Sunday, May 19, 2013

Things Not Going as Planned, We´ll See

So we had a great flight, although Kepa did really fight going to sleep on the second plane (and was embarrasingly loud).  I mean, compared to a lot of babies on a plane he did well, but not quite our typical well behaved, take me anywhere traveler.  We had a great day walking around Madrid
The ¨Museum of Ham¨in Madrid. Not Kidding

Kepa and Mary Ann on the Metro
On Friday we took the train to the beautiful Basque village of St. Jean Pied du Port, where we got our compestellas (pìlgrim´s passports) and scallop shells (traditional signs of the pilgrims).  The plan was to spend the day Saturday resting up and preparing, then walking into Spain (and beginning our journey) on Sunday (our Anniversary) 



Kepa on the train

St. Jean Pied de Port


But things did not go as planned.  First, it rained all day. Second, it snowed in the mountains. Third it was miserable even just being in town like a tourist, let alone imagining a walk. Fourth, we were already getting depressed because Kepa chose this minute, the beginning of this trip, to become a mama´s boy.  He has never shown any preference, always happy to be passed around (even to strangers to him), always happy. But when we got to Virginia he was scared of Mary Ann.  We didnt think much of it, but since we´ve gotten to Europe it has gotten more extreme.  Hes totally happy in the pack or crawling on the ground, and is excited and happy to interact with Mary Ann and Todd in such ways, but in every other scenario he´ll only let Brittany hold him.  Basically, Brittany has gotten mauled by him for four days and has become the primary care giver (when the whole plan was that with three of us, we could trade off).  Luckily he will ride in the pack on Mary Anns back, but the second we hit a hotel or a restaurant or a train....Mama, mama, mama.  So that, on top of the weather, on top of the looks of little old Basque ladies like ÿou brought a baby? made us really, really down and seriously, seriously considering abandoning the camino, salvaging what funds we could, and returning home.  Finding out that the weather is supposed to stay in place for at least a week did nothing to lift the spirits.  And before you start saying, didn´t you think of this before you go? I´d have to respond yes! yes we did!  We researched average weather for may (typically ranging from a tad chilly to warm, some rain but not a rainy season)....and we fully expected to have to sit some days out in the rain because of the baby.  But we didnt expect super cold, set in rain (for up to a week no less), and in St Jean, the town where it is the MOST difficult to bus ahead from (because of the mountains and the national border).  heck, this weather is so freakish it was the headline in the paper

Where is the Spring Time?
 So this time Saturday we were 90 percent thinking of bagging this, feeling stupid, feeling like horrible parents, and returning home.  And that is still in play.  But we are a bit more optimistic.  We are halfway through a long train day to get back around the mountains to Pamplona, where there is supposed to be sun and a bit more warmth. Such a move moves us three days ahead on the Camino and means we miss most of the areas that were the most ¨Basque¨on the trip, but it allows us to get ahead and into the sun.  We stopped in Hendaye for some Basque cakes to make us all happier as well

¨Gateau Basque.....cherry or cream?  Yes please!
We will lose one of those 3 days in transit, and another by taking tomorrow off to do laundry, rest, see how Kepa is reacting to all of the travel (trains can be tough on the little guy)....as well as to monitor the weather.  If things go bleak, then this might all go south.  On the other hand, Kepa has been happy today, especially when we have been walking with the pack, the skies are sunny, and we have hope.  Maybe this will prove to be not such a bad idea after all.  We also met some nice Scottish people who did this with their child a few years back, so we aren´t alone.  But the route through the Pyranees, with this non typical weather, would have been too much.  We wont do that to our little guy.  Hopèfully we get better luck as we move forward.  If not, we´ll hang our heads in shame and head home :)    But we remain optimistic.  Sunshine an basque cake does that

4 comments:

  1. Todd, if you don't get on Facebook and make that photo of Kepa on the train your profile picture, I may never forgive you. It's priceless!

    I'm sorry the weather is being so uncooperative. I was visiting in D.C. today with Greg Lippiatt and his family and told him about your pilrimage, and his sister, who has made the trek, said a friend told her it was snowing. Where is the Spring, indeed?

    I want more description of how that Basque cake tastes.

    But mainly HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cream was awesome but not as good as b's. cherries was not quite as good but was better than the time we tried to make cherry. I actually enjoyed the cherry more just because its a rarity, we make the cream several times a year

    No Facebook :)

    Mucho snow in the basque mountains. Glad we skipped it but sorry we missed it

    Had pinxtos and basque beer and txakoli at a basque bar on anniversary.... There are worse ways to spend it. Osasuna!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Been thinking about you guys all week and keeping my fingers crossed for nicer weather and a happier baby!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love "Kepa on Train" pic. So sorry things haven't gone as planned. I'm just now catching up.

    ReplyDelete