Day 23. Marciac to Maubourguet (17.6 kms)

23 April, 2011

O for a muse of fire that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention.

(Today is Shakespeare's birthday.)

What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven?

We are all crawling between earth and heaven on the Camino. Some are closer to heaven. I am more down to earth.

The German couple has left us to go to Lourdes. They are probably closer to heaven.

We are now six: Patrick, who has taken on the role of booking the accommodation each night, for which we are most grateful; Elisabeth and Marte, the Norwegian ladies whom I mentioned earlier; Anna Maria, the Icelander; Miek, the Dutch lady; and I. A most excellent company of pilgrims!

We walk with another couple as well, Jean-Francois and Genevieve, who often arrive first at the bar at the end of the day, and make sure that our beers are on the table.

We are all closer to earth than heaven, walking the Camino for our own personal reasons.

We had a spot of rain last night, and this morning the sky was overcast with the sun struggling to appear.

We walked separately, but met up for lunch at a hamlet with a church too big for the little village, and a tower and steeple too big for the church. A few drops of rain drove us to seek shelter.

If rained gently for the rest of the afternoon as we walked into town.

Last night the couscous was excellent. Tonight we are all in a dormitory on demi pension.