Amazing grace and the three "R's"

Today I realized that I am living in Grace. It just happened. When you feel like you are exactly in the right place, at the right time. Often I have tried to make it happen but it doesn't work that way for me. It seems like life is supposed to be this way, but my own thoughts and actions get in the way. I am having some amazing experiences on the Camino meeting people, having spontaneous conversations; challenging myself physically and emotionally and just feeling fortunate to be alive doing what I'm doing. I sat quietly for about 10 minutes in a church today appreciating where I am. No, I haven't had too many Tintos.

In a random moment at lunch; I sat next to an older couple; Tom and Sandy who were living in the San Juan Islands in Wa state. I asked Tom what he did before he retired and he said that he worked for the US Forest Service doing forest fire management. I said that I had fought fires for the US Forest Service in the 1970's and it turned out that we had been on the same fires back then.... I mean how weird is that? To be sitting next to a guy in Leòn Spain that I was with 40 years ago!

I am thinking I'll be in Santiago on the 18th and coincidentally they are arriving in Santiago the same day on the train. We exchanged info and are going to try and get together for dinner there.

I went walking around and ran into these school kids on an outing with their teacher. They asked me to take a picture of them and then they wanted to take a picture with me... Cute.

Now onto the three R's. Recuperation, Repair and Reflection. I felt guilty not riding today. Where did that come from? You don't realize how tired you are until you stop sometimes. I feel so much better having taken the day off. I took my bike in to a bike shop this morning thinking a few things weren't right and turns out my disc rear brakes were completely gone to metal-metal and the front's had little left. Man, am I glad I took it in. All back together lubricated, adjusted and sounds great! I went for a short ride along the river afterwards and that's when the Reflection happened; that I am in Grace. I am so grateful to be here doing this right now.

I went our this afternoon doing some photography. About the first time I have taken to do some more serious work than snapshots with my iPhone and it felt great. I find that I have to get "Quiet" to do any serious work. To see things in a different way than just looking. Anyway, very satisfying. I'll have to wait to get home to see if I like what I did here after doing the digital processing.

Gratitude;
Dave