Sunday, July 13, 2008

Scotland

Instead of being with the Camino walkers, I am now surrounded by the 'hill walkers' in Scotland. We stay in Youth Hostels, and on occasion , a bed and breakfast, instead of albergues, and pay three to four times what was paid in Spain, and the same goes for food. In Spain, you could live on $20.00 per day. Here, you are lucky if you can get by with $50.00-$75.00 per day. Lately I've been riding the bus and walking to the Youth Hostels in various towns, with a little walking about the towns. I've gone from 20KM a day to 2KM. My knee has improved a little, but not a whole lot.

My dorm mates pour over their maps, plan their walking day, jump in their car or on a bike, and, walk up a 'worn down' mountain for two to three hours, then back to the youth hostel. The walkers have large boxes of food that they carry in their cars, and can make quite good meals after their walk. When walking the Camino, this was not possible. The hill walkers seem to fit somewhere in between the Camino walkers, and the regular tourists. There is no 5:30 rising, or daily handwashing of laundry, but for me with only one change of clothes, I continue with the old routine. We are lucky to be in bed by midnight.

After Spain, I flew to Edinburgh, took a bus to Aberdeen, Wick, and the Orkneys.
This is a totally different experience from the Camino. My friend Jo, whom I walked with for a few days, has reached Santiago.
I will be in Scotland for another week or so, then hope to travel to Northern England. I haven't any definite plans.

4 comments:

Cecelia said...

Hi Ruth,
I'm happy to see your post camino notes. This must be one of the first times in your life that you haven't had any plans. Freedom. Are we ever really ready for it after a lifetime of busy-ness, trying to make ends meet, feeling it our responsibility to make sure our loved ones are happy and all that?
I hope you are enjoying it all in spite of the lingering knee pain. Remember - if you were at home and walked for two kilometers every day you'd be quite pleased with yourself feeling that you were significantly contributing to your health. Perspective is a funny thing isn't it.
Be well - have some fun, do something you wouldn't ordinarily do and take some time to just enjoy if you can. Traveling, with the constant change, can be so stressful. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know - but just reminding you I guess.
Take good care.
Cecelia

Unknown said...

hi ruth
i was at the Abbey last week for a retreat and Bronwen was there so i heard about your trip and she directed me to this blog place.
a couple of weeks ago i left the big group i've been in for the last 15 years and joined a smaller one. still doing hospital work at the same place but it was good to make the change.
Bronwen told me about one of your past Halloween costumes as a Goth. do you have any photos of that?
take care of yourself and say hi to Reverend Hugh when you reach Throssel
in gassho
beth gong

Mugo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mugo said...

For the record, Well done Ruth. And have a great stay at Throssel too.