Day 29: Home to Bridle Trails State Park and back - accidental Camino

Highlights:

I started today’s walk thinking I was just testing out my tootsies after a medicated week off to heal from the abuse that I had wreaked over the past month and a half.  I wore sandals that didn’t touch the healing parts and set off planning to do “just a few miles”. 

I headed to one of my well-worn paths through residential Kirkland.  The coastal fog was heavy, but I was comforted by the knowledge that today was turning into a high 70s (~25 C) day and that it wasn’t smoke. Before I knew, it, my inner camino had kicked in, the fog had lifted, and I found myself in the beautiful Bridle Trails State Park that is obviously walking distance from my house.

While this park is designed for the many horsey folks in our area with “four arenas and a calendar full of horse shows and organized rides”, this is also a fabulous walking area with 28 miles of soft-earth forested trails to explore. 

Since I hadn’t planned to do Day 29 today, I didn’t turn on Strava and I didn’t head out to conquer any particular trails.  Instead, I followed my feet and skirted the Park’s perimeter, delighting in the forested paths and streets. I came across perfect spider webs backlit by the morning dew and sharpened by the sun. I'm not a fan of arachnids but had to appreciate their craft (and that they were not inside my house).  I said hello to the lovely large dark workhorse that was calmly munching grass behind one of the park’s perimeter fences.  I was tickled by the image of the lone volleyball on one of the expansive ranch house lawns and immediately thought that Wilson (remember Castaway?), had found a solid new home. 

In my own mental fog I was not paying attention to directions and ended up walking further away from home than I realized.  Course correcting, before I knew it, I was back home, with 11.5 miles under my belt.  Said husband Don: “you should count this one as part of your Faux Camino”, and so I have.

On the real Camino, on Day 29, I would have traveled 17.6 miles from Hospital Alta da Cruz to Melide, roaming earthen paths through lush forests (not unlike what I experienced in Bridle Trails 😊), sampling Melide’s celebrated boiled octopus (umm, no I wouldn’t – they are smart creatures), with a cool glass of Ribeiro white wine (which I would leave for my fellow travelers).

I have mixed feelings about being back in the Camino saddle while at the same time nearing the end. Or maybe it's the change in light and temperature that is clearly moving us all into Fall.  

With my banked hours, I have 30.3 miles left to get to what would be Santiago de Compostela – the physical and spiritual termination of many people’s pilgrimage, on the real Camino.  I will spend some time today choosing two worthy treks (or more) as I try out my new Camino veteran-recommended shoes and doctor-recommended blister prevention  socks.

Apparently, more fires in California’s wine region will blow smoke this way starting tonight but the forecast is that it won’t be as bad for us in Seattle as recently.  Poor California.

Until tomorrow, may we all have a ¡Buen Camino!