Beautiful and Bizarre

It took me 8 days and deeply aching shoulders before I realised that I was not wearing my backpack correctly and that was despite a practice run along the Dales Way. So now deep grooves are indented in my hips instead of the deep ache in the shoulders but at least with pain you can only feel it majorally in one place at a time-or at least I can!
By day 11 I was in desperate need of some time alone- wherever I sat people came and talked to me so I devised a plan not to smile or make eye contact with ANYONE so they would leave me alone. It works! I had a wonderful solitary walk in the pouring rain for 4 hours and the peace and thoughts were so good. At least the aloneness was good. The thoughts were rather challenging. I wanted to go deeper with God yet repeatedly this womans name came to mind and my less than charitable thoughts towards her. The whisper came 'you have to let her go Kate, remember that word 'as' in My prayer- forgive me my sin as I forgive those who sin against me'. But I don't want to let go. I am not ready. I tell God this and there is a gentle acceptance- no pressure, no disapproval. It just stays in the 'in box'.
I arrive at a cafe which is just humming and on the TV is a Candid Camera show or Spanish equivalent. I am creased in laughter by the end watching rabbits and chickens chase large dogs who have dared to take them on. The show moves on to stuff that borders on animal cruelty for me but hey these people still have bull fighting and bulls raging through the streets of Pamplona. It must be terrifying having seen how narrow the streets of Pamplona are at times. I am amazed at the volumes of alcohol being drank at 9.30am particularly as it is a lorry drivers parking spot. 3 bottles of Cognac are gone in less than 10mins!
Fortunately a whistle is blown and they all crowd onto a coach that I haven't seen, leaving behind a small vacuum as all the collective laughter has gone.
Walking up the hill I meet Dan, a gentle, meek Canadian man in his 60's. He is keen to talk and as we walk he shares his story and I mine: Dan is an ex drug addict who 2 years into his marriage comes to know God. His wife goes schiz and they make an agreement  that they will not discuss certain topics for the rest of their lives together and it is now 40 years later! But he is sad as there is so much life he cannot share with her. What is more he is the only man he knows where it is this way around, the husband goes to church and the wife doesn't. Because of this, his church, full of rules and regulations, will not allow him to become an elder. We walk and talk for hours and hours and finally arrive in the environs of Burgos at 7.30pm, both of us having walked since 6.30am. There is one hotel only and it is much cheaper for a twin room so we take it and I spend one of the most bizarre experiences of my life on a Saturday night, sharing a room with a man I hardly know, eating one of the best meals I have had in Spain since I have arrived. Somehow it is a gentle reprieve for us both and as Dan gets into bed he says 'Thank you for such a wonderful day'. I feel truly blessed.