“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” said Diana Ross.

I Thought This Climb Would Never End!

August 23 – Day 1

It was hot, damp, and humid but the first 250 steps went well. Yes, I was actually counting my steps! I was hiking along a narrow road which led out of town. The houses and gardens were quaint so all was going well. The road took a few turns and then the homes became very sparsely located and the gradient increased. I was breathing heavier, my heart rate monitor was beeping away, and I kept telling myself I was fine. I became mesmerized with each step with the HUGE slugs that were on the road either moving or squished flat with their guts strewn about. When I say HUGE, I mean it. These were the biggest slugs I had ever seen. They looked like dark black cucumbers. They actually grossed me out, but they kept my mind off counting steps. Honestly, I could not count every step from here to Santiago! I decided to sing. I sang out loud as there was nobody in sight at all and I was in France. I figured singing in English was safe. What song does a gay, chubby, non hiker pretending to be a hiking expert, sing whilst hauling his self up a mountain? “Aint No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross and the Supremes supplemented with a Show Tune; “Climb Every Mountain” from the Sound of Music of course! I was good! I thought I was good and that is all that mattered. I sang and sang and sang. In between singing, I just sweat profusely! Slowly, I climbed that mountain step by step. My knees ached, my heart was pounding, but I was doing it. I was happy! Hikingdan was hiking!

I was also exhausted, hot, and getting cranky. I was also so lonely. I began to give myself a headache singing, so I had to stop. I wondered if there were any other pilgrims walking or hiking? If so, where were they? I had been gone a few hours and I had seen no one. I said hello to a cow or two and a horse, but where were the people? The trail and road were getting steeper with each step and I was feeling it. I did what I always did when the path was steep. I put my head down and starting counting steps. I would stop at step 500, look up, take a breath, a drink of water and go for another 500 steps. I did this a few times and upon looking up I gasped. The road ahead now traversed up a VERY STEEP incline and I saw people! Pilgrims were ahead. I could see them going at a snail’s pace ever so slowly up the steep incline. Instead of being worried, I was ecstatic. OTHER PEOPLE whom I could talk to were ahead! I laughed out loud. What happened to my quest to walk the Camino alone and not be in a group. I was so bored with myself; I couldn’t stand it! I needed to speak with people. I started with 500 steps, then another 500 steps, and another 500 steps. I was catching up, moving at a great pace with my heart monitor beeping off the charts!

I finally caught up with a small group, three ladies to be exact. I could see myself getting closer and closer to these three women. I looked ahead and saw that every pilgrim climbing that steep incline was struggling. I was struggling too. The pain in my knee was starting to really kick into gear. I put my head down and forged ahead. As I looked up, I was right beside the three ladies. Each had their very full backpacks on, some sort of walking pole in hand, and metal water bottles dangling from their waist belts. They stopped as I approached and we began to chat. I discovered that they were Australian. It was nice to catch a break and laugh with these 3 ladies, Helen, Angela, and Alison. They were a group of a mother (Helen) and her two daughters.

We continued to chat and laugh together. We all agreed that the scenery thus far was absolutely breath taking. Angela agreed that the storm last night had them worried too. The weather turned out great today. I was glad to slowly walk and catch my breath as the last hour was strict and steep climbing. Every step hurt! I asked if they were staying overnight at the hostel (Albergue in Spain) 8 KM up the climb. They said yes. It made me happy that I would see them later at the hostel and be able to chat more

Day 1 was a blast but the start was scary. I remember thinking I didn’t want to die on day one!

The photo below is of the building is where I slept on night one. It was 8 km up the mountain. Tomorrow, 12 Km further to climb!

Woo-hoo!  Ain’t no Mountain High Enough to keep me from you Santiago!

KEEP WALKING!