Wow! 15.8 miles felt great today! We got our usual moonlight/starlight start (so beautiful!), witnessed a glorious sunrise, conquered a very steep incline to start the day and got a jump on the heat!
Probably not visible here are the string of bobbing lights we see from atop the steep climb on the path leaving the pueblo – they are the headlamps of the other early rising pilgrims like us!
But what goes up must come down! We were facing a very steep descent, but a Danish pilgrim arrived on the spot and taught us to serpentine our way down, saving stress on our knees!
Like yesterday, we will do laundry by hand and hang to dry, but truthfully with the extreme heat and scorching sun, our clothes will be dry in no time.
Don’t look too closely. We are NOT there! We were able to see the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona on television. It’s not a single-day event! Bulls and reckless humans have been running every morning at 800 AM for many days now! Oh, how many times we have said how happy we are that we missed all that! Give us a quiet little pueblo over the big city any day!
How do we pray through these long walks? Well, we start out with a morning prayer as we set off, begging protection and usually invoking St. James.
Personally, after praying for family in general, I have, since Day One, found myself (not “planned” this way) devoting the day for a particular person and their intentions. It sure helps me to focus.
Marsha has the practice of offering decades of her rosary for individuals. She then, also, devotes the day to particular people, and if we find Mass, tends to offer the Mass for that person as well.
Mary found herself offering, for example, the exertion of her right foot for one person, left arm for another, etc. Whoever “was assigned” her left knee is getting extra because it has been bothering her! Offering those discomforts for a particular intention, she describes, is like praying for them without even saying words. .
Now, please understand that we certainly are not in a constantly prayerful disposition! Surprisingly enough, there continue to be distractions – even with the monotony of the Meseta! We feel the prayers of many people. We are continually blessed. Your prayers are being answered!