Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Start Close In
Start close in,
don't take the
second step
or the third.
Start with the first
thing
close in
the step
you don't want to take.
Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet
your own
way of starting
the conversation.
Start with your own
question
give up on other
people's questions
don't let them
smother something
simple.
To find
another's voice
follow
your own voice
wait until
that voice
becomes a
private ear
listening
to another.
Start right now
take a small step
you can call your
own,
don't follow
someone else's
heroics, be humble
and focused
start close in
don't mistake
that other
for your own.
Start close in
don't take the second step
or the third
start with the first
thing
close in
the step
you don't want to
take.
David Whyte
**************************
I had a relatively broken night sleep in a room of about 20 people. It is strange to be in a dormitory again. It is well over 30 years since I slept in a dormitory. The broken night's sleep is caused by mixture of noise, strange surroundings and the anticipation of my first day walking on the Camino!
People started getting up before 6 am and it was interesting to watch the shadows of people getting ready for the day ahead!
While there was noise, as people went about the morning routine without a word. It was in prayer like silence and it made for a really nice atmosphere!
I was on the road at 07:15 for the 26 km steep hike up the Pyrenees, when adjusted for the climb they suggest that this walk is equivalent to 35km!
For various reasons last night's group never managed to get together and I ended walking alone. Looking at it now I think that was a blessing in disguise! I spent a lot of the day walking alone but did have an occasional chat with other pilgrims along the way. I did walk the last hour or so with a woman from New York. She had just turned 50 this year and this was her way of celebrating the big birthday!
The walk itself was beautiful, the scenery was magnificent! The weather was probably kind to the walk as it was grey and overcast; the rain when it came was mostly light. A soft day thank God, as we would say in Cork! Certainly it was not a day for baling hay!
Physically the walk was very tough at times, but someone up there was looking after me! Just as I would think I couldn't take another step, the trail seemed to level out allowing me to catch my breath! The weight of the back pack also was beginning to tell, 12kgs plus 2lts of water. This was in addition to the extra weight I carry anyhow! On top of all this weight, there is the real weight of the 'inner critic' putting doubts in my head about ability to do it! But today I choose not to listen to the inner critic. I choose to silence it and enjoy every step since the first step!
I arrive in Roncesvalles 7 hours later delighted with myself for having completed the first stage of the French Camino! I book into the local albergue, which is new huge, modern and clean! The warm hot shower is so welcome!
My back is in serious spasm and when I try and get up from a sitting position it barely has the strength to carry me! Hopefully a good night sleep will straighten me out if not I will have to resort to the anti inflammatory tablets, but I'm praying that won't be the case!!
I meet Oana and we have dinner together but we are both still hungry so we head to a nearby bar and order pizza.
A good night's rest will help a lot as I look forward to a 27 km, mostly downhill hike.
- comments
Mary Sounds like a tough start to your camino, look after your back, a few nice stretches after the hot shower would be good.. check them out on "youtube"... Buen Camino