🎵 Song of the Day: “The Sound of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel
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Photo of the Day
(Insert your chosen image here)
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Sunflower Planting of the Day
No sunflower planted today. No moment called for it. Today was about getting through.
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The Walk
On the Appalachian Trail, Day 3 is when about 30% of would‑be thru‑hikers quit. It’s often the toughest—your body’s sore, your spirit’s tested, and the excitement wears off. If you can make it through Day 3, you’re well on your way.
And today? It was hard.
I left at 6 am to beat the heat. The first 15 km was all road walking—uninspiring and unrelenting. Then I crossed a railway line and followed a gravel path that ran alongside the tracks all the way into the next town—Bayambo, I think it’s called, though I’ll need to check the spelling.
And just like that, I’m no longer walking alone. Hashias is with me. Andreas is close behind. And three Italian girls have joined the Camino today—haven’t met them yet, but I know they’re nearby. Maybe they’ve caught up because I’m walking slowly, or maybe this is where paths begin to converge. Either way, it’s good to feel part of something again.
Feet are holding up—just a bit burny this morning. Shoulders are sore, probably because I didn’t rest at all today. There simply wasn’t anywhere to stop. Just a 20 km walk with nowhere to pause. So I didn’t.
Tonight it’s first‑come, first‑served at the Albergue. Bags are already there. Hopefully a bed too. Then a shower. Maybe a cold beer. That’ll do.
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Camino Curiosities
One of the most interesting parts of walking the Camino is learning how to communicate in Portuguese. Ordering something simple—like coffee, a sandwich, a little supper, or a beer—becomes a lucky draw.
Today, I somehow managed to order two cups of coffee: one big, one small. I’m fairly certain I didn’t ask for the small one—but there it was, anyway.
You never quite know what you’re going to get, and I love that. Strange and wonderful things arrive. It’s part of the charm.
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Reflection
Sometimes life is just this: put your head down and walk.
There’s no great view, no meaningful conversation, no epiphany. Just you, the road, and the quiet voice inside saying, I’m tired. I don’t want to do this anymore.
That’s when it would be easy to stop. To give in to the ache, the heat, the boredom, the silence. But that’s when character has to show up.
Character says: Keep walking.
Discipline steps in. Perseverance takes over when inspiration fails.
Today wasn’t magical. It was hard. But I didn’t stop. And that matters. Because on the other side of discipline is progress. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of peace.
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