Early Riser (to Santo Domingo de Calzada)

Trip Start Aug 25, 2008
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Trip End Oct 02, 2008


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Flag of Spain and Canary Islands  , La Rioja,
Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Nájera's albergue is one of those with one huge dorm room. So yes, the concerto grosso once again. Did I already mention that most of the times, two of these bunk beds are connected, so when one person out of four moves in bed, the other three can feel the movement. I don't mind the noise, but the movement wakes me up. Today 5:30, there's no way to continue sleeping. The Italians are at it again, and not exactly trying to be quiet, they are waking up the neighbours. Dave the old Canadian turns on the light at 6:00 and Flo the young German complains about this. In the ensuing quarrel, any notion of sleep that might have been left is utterly vanquished. So I decide not to bother at all and leave the pandemonium at 6:30.
Earliest start ever. More than an hour before sunrise, I walk along with my headlight on. It's kind of cool though and I don't regret fleeing the albergue so soon. Dawn is very beautiful, with the sun still behind the horizon, nevertheless changing the sky's colour from a deep blue to a very gentle rosé.
Actually, I feel quite refreshed, and doing some kilometres in the dark gives me an extra boost of morale. In the first bar, I encounter some already old acquaintances' again - Pat, the Irishman, Neia and Sandor, artists from Finland - as well as I make new ones - Maggie from Australia.
Nevertheless walking alone for most of the time, I eventually find time to do some reflection. Awesome, maybe my body IS adapting to the unfamiliar stress.
Earliest start ever smoothly transforms to earliest arrival ever. Marching into town around 11 am, I gather that the first refuge hasn't even opened its doors yet. I continue to the next one down the road and manage to secure a bed before noon.
In the end, having much time to think about things isn't really putting me in a better mood. I get around to do my things, talk to some people and do a short walk around town, but towards the evening I increasingly start to feel awkward around people. So I retreat to the quiescence of the dorm, letting my pilgrim friends go out and be joyful while I sit in my bed sulking and feeling more and more depressed upon my reflections. In the end, everything comes down to the decisions we make, and deciding for one thing means at the same time deciding against two other things. So much to do and so little time, and bad decisions threaten to influence all the rest of your life. Everything is connected.
So I devote the rest of this evening to being depressed, get to bed early and decide to start out fresh tomorrow. Less reflection, more getting into the spirit of the thing.
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