The past few mornings we have been warned about the rain outside so we gear up only to step outside to no rain. We’ve also started walking The Meseta region of the camino and if you’ve read any camino stories they will scare you about this region, the ‘mind’ region. Maybe because of it’s open and vast expansive flat plains with its big open skies. It’s the region you can’t help but know about – such is its powerful mystique. How much of what we worry about is based on other people sharing their own projections?

Days on the Camino – 14

Kms – Today 29 kms. Our total is now around 385’ish kms it’s hard to know the maps are all over the place. But we are on the way to half way!

Starting point today – Castrojeriz, Spain.

End of the day – Población de Campos, Spain.

Number of girls in Africa educated – 20

Total funds raised so far – $6,205.00. 

If you’d like to contribute you can do so here.

Frances Antonia – Do it in a dress.

Thanks for the help Kimmy from the Women Who Hike team.

Today was dedicated to – Larissa at One Girl! Who always gets excited when I email her with news. Who works with such a beautiful and kind energy. Who writes the loviest words and cares so deeply about what she does. Thanks for trusting me with my crazy idea. I think this one went A-OK.

Accommodation – We have arrived at the La Finca. This is a cool, cool Albergue with single beds and space, I’m in a tree house style room!!! (€10 per night).

Food highlight – A couple of closed villages so no coffee until 11am (20 kms), the tortillas looked a bit bland so we decided to try the sweets. Every mouthful of cake was delish! And I’m not a sweets person. Leftover paella from last night for lunch was a big highlight. Leftovers are the best!

In a word(s) – Sinking in.

I first posted this shot on day seven. I take a lot of shots of people from behind so if you’re ahead of me you’ll probably end up in one of my landscape shots! My sister and I wondered if the two shells meant this was their second camino.

As it turns out I’ve become the camino paparazzi! If I see you down the track and I’ve taken your photo I’ll forward it on to you. If I’ve taken your photo before then I’ll already know where to send it to.

Remember that brilliant dinner I wanted to write about on day 11? Well it started earlier that afternoon. I recognised these two ladies sitting in the Albergue bar next to us. I forwarded them that photo and yes they are on their second camino! They did their first one together 5 years ago.

That evening we had a brilliant dinner with some lovely easy talk. I think these grand Danes bring a lot of wisdom and calm to the camino. They come without expectations and with a great love of the inherent simplicity that comes with walking a camino.

Look who I met on the first mountain out this morning, those great women. I knew I’d get to tell you about the dinner and introduce you. Of course I took a few more photos for them including the following of them walking as the sunrise over The Meseta.

And The Meseta … take a look at my day. The open space, the vastness, the colour, the skies, the brilliance. It started as a beautiful misty morning, the birds sung and it developed into a day that showcased its magical vibrant colours. The colours that only nature can provide and envelope your being with. Sure it rained for the last 15 or so minutes of the six hours we hiked … but imagine if I said no to today or worried about the weather or the rumors of The Mystical Meseta. I agree with those wise Danes … it’s best to approach the days without the ‘need’ for expectations to leave a little room for coincidence and mystery to unfold. Otherwise we may miss what the day holds for us.

Buen Camino,

Fran

xx