Friday, June 7, 2024

It’s an easy morning. The air is cool and the predawn landscape is quiet, save for the birdsong and breeze leafing through the trees. The morning walk has been interesting, winding through tiny villages under light clouds blown quickly through the sky. A coffee with a light breakfast is enjoyed in Lago over a 30-minute stop. I’ve been walking ahead of the group for much of the morning. While I love walking with this group, some days I need some crisp, quick walking made for endorphin enjoyment. I am an advocate for quick, short walking days. This is my mantra, loving days when good distance is made with confident pace early in the morning. This affords that walking is enjoyed during the most enjoyable cool hours of the day. It provides time for cleaning and hanging laundry to dry fully in the sunshine. It provides the peace of mind that good work has been done on the trail, and the distance acquired can be measured on a map. We climb mountains in the sun, and I shift into high gear. A well-positioned patio at the top of the ascent catches my attention, and I settle in for a pint. Hills with scenic views are ascended, and lush forest trails bathed in dappled sunlight are walked. As we descend, the ocean peaks through the conifer trees defining the upcoming section of the trail. The North Atlantic Ocean. I have now walked to this ocean twice—once eastbound in Canada, and now westbound in Spain. We walk through Cee, find the albergue, check-in, and then rush to the closest beach to swim. Showers, then out to the town square where we find a wonderful restaurant and seafood for dinner. I buy groceries after the meal, returning to the beach now darkening in the early evening fade. I experiment with the GoPro, capturing the sunset. I return to the albergue, worn out but feeling content with the fullness of the day.

Today’s distance walked: 46.6 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,017.43 km

“Showoff Roadshow.” — Study for a series of design works inspired by portmanteaus.