Stefan the Austrian...

This morning, I was riding uphill to this big, wooden cross. I saw this big guy standing in front of it praying. A minute later, he stopped and crossed himself and then wiped away a tear from his eye just as I came up to him. His name is Stefan and he is from Austria. We got on and was really friendly. I talked to him for a bit and asked how long he had been on the Camino and he said 4 years. He does a section every year until he can't go any further. He he'd been on the Camino about a week and had blisters on one foot and numbness under the ball of the other. He was trying to decide to go on or stop. I asked him why he was doing it and he said he didn't know anymore, but he had to do it. He had the biggest pack by far of anyone I have seen on the Camino. It had to weigh over 50lbs. No wonder he was hurting so bad. He said you never know what you need.

By this time in the Camino, people realize that they are carrying to much and start shedding what they have in their packs. In Stefan's case, I think he was having a hard time letting go of anything. He was the sweetest guy, but clearly was struggling. Blessings to Stefan. May you lighten your load and finish Camino with a lighter heart.

I know I have brought to much as well. Did I really need 4 T-shirts when I have worn 1. Did I really need 6 pairs of socks and underwear when I use only 2 before doing laundry? Did I really need all the extras I brought "just in case" something went wrong? What else am I carrying from my past that I don't need anymore?

Today was a hard day riding. The weather was great. Overcast and cool. I did 50 miles of up and down trail today...Amazing. It was a difficult section of the Camino where we had to go up into the mountains again. A fair amount of difficult climbing. Nothing compared to St Jean pass, but combined with the distance and doing the last 2 hours in the rain, a very tough day. I rode from about 8:30 am to 5:30pm with a hour break for lunch. Wow! Speaking of St Jean pass; people are still amazed I did it on a bike last week. A French guy I met today, hiked the road a few days before me because conditions were so bad. I didn't know it at the time, but he told me some dude died in the pass two days before I did it.

I am in Burgos tonight having done so much riding. It's a big, ugly modern city, but I found a nice, small hotel on the historic section and just finishing Tapas e Tinto. I'll sleep well tonight! Not to many pix as I was riding all day.

Dave