44~“Everybody knows you didn’t come this far to only come this far”

The next morning was the beginning of our Journey.

I was a bit unorganized from the rain and under a bridge though, and as it was right there just by the bridge, we returned to the Health Food store to organize, again. No luck getting any blessings, but once ready without hesitation we headed to the official beginning–The Gate.

A nice photo later and we were on our way!

♪The Beginning♪

Just after the cool old stone area, one comes to an elementary school. We walked out of town to the tune of children playing, as I imagined and hoped to one day have my own family, and perhaps even walk El Camino again, with them. Just after leaving earshot of the kids, and saying hello to a nice horse and throwing him an apple core that was on the side of the road, we crossed the street to stay in the shade and found, cold in the grass and wrapped in tin foil, Flan. I was ecstatic, and decided I would enjoy this Divine Flan when we reached the top of the Pyrenees pass.

The walk was gorgeous, as you might imagine of rural Mountain farmland. Ryger+backpack has many frustrations, but I continued to try and figure out the best way to carry the pack and appreciate every step. At one point, a lady pulled over and asked if we wanted a ride. I declined, as I want to walk El Camino. She offered me money, but I declined, as I can’t buy food for my Pilgrimage anyways. She didn’t have any food, so she reached into her purse and pulled out a crystal which she told me was from Madagascar — Wow. We continued onward through the up-and-down Mountain sides and came to a supermarket, right along the trail. ‘Wasn’t expecting this on our Mountain climb…’

We stopped to rest and I found some sausages on the ground for Ryger, but no one gave us more than a “Buen Camino!” and we soon continued onward. It was a sunny day, though cool, so it was a bit hot in the midday sun but mostly pretty tolerable. We came to a spot with water and shade, seemingly a rest spot for Pilgrims, and took a much needed one. Continuing on, along a Mountain road that had cliffs on either side of it, we were approached by a herd of sheep being herded forward by a tractor. We sat off to the side to let them pass; well, I did, at least. Ryger went into crazy-fox mode and started screaming and jumping and trying to charge, dragging me onto the ground as the sheep scurried past us, being spurred forward by the tractor. Mucho doggo difficulti…

We came to a Perfect Spot by a river, but I was full-on Mountain climb mode, and wanted to reach the top of the pass. I had incorrectly figured it was close, near Vancarlos, which we continued on to reach. Vancarlos was only half the way, however. Not stopping for even water, we pressed on with the understanding there is a lovely church at the top of the pass, and that that is where we’d crash when we reached it. We did hear from a local though how the town was named after Carlos’s van, which is no longer running.

It was a lovely but long walk up the Mountain road under the stars, winding and switchbacking making the road feel even longer. The El Camino trail goes off the road most of the way up The Mountain onto dirt trails, but that seemed more difficult and we could walk without flashlight on the road while stargazing, and also the trails descended significantly and were a bit difficult in the dark, so though it was a bit longer once night set in we opted for the starlit road the whole rest of the way. At one point, we came upon a Hedgehog, just sitting on the side of the road. Ryger, of course, not having learned his lesson at all when he bit a Porcupine and got a mouth full of quills at Dreamweaver Sanctuary, wanted to kill himself by munching on the thing and inserting dozens of spikes into his mouth and throat. Never want to have to go through THAT again… But the hedgehog was right along where tires go, and though there was hardly any traffic it just takes one to squish the little guy. Luckily I had the tarp-bag in my hand, so as I held Ryger in one hand away from the spiky-boi, dog fighting me to pounce on little Sonic all the while, I swung the tarp bag and gently bumped the Hedgehog off the road. It curled into a ball and safely rolled down the ditch a bit — very cute.

Some time around midnight, I think, we reached the top, which had Water coming out of the ground for Ryger and Church doorstep with overhang for me. I laid my bedding out and fed Ryger, then curled up in my two sleeping bags and enjoyed most of the Divine Flan, which turned out to be a Fruit Cocktail Flan, definitely homemade. I then determined to Master Flan Making, when I have the opportunity to in the future. I don’t know why I never thought to before–it’s my #1 favorite dessert.