Today we can afford something of a celebration. Just one month go, we started out on this journey from St Jean Pied de Port, France. In that month, we have walked for all but two days, we have covered 546 km and have climbed to 1530m asl. We have been in a different village, town or city nearly every night. We have been hot, cold, wet and blown inside out. We have been tired, elated, excited and depressed, sometimes all at once!
Looking ahead, we have about 14 days to go, one mountain range to cross and rainy Galacia to traverse. But it is very much a feeling that the is in sight. We hope and pray that the light we can see at the end of this tunnel is not a train coming the other way!
But we do feel as though it is a celebration. We have seen some amazing things, ranging from the small snake getting off the path in front of me, through the amazing range of flowers and colourful plants and insects, to the amazing colours of sunsets and sunrises without number.
We have attended services in large churches and small chapels and have had a glimpse at some of the treasures the church owns. We have shared with the local people in their worship and have attended services just for pilgrims. We have been part of religious communities, although in only a very small way.
We have met amazing people, from Canada, Ireland, Denmark, USA, Korea, France, Germany, Holland, Australia … Many of these people come into our lives and move out again quickly as they or we move on. Others stay together for a few days before moving on and still others we meet several times, days apart. Still others we met in the signs left behind -a named rock, a message in an albergue book, or a signature in a church visitors book.
Each of these people have their own story as we have ours. Sometimes we are privileged to hear these stories and to share our own.
Above all, the camino is a challenge. It is a physical one of course, but it is a spiritual one too. One of the challenges is to see in our fellow pilgrim a child of God and to learn from each other as we continue this journey to Santiago and to a deeper understanding of God.
Finally the challenge is to take our learnings back with us to our life after the camino.
Alan,
El Acebo, Spain.
13 October, 2014.
At Cruce de Ferro in the fog! Highest point of the journey.
roweallstars 
Good to have a catch up on your adventures. I must say reading about them while having a beer almost makes it a spectator sport!! I’ve been pretty slack but manged to have a good catch up tonight, keep up the good work, and posts..I do read them…eventually. Nick