Day 4: June 7: St Chely >> Espallion (22km)

 THE REAL WORLD - Ou c'est trouve?

Today's Photos

The day was beautiful again with good climbs and better descents without so much water or difficult paths (live stream beds). I feel myself growing stronger which is nice, but am a bit overwhelmed by all the pilgrims (fellow travelers along the way).

In Italy, the entire 2 months walking, I saw maybe 20 pilgrims total, here I see at least that many a day. Although it is easy to walk alone and I do this most of the day, if I stop, at a spot to rest or reflect, maybe ten or fifteen minutes before another pilgrim arrives.

Perhaps I am just a whiney American - In Italy I was too lonely and here I am not lonely enough.

Another thing that I am struggling with is technology. I have never had any technology on previous walks - not even a cell phone. But here on this walk I have a cell phone, a kindle (books), and a laptop (I'm actually teaching an online course that began Monday).

The absence of technology let me truly walk outside my world and go inside to a new wold so to speak. I remember in Italy, I often found computers in the library or bureau de tourism, but these would close at 5 or so; and without technology I felt I had so much time. Even now as I walk, I am sometimes checking my phone for stupid reasons like email or facebook updates. I feel lost on the way.

I know in my own "normal" world, I have so many distractions - phone, internet,tv, work, etc. that it sometimes seems days go by without thinking or paying attention to whats around me. And that is part of the discomfort with the walks - is having nothing but time and having to fill it. I read voraciously in Italy when I could find English books - but I guess this too was another distraction. And now my kindle is loaded with like 40 classics from Thoreau to Dickens to Hugo - all free books from Guttenberg as copywrights are long ended.

So I think my challenge now is not physical, but mental and discipline - can I "turn-off" the world I know, to remember the REAL WORLD that we all carry within. It is like this picture I took today that I love. The clouds hid most of the view, but there was a tiny window to see through - perhaps this is what our distractions do - hide the best view!

Here is my plan:

•  Internet check ins/ school in morning; 
•  Turn phone off while I walk - use only for reservations
• 5 - 6 pm Internet Happy Hour (phone for facebook, etc)

Let's see how my INTERNET/ DIET goes! Care to diet with me!

Bon Nuit!