Day 23 – Rest Days Are the Best Days

Ate with Allie and her mom, Francie, last night.

 We love their strong mother-daughter connection!

Here we go again! It's a rest day and

breakfast time. #Mike'saddiction

Iglesia San Tirso, 12th Century – first structure

built of mud and bricks instead of stone.

Close-up of the tower.

Another old church, Iglesia de San Lorenzo.

Inside San Lorenzo, a casket in the choir seats!

Coming out of the main gate in Sahagun.

San Benito Arch, pretty impressive.

We are getting this selfie thing down.

 A little courtyard gate, leading to a hidden door.

Probably where the Pope comes and goes! ;)

Sanctuary de La Virgen Peregrina. Cool place.

You enter, and it has sculptures down main hall.

Mike especially loved the artist.

This man has a skull on the back of his head,

as if he were evolving into the man in front.

Front view of the skull-sprouting subject.

Lifting the falling pole.

(Using your power to fix what's broken?)

Dome over the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

The Madonna is dressed as a pilgrim.

Close-up of Mary in pilgrim mode.

Room with Muslim artwork on the walls.

Another example of that art. Interesting stuff.

Break time. 

Dave downs a famous waffle cookie from Sahagun.

(Mike abstained to keep his shape.) ha

Bullfight in town next week. Barriers are ready!

Behind us is the bull rink,

and that ain't no bull.

The two pilgrims just got a certificate for 

making it halfway. (We are more than halfway.)

Mike really enjoyed the Sanctuary de  

La Virgen Peregrina. It was beautiful.

Fountain on the street runs all day long.

Guess they have more water than California.

A typical plaza at night, kids playing. 

Great ambience!

Terrific rest day in Sahagun.

11.8 miles to El Burgo Raneero!

A story from Mike:

          I want to talk about Dave; please indulge me. When I thought about people that I could travel with through Spain for 500 miles, 40+ days on a pilgrim's budget, I came up with nobody. Not a soul. Then one night at the beach house in San Diego, we had our good friends, the Andersons, down for a long weekend. What about Dave?, I thought. He is retired, adventurous, hiked the John Muir trail with Ryan, etc. I decided to ask him and then we watched the movie "The Way," with Martin Sheen. Dave later said he would love to make the trip with me. I felt tremendously humbled that he would want to commit to something like that with me. And I had no real idea what Dave would be like for such a trip.

          Well, I am writing this now, halfway through our 500 miles, after hiking with Dave for 24 of the 48 days on the Camino (not counting the three days prior in Biarritz, France and the three days coming at the end). Dave is absolutely fantastic to be with, morning, afternoon and evening. What I write is only words, but please fill them with the true, deep meaning I intend. He is patient and kind in every way. He is always thinking of others. He goes out of his way to make you feel important. He actually cares about you. He expects to share everything with you. (He may buy an apple or orange, and he will slice it up and expect you to take half.) He never speaks an unkind word about anybody, even though they may be a complete jerk. He never complains about anything, like when he got blisters, never a squawk. He carries 5 extra pounds of rocks for sacrifice on the pile of Cruz de Ferro. More important, he loves his family, especially Sue, Matt, Karin, Ryan and Todd, for whom he cares deeply, and each of his precious grandkids. And many more...

          I could not imagine a more even-keeled, kind and Christ-like person to be with for two months on this strenuous experience than Dave Anderson. Thank you Dave and Sue, so much.

As you can see by his words, 

Mike is seeing his own qualities in Dave.

Birds of a feather, I'd say.

(Sue)

One more story from Mike:

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God (Mos. 2:41).

          This is an incredible, divine principle. I see it acted out all the time with friends and family. We are dedicating this Camino walk to raising awareness of mental illness and suicide prevention. Our families have been deeply touched by both of these challenges and have come to realize the value of service in the lives of those who so often feel isolated in their suffering. My sister has struggled for many years with both anxiety and depression. I don't know the challenges she individually faces, but I do know that she gets considerable relief and comfort by serving others. When Ann is able to work at the LAC suicide prevention center, the opportunity to help people who are experiencing great challenges themselves changes her own journey. In her compassion and love for them, she feels more whole. In her empathy for their circumstances, she feels less alone. Both of these strengthen her spirit and offer her greater reserves to fight her personal battle. Of course, these are just my thoughts and observations. The really important ones come from Ann herself. We showed you a general video called "Stigma" earlier. This video is strictly about Annie, and we love her dearly.

Click below to support suicide prevention

and mental health, the causes Mike and Dave 

are championing with their walk.