Day 4 - Are you a turtle?

In college, knowing the answer to that question gave you elite status in the party scene. At this stage of the #Camino2Kenya2015 it is the  question to my every day existence.  I am a turtle because I am slow but methodical as I creep along the path to Santiago, and my entire house is carried on my back.  No matter who passes me I seem to pass them back once they take a rest. I am living with a bunch of hares who are as fast as lightening but who stop many times along the way.

Last night in Pamplona I stayed at a German hostel. At 6am opera was blasted throughout the hostel to get us going and out by 7:30am. Really?  We have nothing to accomplish but walking for 7-8 hours each day and we don’t need to begin at 6am. But awake my fellow pilgrims do and they scurry off to rush to the next hostel.  Meanwhile I meander back to sleep and I’m usually the last one to leave in the morning.  Ironically, we all arrive at the end of the journey that afternoon at the same time.  At my turtle pace I just keep plugging along waving ‘ola’ or ‘bonjour’ or ‘gutten tag’ to new found friends along the way.  At 11am it is time for a sandwich and beer, and at 3pm everyday I have chocolate, cheese and an orange. This is heaven!

By 4pm my feet are shot.  The blister on my left heal is starting to notice the distance and my feet are begging to rest. I can’t believe how difficult it is to climb up on the top bunk of my bed when your body has stiffened up to what feels like a metal rod.

Am I complaining? No!! I’m loving every minute of it but my body is remarking over and over that I’m crazy.

I realized tonight I am the only American I have seen on the trail. The fact that everyone I’ve bonded with speaks English to me and to each other makes my life very easy.  The only language they don’t like is my snoring during my nap upon arriving at the hostel.  Once I lay down for the night in the dorm with 20-30 sleep mates, I have my snore guard firmly in place and everyone is happy.

I’d like to dedicate today’s journey to Pascaline and Miriam who are determined nursing students at Catholic University in Kenya.  They make me laugh all the time.  The picture below is when they introduced me to the plastic patient they practiced on during the second year of schooling. I’m sorry I can’t remember the plastic patient’s name but maybe they’ll email me with the name.




They kept a dogged determination to complete high school and then university with a degree in nursing. I so admire them and love the insights they offer.