Phish and Phriends
After a good nights sleep in Santo Domingo, Sace and I hit the road again. Note that we had a good nights sleep because we have made the executive decision to avoid albergues if at all possible and stay in private hostels, hotels, etc. We experienced the prison lifestyle of the albergues and have moved on. Not really a difficult decision. One can do the Camino on less than $20 a day, but you don't have to. At one end of the spectrum, you sleep in bunkbeds (sometimes 3 beds high with 30 people per room), share co-ed bathrooms (poor women), can't sleep because of the snorers, get woken up by the back pack rustlers at 5 am and have no privacy. On the other end, we met some retired Canadians that had an outfit set up everything for them in advance. They only carry day trip backpacks, have their luggage sent ahead from hotel to hotel and have all of their meals taken care of in advance. The cost for their experience: $12,000 plus airfare. That doesn't mean it's easy...but it's definitely easier. We aren't on that end of the spectrum this time, but wouldn't be opposed to it for the next time. Some on the Camino say thats not the true pilgrim way, but what does that mean? Each pilgrims way is just that...their own way.
Sara and I decided to purposely try big km days today and tomorrow and target a rest day in Burgos. We set off from Santo Domingo with the goal of Villafranca (35.5 km). I say try, hopeful and target because you never know what L. Camino has in store for you. Today, Senior Camino treated us with kindness and compassion (cold but no rain, we both felt strong and healthy, no surprises). We arrived in Villafranca around 6 pm. Sace felt so good she made a delicious meal of baked chicken, steamed carrots, garlic mashed potatoes and a salad - all after walking 22 miles. It was only the best meal we've had in Spain. No big deal. Everyday her strength and ability to keep on keeping on impresses me more and more. I don't know too many people that could could handle the grind of the Camino, but Sara is dominating it. I'm so proud of her.
So what does the Camino have to do with Phish and Phriends? Well music has made the Camino much easier to handle. The Camino involves A LOT of walking. We were wise enough to bring music along. Some people have said this is a luxury; not to me, to me music is a necessity (always). I have also had the pleasure of being able to select most of Sara's music as she is using my ipod. I am slowly but surely turning her into a Phan. With the help of Nutter Center, the Island Tour, Fukuoka and McNichols to name a few (Big Cypress was a bit too heady) she is now requesting and listening to Phish most of the time. Not me...I am listening to Phish (almost) all of the time.
Today I listened to 7/31/2009 Red Rocks set 2 and followed that with the 2009 Gorge run. Two of my favorite venues in the world. The 2009 Gorge run was really solid on relisten but more importantly it was a critical moment in time for our friends. I spent a lot of time today reflecting on my friends, friends that are family. We share a love of each other, good music and many believe that Phish is the greatest band in world. Why? Because they are (that's like your opinion, man).
2009 was a difficult year for the Wook. I spent hours today thinking about my relationship with all of my friends, especially Brian. How far it's come since we met in 1993, how I have become his "stateside Trey" (do I lose that honor with the Fosketts return?), how he is always there for me and I for him. I thought about the contrast between that period and 2012, or as I like to call it the Year of the Wook (YoW). Brian is getting married to an amazing, incredible, beautiful, patient and understanding woman...LD!!! He deserves it; Brian is one of the greats. I can't wait to celebrate with them this year.
One of the things I am most proud of in my life is my relationship with all of my friends. They are the family I have chosen (note: I also love the family I was born with and will be telling you about them in a later blog). I realize most of the people reading this might not get this post, however I wanted to send a shout out to my brothers (and yes, the girls are brothers too) from the Land of Enchantment to Emory to Nashvegas to Sandy Eggo and all stops in between. I was thinking of you today and realizing just how special you are to me. Thank you. I love you. You know who you are.
Camino Tip del Dia: Bring music. It's more than a luxury. Also, bring back-up headphones. And if you have ear buds, bring back-up rubber ears. And be sure to have a way to charge your device. Bring a converter.
Camino Friend del Dia: Anna. We met Anna half way up the mountain on day one when we shared the vino Sara had been carrying up the mountain (yes, we started off so amateur). She returned the favor a few days later with Hungarian home made booze. We taught her the phrase moonshine. She is a funny Hungarian firecracker and the queen of our Camino pod, always up on the latest gossip and causing some of it. Today, potentially for the last time on the Camino, we walked and broke bread with Anna. We expect to see her post-Camino.
Camino Random Observation del Dia: Some of our fellow pilgrims didn't understand why I kept pushing when injured. They strongly felt I should just take a taxi (it seems quite a few people end up taking taxis from one spot to the next). I really want to finish this without taxiing (not that there is anything wrong with that...again, each persons experience is their own). At one point I responded that pain is temporary, pride is forever. It's funny to say, however never in my life did I feel more American than when I said that. I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing.
Camino Song del Dia: Fluffhead, 2009/08/07 II. The Gorge, Special place, special road trip, special friends, special run.
Sara and I decided to purposely try big km days today and tomorrow and target a rest day in Burgos. We set off from Santo Domingo with the goal of Villafranca (35.5 km). I say try, hopeful and target because you never know what L. Camino has in store for you. Today, Senior Camino treated us with kindness and compassion (cold but no rain, we both felt strong and healthy, no surprises). We arrived in Villafranca around 6 pm. Sace felt so good she made a delicious meal of baked chicken, steamed carrots, garlic mashed potatoes and a salad - all after walking 22 miles. It was only the best meal we've had in Spain. No big deal. Everyday her strength and ability to keep on keeping on impresses me more and more. I don't know too many people that could could handle the grind of the Camino, but Sara is dominating it. I'm so proud of her.
So what does the Camino have to do with Phish and Phriends? Well music has made the Camino much easier to handle. The Camino involves A LOT of walking. We were wise enough to bring music along. Some people have said this is a luxury; not to me, to me music is a necessity (always). I have also had the pleasure of being able to select most of Sara's music as she is using my ipod. I am slowly but surely turning her into a Phan. With the help of Nutter Center, the Island Tour, Fukuoka and McNichols to name a few (Big Cypress was a bit too heady) she is now requesting and listening to Phish most of the time. Not me...I am listening to Phish (almost) all of the time.
Today I listened to 7/31/2009 Red Rocks set 2 and followed that with the 2009 Gorge run. Two of my favorite venues in the world. The 2009 Gorge run was really solid on relisten but more importantly it was a critical moment in time for our friends. I spent a lot of time today reflecting on my friends, friends that are family. We share a love of each other, good music and many believe that Phish is the greatest band in world. Why? Because they are (that's like your opinion, man).
2009 was a difficult year for the Wook. I spent hours today thinking about my relationship with all of my friends, especially Brian. How far it's come since we met in 1993, how I have become his "stateside Trey" (do I lose that honor with the Fosketts return?), how he is always there for me and I for him. I thought about the contrast between that period and 2012, or as I like to call it the Year of the Wook (YoW). Brian is getting married to an amazing, incredible, beautiful, patient and understanding woman...LD!!! He deserves it; Brian is one of the greats. I can't wait to celebrate with them this year.
One of the things I am most proud of in my life is my relationship with all of my friends. They are the family I have chosen (note: I also love the family I was born with and will be telling you about them in a later blog). I realize most of the people reading this might not get this post, however I wanted to send a shout out to my brothers (and yes, the girls are brothers too) from the Land of Enchantment to Emory to Nashvegas to Sandy Eggo and all stops in between. I was thinking of you today and realizing just how special you are to me. Thank you. I love you. You know who you are.
Camino Tip del Dia: Bring music. It's more than a luxury. Also, bring back-up headphones. And if you have ear buds, bring back-up rubber ears. And be sure to have a way to charge your device. Bring a converter.
Camino Friend del Dia: Anna. We met Anna half way up the mountain on day one when we shared the vino Sara had been carrying up the mountain (yes, we started off so amateur). She returned the favor a few days later with Hungarian home made booze. We taught her the phrase moonshine. She is a funny Hungarian firecracker and the queen of our Camino pod, always up on the latest gossip and causing some of it. Today, potentially for the last time on the Camino, we walked and broke bread with Anna. We expect to see her post-Camino.
Camino Random Observation del Dia: Some of our fellow pilgrims didn't understand why I kept pushing when injured. They strongly felt I should just take a taxi (it seems quite a few people end up taking taxis from one spot to the next). I really want to finish this without taxiing (not that there is anything wrong with that...again, each persons experience is their own). At one point I responded that pain is temporary, pride is forever. It's funny to say, however never in my life did I feel more American than when I said that. I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing.
Camino Song del Dia: Fluffhead, 2009/08/07 II. The Gorge, Special place, special road trip, special friends, special run.
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