Camino Stories: The Beach

I thought September would be mild but summer still lingered. More than that, the heat of each day was no indication that the seasons were changing. This particular day, the only defense against the blazing sun were a few thin clouds drifting by. The route started in a bustling town then took us out into rolling hills of corn not yet harvested and stone buildings from centuries past. We trekked along the quiet asphalt, hoping over each crest we’d see a stretch of level ground or perhaps a bench in the shade. When life is stripped to such simplicity, the mind is clear of the heavy and nuanced issues of daily life and is usually left to consider the immediate. Happiness for me, today, would be found in the moment I could sit and wrestle my shoes off.