A cool, cloudy 40 km push from San Romano da Retorta to Ribadiso tested every ounce of resolve. The first five hours were a caffeine-free drudge; no open cafes, no chocolate croissants, just the relentless rhythm of the rocky trail. The Primitivo is tough; 15% of pilgrims step off the trail early and another 30% joining only after the Cantabrian Mountains, finishing the full trek from Oviedo is an endurance test.
After hours of silent pacing, the mind wanders into the “whys.” Why the bruises? Why does the pain sharpen with every mile? Why am I here? After ten days and 300 km of mountain trails, the toll is etched on every face. I watched a Dutch friend struggle downhill today, his knees buckling with every step. Yet, we lean on each other, anchored by Tolstoy’s wisdom: “If you feel pain, you’re alive. If you feel other people’s pain, you’re a human being.”
Everything shifts when a new face joins the group. That fresh energy is infectious; suddenly, the conversation moves from blisters to celebrating the already conquered. We often return to Viktor Frankl’s insight: everything can be taken from us except the ability to choose our attitude. On the Camino, that choice is the bridge between stopping and finishing.
The day was ultimately saved by the towering eucalyptus forests. Their clean, medicinal scent acted as a natural tonic for our spirits, clearing the mental fog. We have just one more day of walking before we reach Santiago de Compostela. We are ready to enter St. James Cathedral, hopefully still on our own two feet!
Buen Camino!
Camino Gratitude Primitivo 
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