Pops

It's been a few days since I have had the energy to write anything. Sara and I have been in the zone the past week knocking out big km days. We have completed four 40km days and two 25 km days in the past week. We, or more specifically our bodies, have adjusted and settled into a Camino routine. I wake up ready to go, feel strong throughout the day but struggle at night. Sara is also strong during the day but it's best for me to keep my mouth shut in the morning. The old blisters are callusing and the newer ones are smaller and more manageable. It's amazing how quickly the body can adjust. An unfortunate result of the blisters on my toes will be the loss of a couple of toenails. So goes the Camino...what I lose in toenails I have more than made-up in experience and memories. Sace continues to amaze and impress me with her determination. She pointed out to me that to most people on the Camino we are a pretty intense couple. I never thought of us as such, however once she mentioned it I realized that was probably the case. The Camino exposes you to yourself. 

The journey up the mountains of Oca was beautiful. Oca means goose in Spanish, so we spent a good portion of the morning talking about Lucy (aka the Goose) and Jake Dog. We saw one pilgrim walking with his dog...the dog was struggling. While I would love nothing more than to have Jake Dog on the Camino, I don't think even he could keep up this pace. We miss them a ton (not being with JD for so long has been one of the more difficult aspects of the Camino) however we are comforted by the fact they are in good hands being watched by the Jedi with Josh Ruby pitching in. It's been interesting to see how dogs are treated in Spain...as Sara says, dogs are treated like dogs. We are especially impressed by the sheep hearding dogs that can heard and control hundreds of sheep per dog. 

The weather has been wild! Senior Camino has poured down rain on us almost every day. It even hailed this afternoon. We haven't worn shorts once, we have jackets and multiple layers on every day. There are moments of sunshine, but few and far between. The weather may be a challenge, however this still has been one of the most amazing experiences of life. No day is the same but everyday offers you something special.

We pushed hard (back to back 40km days) so we could have a rest day in Burgos. While the trek into old Burgos sucked (industrial parks, next to an airport, ugly, etc), old/downtown Burgos is pretty cool and hip. It is a blend of the old and the new. We had a nice, relaxing day in Burgos. Sara really enjoys the rest days! While they are definitely good for us, I dont enjoy them as much because I have the itch to walk. 

Last time in the more personal section of the blog I discussed my friends. Today I am going to talk about Pops. Prior to that, a quick shout out to my Grandfather (my dad's dad) who was the first Finkenberg to visit Spain. He came into Spain via France through the Basque region, much like Sara and I did. However he came in for a totally different reason: my grandfather snuck into Spain to illegally fight in the Spanish Civil War. I never knew my grandfather (he died while watching the Superbowl less than 2 months after I was born), however he will always be a part of me. Between my birth in late November and his death in January, my grandparents (granny is still physically alive but not really mentally) came out to Albuquerque to meet me. I know that meeting his grandson was one of the last truly special moments of his life so I try to honor him. I am feeling a connection to him being in Spain.

My Pops is seriously the coolest guy I know. He is smart, funny, personable, athletic, caring, interesting, successful, happy and hip. And he is one of the best facebookers around. He has been living the dream in Hawaii since age 50 after starting, running and then selling a business. He has a kick ass wife (and I in turn have a kick ass step mommy dearest) in Cindy who is beautiful, talented, funny, cool and even hipper than Pops. He plays basketball, racquetball and softball...still with great skill. He has an awesome group of kaamani friends to hang with. He has some cool dogs and a cool pad. He's not perfect and made some mistakes. He has definitely mellowed quite a bit from my childhood days. However his tough love lessons (his personal favorite being the time he fired me) have gone a huge way towards making the man I am today (so blame him). He is my hero, my role model and the man that I aspire to be. So thanks for everything Dad. I love you. Now will you please put me back in the will?

Camino Tip del Dia: It sounds simple, but bring a handkerchief. Tissues suck. Hankies are easily the best and most efficient way to blow your nose. 

Camino Friend(s) del Dia: Pat and Iggy. Pat and Iggy are Irish brothers from crew of nine siblings (who now have 21 kids). In addition to being fun guys, they are always there to help and offer anything they can to better your Camino experience. To date they have provided us sea salts, blister cream, electrolytes, blister pads and stomach medicine. We met them the first day blowing past them on the mountain. They are definitely the wise tortoises because they always end up on pace with us. From the beginning Pat has been my favorite guy on the Camino. He is smart (retired airplane engineer), funny, caring and a loving husband and father. It has been a 20 year dream for him to do the Camino and finally Iggy made him an offer he couldn't refuse.  As Pat has said even though we just met it's like we have known each other for a long time or perhaps even met previously. Deja vu all over again.

Camino Random Observation del Dia: It is so easy to pick our fellow pilgrims out by the pilgrim walk (slow, often with a limp/in some pain, using a walking stick or poles) and the pilgrim fashion style...outdoor, flexible clothes that look used, are possibly dirty and obvious walking/hiking shoes. We are vagrants clad in REI gear that blow into and out of your town every day. 

Camino Song del Dia: Keep Me In Your Heart. Warren Zevon. Pops loves him some Warren. I will always have Pops in my heart.