So the Albergue for last night was really lovely, and the dinner was a pretty good from my perspective Ray thought the the Pasta main was pretty poor, as it needed meat I really enjoyed it Pene Pasta with cooked veges and it tasted really good. The Vegetable soup starter was also very good. But the dessert that was some sort of Carrot Cake Layered with Cream was hands down the best dessert that I have had so far on the Camino. They made me a sandwich for the morning so that I could take my meds before we hit the road at 6:30am. I paid 4 Euros for it earlier and then when i asked for it the guy who was running the place said 5 Euros I tried to explain that I had already paid 4 but he ended up charging me another 5 Euros making it the most expensive sandwich i have ever had. But hey it means that I can take my pain meds in the morning and that is a really good thing. We sat around talking for some time at the table after dinner and then as it started to get cold we decided that it was time to head to bed. We organised our stuff for our early get away and hoped into to bed.
I realised after waking up sore that I had not massaged my hip flex’s and they were tight again after lying on one side the pain would wake me up roll over and repeat. I got up to go to the toilet in the night just in my boxers which is pretty standard Camino operating procedure. But I realised after going out of the dorm room that everything else was outside and it was very chilly. So I quickly went to the loo and then raced back to bed. I was on the bottom bunk under Rory and every time either of us moved the whole bed creaked. He got up to go to the loo a couple of times as well, and I heard this morning that Bryce got up and was doing some sleep walking out to the toilet in the middle of the night. Ray said he yelled out come on lads ready to go! I didn’t have the best sleep but my feet were so much better and were not keeping me awake. I was awake from just after 4:00am and dosed on and off until Rory got up at 5:40am and I decided to get up as well. I raced to the loo and then proceeded to get ready for the day ahead. I made sure I ate every mouthful of my 9 Euro Sandwich which was ok but certainly not the best I have had. There was a noticeable difference in the level of pain of my feet. Although it still made me wince as I squeezed them into the shoes. We were off just after 6:30am and it was cold maybe 5 degrees but it was not raining so that is a win in my books.
We have started a tradition with me leading a prayer for the day before we head off. Two Catholics a Greek Orthodox and a Baptist all praying together before we head away. The other lads all finish with the sign of the cross at the end of the prayer. We were having a really interesting discussion yesterday afternoon about the elaborate nature of the churches and the Cathedrals that we have seen and i was sharing about how we might create a sacred space in a Baptist context it was a really interesting discussion. And I am really appreciating the richness of the diversity in the group but also that i am experiencing on the Camino full stop.
As we headed off this morning Rory and Bryce took the lead so I took some time to put my AirPods in and listen to some worship music again, it was a beautiful time, tears flowed again as i was thinking that today was going to be the day to get to the Iron cross where I will leave the stone from Bell Block as marker of Fiona’s death. As I listened to the worship songs and walked I prayed and remembered all of these wonderful memories of Fiona, I remembered our first encounter where she said “I don’t do youth Ministry” to me after I introduced myself as the Youth Pastor at the church. I remembered our first date and our first kiss. I remembered asking her to marry me at the top of the Mount. i remembered getting married and then a flood of memories of all these amazing things that we had done with each other, friends and family over the 23 years that we were married. I remembered each of our kids being born and how emotional that was. The miscarriages that we had but then the joy of new life as well. I remember buying our first place and renovating together, building houses together and going overseas on holiday. I remembered so many beautiful moments and I was able to give thanks for them all and so many others in the midst of the tears as i walked. Fiona was my best friend, she was my lover, my spouse, my equal (Well she was actually better than me). She was the crazy one who came up with crazy plans that I then had to try and make happen with her. Fiona I love you and always will, you have been the most amazing gift to me as a person and shaped me into who i am today, we have three wonderful children together and so much joy and laughter to remember. But we also experienced soo much pain and challenge over many years. Fiona thank you for all that you have brought into my life and all that you will continue to contribute into who I am. When I told Yona that I was coming the Iron Cross today she shared this with me and I wanted to share it with you because it is true and it is lovely.
“We talk about them because we’re proud. We talk about them, because they deserve to be remembered. We talk about them, because even though they are not physically with us, they are never far from our mind. We talk about them, because they are part of us, a part that we could never ignore or disown. We talk about them because we love them still and always will. Forever. Nothing will ever change that.”
SCRIBBLES & CRUMBS
Because Yona understands as i do that Fiona and Greg (Yona’s Late Husband) will always be part of who we are. I am sure that tomorrow morning will be an emotional time at the cross, in some ways I am dreading it and others I am looking forward to it. This journey has been about remembering and celebrating what has been acknowledging the pain, but also looking forward to the future and what that holds. i am so thankful I have had this opportunity.
Today we walked uphill pretty much all day this afternoon we are at 1430m in altitude we started at just under 900m this morning and we have the final climb to the cross in the morning about 1500m. I have really enjoyed the walk today which is a sign the infection in my feet must be getting better. Only one round of painkillers today and we reached our destination just after 1:00pm so it has been a good day. We have individual rooms tonight which cost more but it was all we could get. Plus I think we are all ready for a bit of space. We made a couple of stops on the way today I had two ham and cheese croissants and they were awesome. I will let the photos speak for the walk today. But it has been a good day. Thank you for all of the prayers for me and the lads it is appreciated.
Nga mihi
Mike
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