Slow and steady - day 24

We aware almost there! Here are Pauline and I at the statue for moving into the area od Santaigo. We walked about 25 km today and are only 8 km from the Cathedral of Santaigo. 

The Camino is changing as we approach Santiago- more 'short term' pilgrims  walking for the final 100km- more Americans- slightly denser population - more busy roads. 

But you wouldn't call it urban. The Shepard took his sheep out to pature and told us they all stay together and would graze their way back to the house in an hour or two.

Here is a dad and his 11 year old son, Eric, from Ireland. They are walking 80 km together. We enjoyed walking with them. 

Walking with Eric and his dad we passed a tree with a dream catcher hanging in the branches. I explained what a dream catcher was - so now I've seen a teepee and a dream catcher here on the Camino.

We passed hundreds of Meyer of fence decorated with pilgrim-made crosses using the materials at hand.

The tube sock cross - one of my favorites. 

I am a slow and steady pilgrim. I walk slowly and average 20 km per day. There are many (most?) pilgrims who walk 25-35 km each day.  And a lot of them are older than me. Given my somewhat competitive nature listening to my body and walking at my slow body pace has been a challenge.  I want to be fast and go far - but I can't.

So one of my goals has been to not rush or hurry at any time on the Camino. To I eat, sleep, look, sit, visit and walk as they unfold in time.  And, in fact, this mostly how I have lived the past 3 1/2 weeks. Walking each day without a specific destination nor much detail about the path. Taking people, hills and accommodation as they are discovered. I hoe to bring back this sense of time and life unfolding at its own rate as I return to Minnesota.

Another Tich Nhat Hanh poem / mantra that I have been carrying with me

"Walking in mindfulness brings us peace and joy. Why rush? Our final destination will only be the graveyard.  Why not walk in the direction of life, enjoying peace in each moment with every step? There is no need to struggle. Enjoy each step. We have already arrived."