Aviles KM 326

Here I am at the lovely Casa de Cultura in Aviles, where there are about 20 computer terminals and no charge to use them. For the first time today, it is quiet, peaceful and cool with AC and all! I have to say this has been the most bizarre and difficult day for me on the Camino del Norte so far, but aside from whatever challenges I had, I am safe and grateful for everything.

My day started with me being distracted and became progressively difficult from there. I left the hotel I was staying at, forgetting my map and credencial (Pilgrim´s Passport) and had to double back about 1.5 km through the Monday morning traffic of Gijon to get them. Then I got lost trying to leave the city. It was at this point I noticed how unfriendly the people were - it happens in cities - but eventually I was saved by a nice Argentian man who saw me scrutinising my map and came to point me in the right direction.

The city quickly became an industrial zone and the road beside me with busy with big trucks belching out diesel fumes. Then a local man walking ahead of me began vomiting blood. I stopped to ask him if he was alright and he said he was, but I somehow I doubt it... Walking at the side of the road felt particularly dangerous today as the traffic whizzed past me due to the fact that I was forced to walk on the right hand side of the road, with the traffic behind me. Its much safer to be able to see whats coming in case you need to jump into the ditch, but this was not an option as there was no shoulder on the left side for much of the time.

The day went on much like this. So, by the time I got to Aviles, my ears were ringing with the traffic and industrial noise, my feet were complaining bitterly, I smelled like an old truck from fumes and I was completely frazzled. At the Albergue - and yes, I am staying there tonight - the Hospitalero caught me crying and he immediately put his hand on my face to dry my tears and gave me a kiss on both cheeks. He went and got me a special sheet for my bunk - the others don´t have one - and a blanket to make sure I am warm tonight... He must have realised that I am a Peregrina Princess! Now, how can you feel badly when there is this type of care? So there, I´m all cheered up again.

Tomorrow is a major up and down hike - up 200 metres, down 150 metres, up 200 metres, down 200 metres and so it goes... And it is 35 - 40 km long to the next town with an Albergue. Not that this part is important to me, but, if I want to make it to Santiago by the 17th of June, I have to put myself in high-gear for the next 10 days. This means walking at least 30 km a day. I think I can do it, but I am also resolved to the fact that I may not be able to pull it off. Getting a Compostella (certificate of acheivement more or less) is not that important to me.

Today was rich for lessons, but the thing that keeps coming home to me is the need for acceptance of what is. In other words, I can´t control what is going on around me - only how I deal with it. This is a big one - enough to last me the rest of my days here,and possibly a lifetime.