Camino Frances 2024 Day 7 - Jun 11, 2024

30 km walk today from Los Arcos to Logrona (our longest day yet) in Spain wine country, about three peaks and downhills, including one called the knee wrecker. I was happy it was not called the back breaker but sure enough it messed my right knee up. By the time we arrived in Logrona I was limping with a painful right knee and a sore hip for overcompensation in my gait. We heard about another woman was walking quite fast yesterday then took a fall in the woods and had to stay longer in Los Arcos to heal. On this Camino speed could be slow. We walked all of the day with Annette and at the end with Izzy and April the students from Missouri who have a fascinating story of how they came to the Camino - and are so mature and a credit to their generation. We met up with the Irish couple at Wes the Canadian’s store where 6 American girls are working, including Nevaeh (Heaven) from the food truck yesterday. I also walked with Richard and Christine from Australia which was quite fun and we all ran into Trilas the 80 year old Tanzanian woman from Brisbane and another Aussie. It was nice to see them all enjoy each other. It was another dose of inspiration to see Trilas again - healthy and determined to finish in Santiago and Finisterre, come what may! We had seen Ola from Poland in the mountains on the first day but we talked a little today, along with Diego, the young man from Italy. I keep forgetting the name of the Swiss girl who keep reminding me that my name’s meaning Christ carrier makes it a perfect Camino name. The 4 Brazilian ladies from day 1 never seem to be far. Meeting people and hearing their stories is the best part of the Camino, along with the alone time. Tonight in Logrona was a big party - there is a public holiday here for rebuffing the French in 1521. We are walking the Camino with all we need in backpacks on the same trails that pilgrims walked with bundles tied to sticks for over 1000 years with all their possessions in a bundle, and their health and body as the only other asset they had. Camino teaches you to live minimally and treasure your body as your greatest asset. Thanks to April for the observation. We will stay in Logrona two nights so no walking tomorrow. I have time to heal and take some planned can't miss US board calls.