Fortitude

CAMINO STAGE 9- Castro Urdiales to Laredo Camino Del Norte Route – El Camino De Santiago – 23 miles, 29 days remaining

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“Patience and fortitude conquer all things.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have noticed on almost every coastal cliff we tackle, there stands a solitary tree. I don’t know if the lone trees are by accident or design but they withstand the winds and storms and thrive anyway.

I was having a bit of a “Grumpelstiltskin” (grumpy) morning (due to noisy hotels with vacationers who cheer and cackle until 2 am), and the lone tree reminded me to have fortitude and press on, even if stubbornness was the only energy to keep me walking. Within a few minutes the bird calls combined with the sounds of the surf and green as far as the eye could see, set me right again.

“I know of no higher fortitude than stubborness in the face of overwhelming odds.” Louis Nizee

“The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost fortitude, and perseverance.” Samuel Adams

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“I try to view the challenges in my life not as annoyances, but as confirmations of fortitude.” Oprah Winfrey

“The longer I live the more I think of the quality of fortitude… men who fall, pick themselves up and stumble on.” Theodore Roosevelt

We broke up the 23 miles into Laredo into three segments. We stopped at a roadside snack bar for Aquarius, a lemony sports drink, and bumped into our new acquaintance Donna from England again. She frequently gets lost she has to walk much further and her cheerfulness is contagious. Further on we paused and ate clementines and some melted gummie bears for fuel. A little sugar does wonders rejuvenating tired limbs.

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The first 18 miles of huffing and puffing alongside the freeway, then gingerly dodging poop on billygoat trails, followed up by vertically climbing dusty, oily logging roads went relatively fast. Our only company was kids on motorcycles and 4 Wheelers kicking up gravel and dust. At one point our water was low again, and we were grateful for the cloudy rusty red water out of the roadside faucet. The 4 pm mark, after 6-7 hours of walking, is usually the run out of battery” point, but eagles suddenly appeared and glided above us and it motivated us to keep moving. And the piece de resistance was a stunning ocean view opening up the last five miles to Laredo. Another day done and I grateful for the example of the solitary tree, and it’s example of strength, stubbornness, perseverance that helps us continue. Emerson is right, patience and fortitude do conquer all things.

“success is determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” Michelle Obama