Spain has hills. I mean lots of hills. Piles and piles of hills. Mounds and mounds of hills. While absolutely picturesque on a calendar these hills take on a different meaning when you meet them face to face. The hills I’m used to disappear with a slight pressure on the gas pedal.
Now as I was preparing for the Camino I read articles, books and watched many videos. Not once did anyone say that Spain has mucho hills. In all fairness the hills were visible in the daily elevation and distance charts. But who reads those?
Because of our winter I trained on an indoor track. I ended up doing between 10-15km three or four times a week. In my mind I was super fit! Ready to take on Everest! Now what I didn’t realize was that I was going to be carrying 20lbs on my back and the HILLS OF SPAIN! Some hills are small, some long, but they all go up and up and up. Some are truly vicious. In this journey I have mastered many hills and stood triumphant at the peak of each and felt as if I had conquered heaven and earth! Then I look down at the daunting descent and the rise of the next hill. The reality of the Camino slaps me in the face and I saunter on.
Many hills and kilometres Hannah and I have journeyed. It has been a wondrous experience! Hannah has been an invaluable companion. She is the navigator, nurse, booking agent, helper, loving daughter and an all around inspiration. I am the envy of many parents on the Camino to have my daughter with me.
Hannah is fast. She walks fast. She walks fast with little effort. She is a blur as she flies past me. Now myself, I’m a tad slower. I picture myself as an overweight mid aged man, clearly on the far edge of middle age, taking a leisurely walk across Spain. My pet turtle is by my side pulling on its leash trying to coerce me to move faster.
Such is our pilgrimage through Spain. I leave early every day and Hannah catches up. She walks with me a long way and often then resumes her normal walking and flies ahead to find lodging for the night. I usually arrive a few hours later. We share our thoughts, visit churches and historical sites and wonder at the great journey we are on.
Today we did a relatively short 10km jaunt from Viana to Logroño. We are enjoying Spain and all the fantastic people we meet every day. I truly appreciate Hannah writing the blog every night. She is tired and in need of sleep but she still faithfully composes the blog. Pat, a friend of mine suggested I take a turn and write. So probably every Saturday and Wednesday you will have to endure my fantastic prose!
Reporting from the HILLS of Spain.
God bless,
Hannah and her proud Dad
Haha…. my friends and I, after an arduous hill, were trying to make up Spanish swear words for these hills that, like you mentioned, no one had written about!
It’s great getting a dad’s perspective as well. Keep on trekking. We were in Logrono for Good Friday 4 years ago and had the wonderful experience ofvthe Easter procession and floats!
Haha the hills never seem to stop coming, especially when you think it’s over! Wow, Good Friday in Logroño must have been amazing!!!
Good Job Tony! I enjoyed your post. Nice perspective – I was almost tired of climbing those hills.
I’m sure Hanna has made you the envy of many parents on the path, indeed. You have every right to be proud of her.
Where did you get a turtle? And a leash?
May God bless you in so many ways.
Watching every post,
Patrick
Hahah I will reply for my Father since he is sleeping – he laughed a lot at your comment. He loves to envision a turtle walking with him since he often says he feels so slow. But there’s nothing wrong with that! He is hoping to make some more posts before we finish this round of posts so keep an eye out!