Second, Jason and I are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary today, enjoying a shorter mileage day, in part because of Jason’s health and part because of Gabe’s blisters. This time, it’s not me slowing the crew down.
After my last post, Jason did fall ill with some kind of virus. We had been walking in extreme heat and humidity and as you know from my previous post, I took a day off. Jason did not. We don’t think the exertion caused Jason to get sick, but it might have affected his immune system. He’s spent 36 hours with fever/chills and aches and some stomach upset. Yesterday he was able to walk despite not feeling 100 percent. The weather was cooler. That helped.
Jason’s sickness also conveniently struck when we were already planning to stay put for an extra 24 hours in Lugo as we waited for Gabe. That meant I was able to enjoy a lot of sightseeing while Jason slept. So, this is day 4 of Jason feeling not himself and he just told me, “I think the sickness has passed.”
We’re staying in an albergue with about 16 others, so less romantic than some anniversaries, except that this experience has brought us closer together. In fact, we’ve walked at least one day for every year of marriage this summer and most of those hours have been spent together, in conversation, in prayer or in quiet together. We also have loved interacting with the various pilgrims along the way as a couple.
It has been wonderful to walk with our son. Gabe is a great athlete and an able Spanish speaker. He has terrible blisters behind his heels. This is a long story, but he needed to buy hiking boots right before this trip. This is a worst case scenario for walking the Camino, as you might imagine. We’re nursing his feet and many older Camino walkers are sharing wisdom about how to treat blisters for the longer road ahead (which actually isn’t that long anymore).
Today, Gabe hiked the 15 km in Jason’s flip flops. Not ideal! In the next big town, we might purchase a pair of running shoes for him.
Today is Midsummer Eve in Sweden — a great celebration! And the same day your anniversary: a GREAT celebration! Hope you have a wonderful weekend together, the three of you. We want Jason to get 100% well, for you, Susi, to stay healthy so you can be helpful, and for Gabe to be able to walk without making his feet, blisters worse. We pray they will improve every hour. How special that you can spend the last miles of the pilgrimage together! We know you miss Abby and look forward to seeing her in a few weeks. Much love from us
Lovely! Happy 27 to you both!
Flip flops are better because that’s what the first pilgrims wore. Gabe is having a more authentic experience. You should all have a pair. …
Happy 27th Anniversary! It’s great to live through your travels and I’m glad Gabe made it safely. We are praying for you!
Thanks, Jess and Jake!