Sara and The Beard


A couple that we walked with today (Tom and Victoria - more on them later) didn't remember my name so they said they referred to us as Sara and the Beard. They now just call me The Beard or Beard. For example, "Beard - I need to stop in this town and get some water."

My beard was nice and tight in Paris but is growing a bit out of control on the Camino. It is just one of the many things that matter a lot more off the Camino than they do while on the Way. In the beginning we were carrying a bunch of vanity products (perfume, hair products, make-up, extra clothes, etc.) that were quickly shipped ahead when we needed to get rid of the weight. In the beginning we were hesitant to walk into restaurants, stores, shops, cafes, etc looking rough in dirty clothes after a day of walking. Now we roll in wherever we want whenever we want. In the beginning we would eat like civilized humans. Now we inhale food because we are burning so much energy. In the beginning we would only use the restrooms indoors. Now we pee on the trail whenever the need arises. Sidebar: Sace has it down to a science...get a few steps ahead, drop the pants and squat while wearing the backpack. It's quite a sight to see. In the beginning my definition of being clean meant my entire wardrobe was being worn for the first time since being washed. Now if I have a clean pair of socks and a clean pair of underwear, I am clean! It's definitely a different lifestyle.

Sara and I had a very difficult day 2 days ago. We did 31.6 km from Sahagun to Reliegos. There are two options/paths to take and we took the more challenging and slightly longer one (of course). There was only one town during that stretch at the 12 km mark, so it was super quiet and even eerie....wondering if we would ever see the next town. Additionally, and no surprise here, but it rained. Weather is always a big topic of conversation however it is THE topic on the Camino. Everyone has been discussing how difficult the conditions have been. People that have done the Camino multiple times are all saying this is the worst weather they have walked in. It has been a challenge, but we actually kind of like it. When we see the weather coming, we batten down the hatch, get everything covered (including ourselves), go under the hoods and jam out to some music. 

 At the end of the 31 kms we were planning on going further but we couldn't take anymore. We called it a day, settled into an alburgue (where we were able to get a double room to ourselves...truth be told if we weren't able to we would have kept on walking), Sara cooked some pasta while I did the laundry and then we went to bed at 8 pm. We're two wild and crazy Americans!

Camino Tip del Dia: Drink lots and lots of water and use a bladder (eg a camelback). Having water accessible is key. Furthermore, the bladder is light and can carry 2 or 3 liters, however due to weight you shouldn't carry more than 1.5. Drinking water is good for the body, cleans the system, keeps energy up and helps with bowel movements. Sara has been regular ever since we forced her water intake up to at least 3 liters a day.

Camino Friends del Dia: Tom and Victoria. We met Tom and Victoria when we sat with them at a pilgrims dinner in Calzadilla de la Cueza. They are a pair of young British friends via Korea (Tom) and Argentina (Victoria). They are doing the Camino together but for very different reasons: Tom heard about, booked a ticket and agreed to do the Camino with Victoria all within three weeks. Tom is a great guy suffering from a broken heart. Victoria is an adventurous spirit who has been sampling some of the Spanish (and pilgrims) flavors along the way...and I don't mean the food. As she is young and beautiful, finding meals hasn't been difficult for Victoria. We really enjoyed their company.

Camino Random Observation del Dia: I will leave this one to Sara...at one point a few days into the trip, Sara turned to me and said, "Wow, this Se Vende guy is tagging [marking a wall with graffiti] so many walls in Spain. And he leaves a phone number. What is he trying to say? Is this a political message?" It was very hard not to laugh as I told her that "se vende" translates to "for sale".

Camino Song del Dia: Road to Nowhere, Talking Heads. 




Location: 24339 Reliegos, León, Spain

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