IMG_1753.JPG

Hi.

I’m Glenn. I go places and do stuff.

Four Seasons Of The Meseta (Day 15)

Four Seasons Of The Meseta (Day 15)

Today’s hike through the Meseta was maybe the most diverse weather I’ve ever dealt with on any outing. It started perfect. It was overcast with a slight breeze. Perfect weather for hiking through the plains. Outside of town was the ascent to the highest point in the Meseta. The view was beautiful. The hill was bullshit.

Lovely overcast skies

Lovely overcast skies

If you look closely in the middle of the picture you can see the trail up

If you look closely in the middle of the picture you can see the trail up

I’ve only been in the Meseta a couple of days but I’d quickly gotten used to gradual hills instead of switchback style steep ascents. I dug in and made it up leaning heavily on my walking sticks (they have antishock technology if I hadn’t mentioned it before so I’m sure that helped) and taking steady small steps. Once to the top there was a tremendous view of the plains.

View #1

View #1

View #2

View #2

Once I got over the peak it was an exceptionally nice descent hike. A Fall type feeling was in the air (brisk but not cold, breezy but not windy). Then came the first creepy part of the camino (with the exception of how my little toe looks now that Michael Buble was changed color and grown a little more prominent) - as I was walking alone (not too many people were out first thing this day) I heard some whispering. Now let me say, I haven’t put in any kind of headphone this entire trip. I don’t have anything against it but I would estimate 98% of people that I’ve seen on this trip don’t have headphones in. It’s kind of refreshing actually and I’ve enjoyed just listening to the sound of my boots crunching on the trail and the natural sounds around me. I’ve become used to the sounds of the birds, wind, etc so hearing whispering very close to me was unsettling. I stopped and looked around. There was NO ONE. I could see a good distance and there wasn’t another walker, house, car or anything within sight. I waited and heard it again but this time it was numerous whispers. Then the whispers were many and sounded like children whispering. Dozens of children whispering simultaneously As I was preparing to run away (and I could’ve hauled ass at that moment, I promise you I would’ve given Usain Bolt a run for his money even with my backpack on) I realized that the whispering was being carried on the breeze. It took a moment but I eventually worked out that the “whispering” was the sound of the dead sunflowers moving in the breeze. It was seriously fucking unnerving.

Scary little bastards

Scary little bastards

So I hung around for a minute and listened to it happen numerous times. Another walker came along and stopped as well, I think to take a picture. The breeze picked up, the flowers whispered and her eyes went HUGE. She looked at me with her mouth open and then we laughed our asses off. I believe she was Russian so we didn’t have a shared language but she gave me the universal “creepy” gesture where you kind of shake and shiver. Once again I was amazed at how much people can share and communicate about an experience without needing a common spoken language.

We moved on and eventually the sun started to peek out and the weather warmed a little. Holy crap, it was even more gorgeous.

Blue skies breaking through

Blue skies breaking through

The Spring like weather lasted approximately 35 minutes before the sun fully emerged and it became Summer type weather. It got flipping hot quick. The heat was to be expected. What I didn’t expect was the bugs. Little, tiny, annoying bugs that fly in your mouth (nasty but we pilgrims take our protein where we can get it) and also up your nose (never acceptable regardless of protein gains). Thank God I had (some of you have already guessed it) - the most versatile piece of clothing in existence. The Buff. Today I was sporting the New Zealand All Blacks rugby buff that my friend Steve brought me from NZ. Bandito style was appropriate and the buff was deployed.

I didn’t choose the bug life……….

I didn’t choose the bug life……….

I, unlike many buff-less pilgrims, managed to avoid bug boogers and continued on. Then the winds came and brought with them rain clouds. The temperature seemed to drop 15 degrees and it felt like Winter.

Oh shit

Oh shit

The wind was impressive and when the rains started they came sideways. The last 3K were very wet and everyone was quiet and determined to just get to town as quick as possible. We entered town in time to witness two lightning strikes and learn that the internet was down. Everywhere.

That’s where we were headed

That’s where we were headed

I’m here now with a nice, hot cafe con leche and getting ready for tomorrow. Also, Spain won the World Basketball Championships (the place I’m staying went absolutely apeshit when the game ended. They sure do sing a lot during sporting events. Event when they are on TV) and in bigger international news, I met a cat. His name is Sergio. See below:

All hail Sergio

All hail Sergio

The Meseta Is Flat (Day 16)

The Meseta Is Flat (Day 16)

Alone In The Meseta (Day 14)

Alone In The Meseta (Day 14)