Even the Cows Are Cheering Us On (Bob)

Each stage of the first week of the Camino reminds me of  cycling endurance events like the STP (Seattle to Portland) or the Leadville 100. There is a progression to each day that goes something like this:

• Giddy with excitement and trepidation
• Over confidence with early progress and gorgeous scenery 
• Something goes wrong (Is that a hot spot in my heel? Did I leave my shirt on the drying rack?)
• Cave of pain (How much would a 400-mile cab ride to Santiago cost?)
• I can bear it.
• Hey, that city at the top of the hill is our next stop! We’re almost done.

One thing that really helps is how friendly everyone is on the Camino. When we walk through villages, most people we cross in the street say “¡Buen Camino!” We keep running into people we’ve met along the way and have fun conversations about where we’ve all been and where we’re going next. 

Many cows have a bell that rings when we walk. In bike races, ringing a cowbell is a sign of support. Same thing here. When the cows see us, they move a little bit to ring the bell in support. Cows in Spain are extra nice.