Hello friends – I hope this shows up correctly. Not so easy doing it on the phone.

We arrived early at our albergue so for the first time I have time to write a little here about the journey so far.

I have been walking for 11 days and had one day off to rest my legs and feet and to explore Burgos. I am not sure how far I have come but it is over 200 km. We set off from Pamplona today have reached Rabé de las Calzadas, the last village before entering the mystical (or tedious depending on how you see it) Meseta.

I am looking forward to it. Flat plains mean huge skies. ‘Like a bowl’

They forecast rain tomorrow which means I can dig out the rain cape Tiffany lent me from it’s home at the very bottom of my bag.

What has it been like so far?

Like nothing else I have ever done. It is very satisfying to walk in one direction, especially when that direction is west. The yellow signs are sometimes arrows and sometimes scallop shells and they are always there, leading you in the right direction. I imagine the people who created them like angels or guides who know the way and want to share this with us. In what other part of life do we receive this much help?

Along the way there are cafés and hostels, again as if by magic they provide us with food and a home for the night. All I need to do is walk. I can amuse myself as I wish, chatting or meditating, munching snacks, singing, listening to music, staring blankly at the path, or letting thoughts float through me.

I haven’t experienced a miracle, nor had great insights into my life but I feel lighter and happier here, just eating sleeping and walking and carrying my own things. Life is simpler and while it is not easy walking every day, it is much easier than life off the camino.

Here I know what my task is.

Someone said to me that when we prepare to walk the Camino we also pack our fears.

What fears did I pack?

I brought my Kindle to avoid times alone at night feeling awkward or lonely. It has never been used. I brought 3 inhalers and have hardly used one. But apart from that, the fears I felt before setting off have melted away with each step.