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It was another 5am start as the four of us began the 26 km walk to Mansilla, on the outskirts of Leon. It's very chilly this morning and its good to get moving under the beautiful starry sky. It's like a 'canopy of lights' guiding us along the roadway! We all walk in silence, until a car arrives on the road and Adam trying to keep in falls into a 'canal' luckily wetting only his boots. A quick change from boots to sandals and we are moving again.
At 06:45 as the sun is about to break through the horizon we stop & sit on a ditch, eat breakfast and watch a most amazing sun rise. This is simply life, lived simply.
I am reminded of the Mary Oliver poem:
The Sun
Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it slides again
out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower
streaming upward on its heavenly
oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance–
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love–
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure
that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you
as you stand there,
empty-handed–
or have you too
turned from this world–
or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?
I walk the next 3 hours with Anny Sandra and discuss the 'philosophies of life'. It's mostly very serious but we do manage the occasional laughter too. By 10 am we are glad to get to a village and have the first coffee of the day. 18 km done only 6 km to go, a good mornings work.
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After the tea break I walk alone for the final 6km. I listen to Van Morrison and am reminded of a work colleague who's funeral mass is on today. He was a huge Van the Man fan and I picked the following song to celebrate the life of JB (RIP)
Someone Like You
I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been travellin' a hard road
Lookin' for someone exactly like you
I've been carryin' my heavy load
Waiting for the light to come
Shining through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you.
I've been doin' some soul searching
To find out where you're at
I've been up and down the highway
In all kinds of foreign lands
Someone like you... [etc.]
I've been all around the world
Marching to the beat of a different
Drum.
But just lately I have
Realise
The best is yet to come.
Someone like you... [etc.]
Van Morrison
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The afternoon is spent relaxing, giving the feet a chance to recover. To slow down and relax and today I did manage to intentionally slow down my walking. I felt good today despite the aches and pains, they feel so trivial in the greater scheme of things.
I enjoy an easy stroll around this old town. I visit the local church, the churches all along the route are very impressive. It's real cool inside and it's great to be able to spend time there to reflect.
The evening is finished off with five of us sharing a beautiful meal. Tomorrow is onwards to Leon.
Buen camino
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