Letters to a Young Poet

........ I would like to beg you dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for answers which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually without ever noticing it, live your way into the answer.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1903)

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Another leisurely start to the day, rising at 06:30 and on the road just after 7am. The lit up roman bridge was a lovely sight to start the days walk. We walked a reasonably brisk pace given that I was carrying about 13 kgs in my backpack! Our first stop was after about 12km for a coffee and breakfast proper.
I was walking with Anny-Sandra some times in silence, sometimes full conversation and sometimes alone in my own thoughts and conversations. On a remote hill top an enterprising young man had set up a juice and fruit stall. We stopped here briefly for a bio break. On the walls of a disused shed there were many writings from pilgrims over many years, in many languages. There was one that really resonated with me and it was something that I had been trying to put words on for a few days. But while I knew what it was the words would not come. It was very much an feeling of acceptance of where my life is right now and where it is that is where it's meant to be. The quote on the wall put it perfectly for me:

"I am, can be and will be my own happiness"

For this realisation alone the Camino walk will have been very worthwhile!

Then it was on to Astorga, a large town with a big market on as we went through. It was good to wander through the market but I could not buy anything because I would be adding more weight to my already overweight backpack. The was some beautiful examples of Gaudi architecture which in itself made the visit here worthwhile.
A few kilometres outside of Astorga was a tiny restored church, which allowed for us to spend a little time in silent reflection and prayer.

The landscape was now taking on a totally new look. At last we were leaving the Meseta behind after about 8 days of walking. This section of the Camino brought a great many difficulties and shed some light on my own personal journey. A great many notes and scribbles have been made that will be processed over the coming months.while the Meseta has been difficult on many fronts, I think today as I knew that this section of the Camino was coming to an end, I could feel that this may well prove to be the most rewarding week of the Camino. I think I can feel that positivity already growing within. Buen Camino.
And so the final stage of today's walk brought us to the foothills of the Leon mountain range. The afternoon was spent relaxing and recuperating in anticipation of tomorrow hike to Cruz de Ferro. This is the highest point on the Camino (5000ft). The is where I had hoped to get to when I made my original plans to do the Camino and I am going to get here about 3 days ahead of plan!

Burn Camino