So last nights accomodation in Foncebadon was outstanding it did cost us 49 Euros each but we couldn’t get accomodation anywhere else in Foncebadon. We each had our own rooms. Rory and Ray had their own bathroom as well, Bryce and I had to share. We had heaters in our rooms that we could actually turn on, which was great as it was pretty chilly at 1400m, some of the last few nights it had been a bit chilly but you don’t get any control over the temperature of the dorm. We decided to have dinner accross the road from our accomodation it was good we had the pilgrims menu Ray and I both had the Spaghetti Bolognese for the first course, Rory and Bryce both had the lentils. For the main i had marinated pork and I actually can’t remember what the others had but it was all good. After dinner we went back to our Albergue for a drink and I needed to purchase something for breakfast so that I take my pain meds. There wasn’t a lot on offer so I purchased a prepackaged Apple Pastry and some Bischoff Biscuits which I said that I would share with Bryce so he could also take some pain meds. After a drink with the lads I decided to head up to my room.
As I had said my hip flex’s had been keeping me awake at night so I decided to roll them which was incredibly painful but affective. I organised my stuff for the morning and then hoped into my comfy bed and warm bed with proper sheets and a duvet. I slept ok but kept waking as I was probably thinking about the time at the Iron Cross in the morning. Anyway I got up at about 5:20am and started writing something for the time at the cross. I decided that I would write something to say about Fiona and then write a prayer for all of those who we were remembering.
We headed off at about 6:30am and it was cold and windy but the skies were clear see the pictures. We had about a 2km walk to the cross which was pretty much uphill. There was a steady stream of Koreans ahead of us all marching to the Cross. When we arrived they were gathered in a big group and all trying to get a picture of the in rising behind the Cross but the sun didn’t quite play ball. More Koreans kept arriving and others as well. So the four of us jut gathered at the Foot of the Cross, Ray and I both placed our stones on the pile at the foot of the cross and I said the following:
Fiona Joy Warring
Thank you for all that you gave and brought into my world.
Thank you for your faithfulness integrity and love that were bedrocks of our relationship.
Thank you for the way you lived out your faith and love for Jesus in a real and honest way that wasn’t polished or perfect but was refreshing and definitely pointed people to Jesus.
Thank you for the joy of bringing Reuben, Emma and Rhys into this world together, even though you did all the heavy lifting.
Thank you for loving me in a way that you wanted the best for me even if that was costly for you at times and challenging for me.
Thank you for giving yourself to me as I did to you so that we could be joined together by God as one, even though we didn’t fully
appreciate what the meant 25 years ago.
Fiona I will always love you, I will always be grateful for all that we had together, for all that you have contributed into my life and the lives of our kids, friends and family. You maybe be gone but you will never be forgotten.
Today remembering Stephen (Ray’s Brother), Keith & Janine (Bryce’s parents), Veronica (Rory’s Mother) and Fiona
God the Father we acknowledge that death was never part of your plan. We acknowledge through brokenness we have contributed to the sin which has marred your creation. But we acknowledge because of your love and desire for us to be made right with you. You sent your Son, Jesus you came perfect holy without sin. You laid your life down as a living sacrifice, so that you could restore all that is broken and wrong with this world. Thank you Jesus that because of your death on the cross and your resurrection after 3 days in the tomb, that you have given us the gift of life abundantly both here and now and eternally. Which means we will be reunited with the ones we love who have been taken to soon. But who knew life abundantly in and through you Jesus. Holy Spirit thank you for your grace, peace and comfort in our grief, but thank you even more for your presence you never leave us or forsake us you carry us in those darkest hours, give us strength for the journey ahead and point us towards Jesus. Bless this time of remembrance and thank you for the gift of this journey together in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4, NLT)
It was a brief time to remember but it was significant. After we finished we started the on the track which lead down hill initially and then climbed to the highest point on the Camino at 1500m it was pretty cold. There was a very cool pun intended Cafe that was on the roadside we decided to stop for coffee, they had a fire but we decided to sit outside so that we wouldn’t get freezing cold when we headed off. The coffee was actually really good the lady was using an older lever press style espresso but she had it sorted.
When we had finished our coffees we hit the path, and even though Blue had warned me it was rough I wasn’t quite prepared for how rough it was. But my feet were feeling pretty good and I had my poles so it was ok. We made it to the next village that was about 2.5 kms further down the hill and we decided to get some breakfast there. Again the coffee was good, perhaps I am getting less fussy. But i also had some Spanish Omelette and some Carrot Cake as well and I was very happy with my choices. We headed off down the hill again and the gradient got even steeper as we went. I noticed that my right quad was feeling somewhat tight, so i was trying to be careful. But the nature of the track meant that it was very difficult to stop putting pressure on it. We were clambering over rocks and down drops and my leg was getting worse. I stopped and tried to massage it without a lot of success. And then it happened it locked up I was at the back of the group as I was struggling. I couldn’t move it and the track was savage. I stopped and prayed I pushed into the bank and tried to stretch it out but it wasn’t working. I Korean lady came up to me and patted me on the back and made soothing noises. That didn’t help either. I managed to hop and navigate the rocks for little bit further until I found a rock that I could sit on and massage my leg I had some other pilgrims stop and check on me especially a French man who was lovely and had some knee issue himself. I contacted the other guys and told them about my predicament. I send them my location I was only about 3-4mins from them but that seemed like an eternity away at the moment. However after resting for a few minutes and massaging it I was able to get going and i made my way down to the road and walked down there rather than the track. We walked down into a town and decided that i was probably a little dehydrated, so I sat and downed some electrolytes and tried to rest and massage my leg. I then had some food as well.
The guys were really positive it is only another 6.5 kms approximately to our accomodation. So I took some more pain meds and pushed on. I thought it was going to seize up again but it didn’t and we made it. I am really not sure what i am going to do about tomorrow. But the boys are confident with some rest that I will be right to walk again tomorrow. The Albergue is pretty quirky especially after last night. There was no one there for us to check in with so it was done over the phone. Dormitory and bunks again. I just lay on the bed for about 30mins or so to rest my leg. And then I decided to get up and have a shower and sort out my stuff. The water was only a little bit warmer than the Nuns hostel which was stone cold. But at least it was warm and you were able to get clean. My blisters are looking pretty good and so I am letting them dry out and then I am going to put Compeed special blisters dressings on them which are only supposed to be used when the blisters are dry from moisture. So we will see how they go.
We will go out for dinner soon hopefully my leg will be ok for the morning. If you are the praying type you could pray for that as I am a little worried about it. But it is already feeling better after some rest.
That is it for me today.
Nga mihi
Mike
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