Day 4: Flowers for Mom

So we didn't set out by 7am.  We started walking around 7:30am and we arrived in Puente la Reina around 3pm.  At first, this may seem like a shorter day.  However, it was a longer distance, about 24 km.  You could call this day a fast day.  I'd say I felt like I was flying, but with a big backpack, I certainly did not feel like I was flying.  I was well aware of the ground-to-foot contact step, after step, after step, after step...

Now, at the end of the day, I feel the walk in my waddle.  I dub it the "pilgrim waddle", common among pilgrims within the first ten days, side effect of walking distances that are meant to be driven.  The "pilgrim waddle" is often accompanied by joyful exhaustion and, though it's not very cute, is a sign of a good day's pilgrimage.

At the beginning of the day, I saw windmills on top of a mountain.  Chris pointed to them and said, "We're going there."

So we walked

and walked

until...

Hello, windmills! Fancy meeting you here...

ON THE PEAK!! 

We found these rusty pilgrims up there...

...and left St. John Paul II with them...

He loves the mountains ;)

Now comes one of my favorite parts of the day.  I was getting tired and sore and thirsty and hungry.  My brother and I stopped to pick flowers for our little sister who has her dance recital today...

(Go Maria! We love you and miss you!)

Afterwards, I left the flowers in the brush on the side of the trail.  A second later, I changed my mind and picked them back up, hoping that I would be able to leave them somewhere for Mary, like in a church or by a statue.  We were in the middle of no where, I didn't know how long I'd have to carry them, but I prayed and asked Our Lady for a place to leave her flowers because I really wanted to give them to her.  Within a half an hour...

we stumbled upon this statue of Mary along the side of the trail!  I was so happy.  It was just what I needed to see, a sweet, consoling reminder that whenever I have little pilgrim problems, like sore feet or impatience, I can bring them all to Our Lady, Mother of Pilgrims, and she'll be waiting to take care everything in a way most pleasing to Jesus (whether that means taking my 'problems' away, or helping me to deal with them!).  She really is a great mom--if you ever need anything, go to Jesus through Mary!!

Tonight, my brother and I had a typical pilgrim evening: shower, wash clothes, find grocery store, have dinner, and Mass.  We had a mighty fine pilgrim evening with our pilgrim family :)

Apparently we have to leave tomorrow morning at 6:30am in order to avoid the rain.  Oh boy.  I am going to bed, and getting up with this thought from St. Josemaria:

"Your Crucifix. — As a Christian, you should always carry your Crucifix with you. And place it on your desk. And kiss it before going to bed and when you wake up: and when your poor body rebels against your soul, kiss it again." -St. Josemaria Escriva

+JMJ+