of my solo trek across northern Spain: 23+ miles, 3,400' elevation gain, 8.5 hours of movement — with every combination of weather (poncho to sunblock and back again), terrain (mud, rock, woodlands, sand, pavement), and views. It has been good to reflect.

I ended the day feeling peaceful. Grounded. Internally at rest. Like I'd completed what I needed to do.

And yet, the journey continues: through my slow, meandering way home (by train, air, and a transatlantic crossing), through a transition back to "normal life" that felt anything but, through the early attempt to put it all into words here — which stalled somewhere around day three, when the next chapter apparently had other plans — into massage school — an unplanned turn, though I'd considered it for years — and, just this week, to launching my own practice.

Walk and the way will appear is still holding true. Taking the next step, making the next right decision, keeps revealing the path — if only the next bit of it.

It's still wild to me that this way of being — living presently, moment by moment — has such a peace-inducing, grounding capacity. I have less certainty than ever about the future. But I'm here. Now.

And for me, that is enough.

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Camino Francés: T-3 days

Paris, France, February 24, 8:43 PM It’s my 40th birthday and I’m alone in this Parisian restaurant. (Jason left for home today.) I’ve clocked nearly 9 miles on foot, walking all over the city, chasing distant architecture/interesting domes. My feet were starting to really bug me midway through, and were utterly throbbing towards the end. (It’s not entirely new, they were already doing that at home in training.) While on a bridge, taking pictures of the city at night, a Parisian gent approached me and asked if I wanted my photo taken. Of course, when traveling solo, it’s a chance not to be missed. It might’ve crossed my mind when I handed him my phone that I just handed off a whole lot of my current world: maps, credit card, and ID, beyond the phone itself, and that if it was someone of ill intent, I could be in a sticky spot. Before leaving home, I had this belief that surfaced when people asked me if I wasn’t afraid to do this trip alone: that humans are generally good, t...

Camino Francés: Day 3 (Zubiri)

Zubiri, Spain , March 1 I made a friend today (from Amsterdam ), and we walked most of the day together. It was a nice changeup from solo, and we had an early, candid conversation about both being ok if either of us wanted to break and get some time alone. Her companionship was comfortable: both the conversations and the walking in silence, matching pace. Occasionally, we’d meet others of our group who stayed at the monastery last night, making it feel more like I was part of a collective pilgrimage. Today I did a full stage for the first time (having split stage #1 into two days). It seemed manageable enough at around 14+ miles with less than 1,500’ of elevation, and kept me in sync with last night’s group. However, my right foot which has been bugging me has now completely ballooned, so I’m keeping it elevated every chance I get, even as I write. Less painful today, actually, than the past few, but it looks bad. I suppose it’ll take me a bit to “trail-harden.” I didn't expect it...

Meanderings & Musings

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