Magic

Friday September 13

Another Milky Way morning - clear bright sky.  We walked for about 2 hours listening to the crunching of our boots on the path, the rustling of the leaves in the breeze and an occasional high-pitched bird call.  The stillness was exquisite and it was wonderful to stop and drink it in.

As we walked, the sky filled with clouds obliterating a sunrise.  Ahead of us, the illuminated romanesque church in Boadilla del Camino shown brightly on the horizon - the town was not visible because of the surrounding trees.  It was like a beacon in the darkness.

                              

We found the beautiful En El Camino aubergue with a lovely garden open and ordered our usual breakfast before we pushed off to Fromista and Poblacion de Campos.  The terrain was similar to what we've passed the last few days with harvested grain fields, sunflower fields and a few root vegetable fields.  The difference was the wonderful cloud formations over them - dark with light at the horizon.  Very dramatic and beautiful.

     Along the canal in the morning

In Poblacion de Campos, we had a choice to take the "river" path which was a quieter path and much of it shaded.  It was preferable to the somewhat shorter road path that was very exposed.  By now, the clouds had completely disappeared and we had a brilliant cloudless sky.  Along the way, we came to a cafe/bar in what seemed the middle of nowhere with a shaded pavillion.  We ordered drinks, spread out our lunch, took off our boots and gave our poor feet a break.  (My blister had grown and we had field surgery done by our blister expert, Diana.)  

    Yes,  there is a "river' down there with the cat tails!

Every Camino town has a welcome sign for pilgrims giving the map, services, etc.  It is lovely.

We continued to Villalcazar de Sirga and rolled into town about 2 PM after leaving Itero de la Vega at 5:45.  It was an 18 mile day.

                             

We visited the church in Villalcazar de Sirga to give thanks for our good fortune and to light candles for our friends and family.

My angel card today was "magic" and there are lots of stories about "Camino Magic".  It seems that people get just what they need (not always what they want).  Our friend Pam finished her book and needed something to read.  There was a book exchange in one of the albergues she stayed in and the only book in English was a book of poems by Billy Collins - just what she needed at the time.  The 

     

My angel card today was "magic" and there are lots of stories about "Camino Magic".  It seems that people get just what they need (not always what they want).  Our friend Pam finished her book and needed something to read.  There was a book exchange in one of the albergues she stayed in and the only book in English was a book of poems by Billy Collins - just what she needed at the time.  The night we stayed at Casa Magica (the place where we were so welcomed in Villatuerta Puente - 9/3), the magic followed us.  We arrived in Los Arcos the next day and were registering at the aubergue when Diana couldn't find her US Passport!  It never leaves her fanny pack on her belly.  There was a momentary panic attack and we called Casa Magica to see if they had found it.  Yes, she had, and she had placed it in Diana's pack before it was picked up to be delivered to the next alburgue.  Ten minutes later, the packs (mochilas) arrived and there was her passport tucked in the top pocket - we were so relieved!  Magic.  On two occasions we have found plums in the road that were delicious.

The last few days we have been with a whole new group of pilgrims.  The folks we've been traveling with started increasing their daily mileage, so it is strange not to see them and we miss them.  The stories we've heard recently are of a more negative nature - not our experience at all.  It is clear to me that the attitude one brings directly affects one's experience.  I am wondering if some of this is the Camino Magic - these folks are getting experiences that reflect their inner condition and they will probably get these lessons until they learn that they can create whatever experience they want on the Camino.

It's the same in all of our lives - we create our experience with our attitude.

We had a fun dinner with a French woman traveling alone who had great stories and the mother and daughter from Hawaii that we've seen quite a lot.  We're all tired.