Monday, October 12/15 1423

We got up at 644am, used our free breafast and then we waited in the rain until 830 and then caught a bus to Virgen Del Camino. We had decided on walking to Villa Mazarife only 13.8 km., a easy first day.

It felt good getting off the bus and putting on our packs for real. We found the yellow arrows and set off – walking the Camino. First time for  Linda and myself; day 27 for Kathy and Allen. We almost missed the way to Mazarife.  Sometimes those yellow arrows are hard to see or interpret. Other pilgrims waved to us from the right path which was to the left rather than right – which would’ve taken us to Viladangos Del Paramo. I’d read that the path to Mazarife was nicer, the other way is more on the highway.

And it was very scenic, muddy in places but it was in the country, after all. The red clay soil was quite sticky  and coloured shoes and clothes quickly. There had been a bit of rain lately and you can tell. After 3.7 kms. According to the Camino maps I have on my iPhone – we stopped for coffee at a small bar restaurant in Oncina de la Valdoncina. Nice break. Good coffe, clean bano – Spanish for bathroom,  without funny thing over the ‘n’, and the obligatory stamp. We followed the yellow arrows to Chozas de Abajo, and a nice bar with tables outside. We had picked up some groceries in Leon yesterday and so we had a good lunch of bread, cheese, ham and turkey and some fruit. Half a dozen other pilgrims came and left while we were there. “Buen Camino’s” all around and another nice stamp.

We Have set a good pace for having good conversation or not and just e by yourself if you want. Feels good to be on the road.

It als feels good to be sitting down at albergue. We’re staying at Albergue San Antonio de Padua, Villar de Mazarife @1400ish. Walked around Mazarife. Sat in bar with a bunch of old guys (30) playing cards or dominoes. Linda and I had Vino tinto – my Spanish word of day. One old guy was very friendly – in Spanish – I felt he was genuinely interested. Didn’t understand him but I liked our brief interaction and would like to be a friendly old guy even if people don’t understand me. It’s more about my attitude. Who I am / want to be – more than how others take me.

Thomas Merton’s words seem appropriate  for our first night on the Camino.
Be still
Listen to the stones of the wall.
Be silent, they try
To speak your
Name. …

Who (be quiet)
Are you (as these stones
Are quiet). Do not
Think of what you are
Still less of
What you may one day
be.
Rather
Be what you are (but
who?) be
The unthinkable one
You do not know.

“I will try, like them
To be my own silence:
And this is difficult. The
whole
World is secretly on fire.
The stones
Burn, even the stones

Guide me o thou great Jehovah