Camino Day 1 --6/13/2020

26km/Franklin Trail in Carpinteria, + a hike to/on the coast

Representing Oviedo to Grado

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

I was able to go and meet three dear friends for a socially-distant hangout in a local park last Friday afternoon before J and I started our Camino the next morning; this little proverb was given to me by one of those friends as I headed out early to get home asap and start cooking.  

 There is no photo from our time together on Friday, but here they are the last time we all got away for a retreat:

I thought that I would be able to spend time with them in the afternoon and still be able to get our kickoff feast on the table in time for J and I to celebrate with the kids/ get everything ready/get a good bedtime before our first hike. 

Hilarious. Even with a lot of help from Jesse, we sat down to eat with the kids quite late. But worth it!

Menu:

Tortilla Asturiana (Onion, Tuna, and Tomato Omelet)

Chuletas de Cerdo a la Asturiana (Pork Chops with Apples in Cider Sauce); green salad, potatoes

Casadielles  (Walnut-Filled Turnovers)

It was a proper sendoff! By the way, Happy Birthday yesterday to Grandma, who sent me the Spanish cookbook a while back and whose family roots deep in the Asturian hills have been a significant part of drawing me to the particular Camino we had chosen. 

Speaking of Asturias, in Fall 2018 we were all able to visit the cathedral in Oviedo that would have been the starting point of our camino. It was a very generous thing for our Spanish family to do for me; and then at lunch afterwards, they gave me gifts that either prepared me for/or celebrated my camino in advance. I still hope to do it someday. Getting to spend time with them would have been a highlight of this trip.

At the Catedral de San Salvador

As J and I hit the trail on Saturday morning, I spent some time mulling on the proverb, and how I tend to aim for the most efficient (aka "fast") way of doing things. As I walked I pondered ways I might move away from that kind of mindset. I also felt very, very grateful for the many people who have helped to get me--and us--so far. And not only in the cancer season! Even Saturday morning I was receiving email messages full of words of celebration, commiseration, and encouragement. We do not walk alone.

Our first day's hike was a new-to-us trail down in Carpinteria. We got our legs under us pretty quickly and followed the Franklin Trail 5.25 miles into the backcountry. This trail whispered to me of those who had gone before (it was the early way into the backcountry before the San Marcos Pass was created). 

I just know there's a story behind this ford of a dry creek!

Unlike our usual singletrack hiking, there was a road for some of this hike, which was a treat. I always lead our hikes, but it was really nice to walk next to J instead. The exception to the usual rule on this hike was when we came across some very active (and very many) bees right in/on the road. We had passed a wild hive or two already (which reminded me of the bear warning sign) but they had been farther off the trail. Jesse led the way through the bees! I still don't know if I would have gotten up the guts to walk through them if I had been on my own.

No idea yet that the bees are up ahead somewhere

Up beyond, the views were beautiful, and I appreciated the different perspective on our same general coastline. 

On the way down we stopped and had a picnic in a little dell before retracing our steps to the trailhead. We reloaded with more water at the car, and then started walking down through Carpinteria to the coast. 

The turnaround point for us

We turned east once we hit the water and walked another couple of miles to a seal sanctuary. In the process, we found a new-to-us beach that we returned to with the kids the following day...we are trying to be very present with them on the days that we are home. They are being absolute champs, and I am relishing how we are moving into a season with older kids. We have a lot of fun.

We returned footsore, but having accomplished our goal of 16 miles. A neighbor had conspired with a our children to have a celebratory feast waiting for us on our return! It was such a gift. 

A gift of delicious food, yes, but also a gift to be known and welcomed home. So grateful for the beauty that's all around us and for the beautiful people who love us so well. 

Camino Day 1