I approached today with not a small amount of trepidation. After 7 days off the Camino, and being “not exactly medically cleared”, I set off. As soon as I hit the trail, I was so incredibly happy. Happy to be in the sunshine, happy to be moving my body, happy seeing the landscape unfold in front of me.

The pain, you ask? Well. It was a very manageable 3-4 out of 10 for most of today’s walk. Pretty tolerable, and way better than a week ago. I do admit that the last 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) were a little rough, with pain spiking up to a 6ish at times. I am being careful. I took LONG breaks today, I’m keeping my mileage under 12 miles (today was 8.5), and I’ll take a rest day every 3-4 days. Just like in life, there are no guarantees on the Camino. So I am taking it day by day. I am realizing that grit and mental resilience (as much as I’m enamored of those traits) can only take you so far if your body is telling you to stop or slow down. I think that that is a lesson of my Camino. That I can’t control every outcome. Things are going to unfold the way they’re going to, whether I accept it right away or whether I strive against it. And that planning is all fine and good, but there’s a time to toss the plans and just roll with the reality in front of you. It’s unbelievably freeing.

But, I made it to El Ganso, and I’m settled in after a hot shower and a glass of wine, relaxing in a beautiful garden where 3 dogs and 3 fluffy cats have come over to say hello! Weirdly enough, the cats are a tabby, an orange cat, and a calico, just like at home!