Never wish your life away

Today we covered another 13 miles and ended in a quaint little town called Belorado. I usual routing ensued. Accommodations, food, and in this case sleep in the form of an hour and a half nap.

The weather was cold today. We were fine as long as we kept moving, but if we slowed the sweat from hiking quickly chilled leaving us frigid. We actually stopped twice today. Once for breakfast, where we had our now usual breakfast, a spanish tortilla y potata and an Americano

The second stop, a cute restaurant about 3.5 miles from Belorado. We had another coffee and Molli and I split a half sandwich. Our calorie requirements are beginning to be demanding. The food we consume is metabolized at a record pace. Our glycogen stores are quickly depleting each day from the mileage, and are unable to fully recover from our rest periods. So much energy is being dedicated to repairs of the body at night. (this is my theory anyway)

I am beginning to notice muscle mass loss in my arms. My arms do little work throughout the day, so the body is canabolizing the muscle. Unused muscle is expensive (from an energy perspective) to maintain. If it’s not being used, the body will break it down to try to reach a point of equalibrium; a point in which calorie requirements, and calorie intake coincide.

My legs and glutes however are putting on mass. So I can’t complain. I’m definitely not skipping leg day.

Today, I walked a few miles with the gay couple I met yesterday. It turns out they are exes. They met in high school and went to college together. We made conversation about religion, their college thesis, and injuries they are experiencing. They are rather reserved, and I don’t feel they carry the same intrigue with meeting people and hearing their story as I do. To each their own, it was nice to chat with them.

Two days ago, I had the desire to meet a gay person on the trail. Today was somewhat of an overload. I walked with the two college guys. Once we made it to Belorado, I ended up meeting two other guys whole were friends from the states. One gay, the other not. And at lunch we were seated next to a spanish gay couple in their late 20s.

Over the last 10 days, we have learned setting intention is a powerful thing on the Camino. It seems every day an intention we set the day before or a mere few hours earlier comes to fruition.

Sure you may say these are coincidences. Day after day of thinking of something, and then a few hours or a day later reaping the results of a thought or desire is an amazing thing. Coincidence or manifestation, I’ll take it either way.

Out here you are removed from your day to day life in which we all have 50 demands on our attention at any given time. Thoughts on the trail have a purity and clarity not experienced while dealing with the distractions of our typical life.

I had my toughest bout of homesickness today. I’ve been away from 16 days. Only 29 days to go! The struggle with being homesick is challenging. On one hand I’m digging each day of walking and the challenges and experiences I have. On the other hand, I miss my worldly life; the comforts of home, the familiarity of the foods, my loved ones and friends, my dog.

As a kid, my mom taught me a valuable lesson. I am unable to recall how old I was. I made the comment to her saying, “I can’t wait to be a teenager.” I thought that would be the coolest thing.

She looked at me and said, “Never wish your life away, once the time is gone you will never get it back.”

I am faced with this conundrum here. I am gaining a tremendous amount from my experience here, but I am really looking forward to returning home. I must direct myself to think of today, and nothing beyond. I certainly do not want to wish this experience away. It is entirely to valuable.

A very dear friend sent a quote to me the other day which applies perfectly in this case. In Spanish it reads, “Cada momento es unico, y nunca vuelva.” My Spanish being limited even in the best circumstances, I had to look it up. It translated, “Every moment is unique, and never again.”

Applicable today, and every day.

Buen Camino.