More Walking in Darkness

   When I left this morning the stars were shinging once again - what a difference!  Instead of feeling claustrophobia from the blackness it felt as if the stars were the doorways to the universe.  So as I walked this morning I thought about my other senses, how I use them while walking in the dark.
  There are smells.  So many lovely smells from the plants and trees growing on the side of the path.  Garden smells, herb smells...  But because there is so much farming in the area there is also the lovely smell of manure - a sign that I am approaching one of the small dairy farms along the way, the stable in the middle of a village, or the corn field that has apparently now been fertilized in preparation for next year´s planting.
    This morning I noticed how the temperature of the air continued to change from time to time, the way many lakes in New England have cold spots and warm spots. When I first left the air was chilly, but I took one turn and it was as though heat had been stored in this place throughout the night and it was now emitted from the brush along the road. A little farther and it was colder once again.
    And I hear the breeze.  One sound if there are trees nearby - the rustle tells me about the trees.  Or if it picks up more like a wind there´s the soft roar in my ears.  Every so often I will also hear water and know that there is a little mountain stream or possibly a fountain nearby. Sometimes I also hear other pilgrims.  This is a nice sound as it confirms for me that I haven´t missed a turn - others are on the path also.  In fact, the other morning I walked by two pilgrims having breakfast outside of a bar.  Just beyond them I heard a whistle.  I went back and they told me that the bartender had pointed them in the other direction to catch the Camino.  I went back to the turn and with more searching with my flashlight I found the yellow arrow.  I was thankful for there help.
   Other sounds include roosters crowing, cows mooing, dogs barking (many dogs barking), sometimes a lone cat´s meow.   A couple of times I´ve heard owls.  Bianca who I met a few nights ago said she heard the howling of a wolf one morning - I haven´t heard that yet, and that´s okay!
   I will miss the sounds, smells, sensations of walking in the dark on the Camino.  The time leading up to sunset approaches a certain reverence and the sunrise itself is the beginning of worship.  May the sun rise on a good day for you.  Bueno Camino!