Camino Primitivo Monsignorivo!

We 'completed' our Camino today, but not yet our pilgrimage. We walked over 18 miles and made it to the Cathedral.  Tomorrow we will concelebrate the Noon pilgrim Mass and venerate St. James. There will be more pictures and stories tomorrow, but it is crash time for today. Our thanksgiving Mass, at Santiago's diocesan retreat center, was an exercise in standing erect and kneeling clumsily!  In all events, we are grateful to God for a blessed Camino. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement along the way.  More tomorrow.

Our Sunday 'day of rest' hike was 15.35 miles.  Melide, our starting point, is where the Camino Frances joins the Camino Primitivo that we have been walking.  Because of this, we saw many more fellow pilgrims today. The Camino itself remained mostly rural and more level.  However, there were still hills to climb. At this point, we have a fairly regular pattern.  We get up, pray and offer Mass, eat breakfast, and get on the road around 8-8:30.  Usually we make it to our next day's lodging after 7-8 hours of hiking.  The nightly routine is sink laundry and trying to stay awake through supper.  Evenings, you would guess correctly, are where the thought of getting another 15 miles in the next day is NOT inspiring. This is where a pilgrimage like the Camino gives me support in the spiritual life.   The deed of the day is to be accomplished, whether it seems exciting or not.  The vocation (marriage, priesthood, etc.) and regular pr...

Given the prediction of rainy weather, we embarked with packs ensconced in rain gear and headedout into foggy cloudy conditions.  The morning became rainy as we reached the sole pass of the day - seemed so much like the Irish heather-clad mountains!  As we continued our journey though it became beautiful rolling countryside with long wood-lined trails.  They were a great reminder of the need to persevere even when the end is not in sight. At one point, a lone tree was evocative both of the Shire as well as the inevitable call to stand fast even when all others abandon the field. The rain finally lifted, and we trekked on through small villages, finally arriving at Melide. Once there, we explored the main churches in the center of town, including the 14th c. convent church of the Holy Spirit, founded by 3rd Order Francicans. The reredos was quite beautiful! Mañana, off to Salceda!