There Is No Easy Day On The Camino!

Before leaving, my guide book rated walk days as easy, moderate, or hard. Well, that's not exactly the way it is out here. I think a better system would hard, harder, and really fricken hard. Day 1 was clearly a really fricken hard day! 17 miles uphill to a final steep 3 mile downhill on a goat path. However, my guide said today from Los Arcos to Logroño was an easy day. Neat!

Here's how the system works. If there are no mountains to climb, it's an easy day. Nevertheless, I still had a 17 mile walk over rolling hills in the full sun carrying an 18 pound backpack. I did this in a bit under 6 hours. Now, add some degree of sore and tired feet and muscles, maybe some stomach discomfort, and general overall fatigue, and there you have it, all the ingredients for an "easy" day. 

Although it was easier than day 1 or 2, the challenge is still there. I arrived early to Logroño, hot, tired and ready for a shower and looking forward to slipping on my sandals. The simple pleasures of life.

Although there are no easy days on the Camino, they're all great days of beautiful villages, winding paths, and wonderful people.