After yesterday, the trek into Viana do Castelo was almost too easy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining!
We took a taxi back to Chafé to reach the place on the Caminho Costa where we’d left off. It was overcast, with a cool breeze. Perfect weather for trekking; should be a light day.
We started out near a small plaza with two churches. As we admired their exteriors, and some went inside for a peek, the bells began to ring. I leaned against the stone wall to rest my knee, absorbing the hopeful sound.
Before long, we trekked on, mostly residential areas, climbing only one big hill. For this, my knee was grateful. Within a couple of hours, we were bearing down on Viana do Castelo.
I felt a surge of hope as we came off the hilltop, with river and bridge in clear view. The map app had redeemed itself. We would finish on time!
We were all looking forward to some
down time. A leisurely lunch and lounge around, do some laundry. My body was craving rest.
Most everything went as planned. We arrived on time; checked in without any problem. Lingered over a lunch on the riverfront, watching trekkers cross the bridge.
(Photo immediately above, credit: Greg Walsh)
But by late afternoon, it was clear there was one snag: complete fail of luggage transfer! With a schedule such as ours, this was serious problem. We had no luck contacting the company or using the emergency number they provided.
What if … your luggage doesn’t follow to the next hotel? Well then … send someone to fetch it!
A trek-mate commandeered a solution by rogue taxi. An hour or so later, were all relieved to have our stuff. Good golly, that would have rough. Of course, dirty laundry will wait.
My devotional today was on hope. I’m generally a glass-half-full kind of girl. I can find a silver lining to almost any cloud. I often wear Revelation Wellness hat, “Get your hopes up.” Yet today, I found myself struggling, mostly because of this left knee. It wasn’t a difficult trek, only five miles or so. Yet here I was come evening, icing, elevating, medicating, again.
Reflecting on hope, where my day started with the bells, and how it ended, I needed to recalibrate. It’s not enough to hope in myself — my preparation, my body, my ability, my knowledge. Inevitably, depending solely on me leads to disappointment.
This evening we met two younger women from British Columbia who’d trekked up from Lisbon. They were both fit; one a long distance runner who trains continually. Yet she was struggling with her knee and some old injuries resurfacing. The other woman has prior Camino experience. She said, “The Camino will find your weakness.”
It’s no accident that on many hilltops, at the highest heights of Portugal, we often see crosses and church steeples. Winding to and fro on the Camino, we’ve stumbled upon church after church. Hour by hour and especially on Sunday, church bells ring across valley and town. The church is a beacon of hope!
I cannot heal my own knee. But I can choose to “doubt my doubts” (thank you, @AlisaKeeton) and speak life. My hope is in the One who conquered death. He’s why the bells sing and how I get my hopes up!
Hold hope. Keep faith. Walk your walk.
~ Sincerely, Sondra
