The Journey Begins: The Morning Of Day One Of The Camino de Santiago With My Love

Camino de Santiago

Usually, I embark on my journeys alone, as that's when I feel I grow the most as a human being. However, this time around, I'm about to tackle the Camino de Santiago with my husband, Luc—a prospect I never thought I'd entertain. If the preparation for this trek is any indication of what's to come, I'm getting ready to test myself as a human being in ways I wouldn't wish upon anyone. I say this with affection and a touch of humor. Luc is one of the kindest souls I've ever known, and my love for him remains as strong as it was when we married. But let's face it—love, marriage, and relationships are no walk in the park. And being married to an athlete for the past twenty-six years, especially this athlete, oh—my—God. Now, let's delve into the packing process. You'd think he was gearing up for a military operation, sans my involvement: "Rain jacket, check. Two pairs of trekking pants, check. Two long-sleeve and two short-sleeve shirts that resist odor, check. Two pairs of socks, check. Two pairs of toe socks, check. Two sets of underwear, check. Sleeveless down jacket, check. Toiletries, check. First aid kit, check. Vitamins, check. Two hats, check. I'm good to go," he proudly declared—to himself. After a minute or so, realizing I was in the room packing alongside him, I was lucky enough to receive a high five. Normally, I give him a disapproving look when he attempts to high five me, but this time I raised my hand to meet his massive palm and endured his thunderous slap—which I can still feel resonating in my shoulder, five days later. So here I am, lying in bed next to Luc in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, composing my inaugural blog entry while his alarm goes off. Oblivious to my wakefulness, he keeps snoozing it, hoping I won't notice, all the while knowing we need to get moving. Good luck with that, my dear. This morning marks the beginning. We won't be trekking the full 651 miles I undertook on my own five years ago; instead, we'll be covering approximately one hundred miles together—which may or may not feel like a thousand. Time will tell. I harbor no expectations. All I know is that this morning, we'll ascend into the Pyrenees and settle into a room with bunk beds among strangers, sharing a communal bathroom with the entire floor. Oh yes, this is going to be fun. It's worth mentioning that, per Luc's request, we'll be mostly staying in hotels along the Camino. For him, having a private bathroom is a top priority—and a non-negotiable one at that. A sentiment I wholeheartedly support. :0 Alright, I should rouse him before the summer heat becomes unbearable—though the alarm that keeps blaring certainly isn't doing the trick. Did I mention it's July? Another feat I never envisioned attempting: the Camino de Santiago in the scorching summer heat. But I'll brave it to accommodate my hubby's schedule. Until next time. Let's see how much I can grow within the first 24 hours. ;)