I set off at 9:30AM, not exactly the crack of dawn you say? The sun does not rise until 9:00 so this was an early start by late October standards. I had stayed last night in a lovely Casa rural known as Case De Bola. My host was a young man who had been so kind to me by the end of my journey that I had pledged my daughter to him in marriage! He dropped me off at my starting point for today’s trek with an offer to come and get me if I ever needed help anywhere on the trail – this kindness was to begin my day of trusting God and learning to let fear slip from my hands.

I began walking behind a group of Lithuanian Christians who were carrying a full size crucifix. Each time they came to a church or cross they would kneel and pray, something I envied as I have been unable to bend my knee all day.
(The knee issue proved to be quite an unexpected problem when I needed to squat in the forest to pee later in the day!)
As I passed this group of earnest pilgrims they pressed a small card into my hand. The card provided an explanation of their patron saint and ended with the words, “Trust in Jesus”. There it was – my first reminder to trust.

At one point I came to a T junction, on my right was a sign which indicated turn left. But 20 feet to the left on the opposite side of the road was a sign which indicated turn right. So I started trying to figure this out – which way to go, when a Frenchman came up behind me and said,” I have done this route before – go left.”
I went left and then it was revealed- a tiny road hidden by a hedge onto which we turned right and walked down through a village of stone houses and gardens.
Trust the signs Jaki, in this case literally, and take the next step because you never know what may be around the corner!

A few hours later I came upon a young woman walking the opposite way. She was returning to Santiago, a path I will take in a week. I have been worried about the return journey because the path is not marked in the opposite direction and I have heard that the way is very confusing.
I asked this young woman how she had found it. She said it was difficult but help always came and “you just need to trust”. She said these words three times. There it was again, my reminder to trust.

About half way I came to four way junction and looked about for the Camino stone marker to show me my way. There was no marker. I took out my directions, read them and set off in the wrong direction. I became doubtful about my decision and returned to the four way junction where a kind gentleman from Munich smiled and pointed to the ground. There on the pavement was a faded yellow arrow pointing the way. It seems the markers are often just painted on the ground. I did not know this before but now I do. Help can come when you need…trust.

As I walked on I got very tired, I guess day two has a cumulative effective on the muscles. I began to worry that I could not make my goal for today. Then I noticed small white signs posted on trees every few kilometers. These signs advertised a taxi service that would come and get you, right there on the Camino! How wonderful, if you are too tired to continue, they will come and rescue you…trust! OK I get it!

P.S. I did not get a taxi and I did manage to hobble to my next hotel.