Atapuerca to Castrojeriz

The next few days, 59.9 kilometers (37.14 miles)

Theme Song: El Coco Rayado by Ruben Vela

Disclaimer

The topic (listening to music) of this post is debated among pilgrims. Some say that to walk with music is not a characteristic of a true pilgrim; one must observe the sounds of the Camino – the wind rustling in the treetops, the birds chirping, the rhythmic crunching of gravel beneath your feet, the conversations of other pilgrims, the sound of hailstones bouncing off your poncho, or the roar of traffic rushing by on the nearby highway. Still others, say, “yeah, it’s okay, whatever.” We all agree that listening to loud music blasting from a backpack-attached Bluetooth speaker is bad form.

Full Disclosure

I’ve walked about 4,000 miles on the Camino and I’ll say my experiences on the way to Santiago de Compostela, Finisterre, Muxía, Fátima, and other points are among the greatest experiences of my life. However, not every moment is filled with existential bliss, not every scene is exhilarating, not all people are like Frances of Assisi. At times the walk is a real slog…

And at times, I can be a real grouch along the way.

A blessing, still…

When I’m over here walking, I try to never take for granted what a blessing it is to be here. But dang, it’s sometimes hard walking long distances day after day after day, sometimes I fall into the abyss. I have two rules when I’m in this kind of mood – 1) Don’t be mean or rude or disrespectful to any other living creatures, and 2) Get out of this mood as quickly as possible.

The Playlist

My surefire method of mood improvement is to listen to a carefully curated playlist (through headphones, not a backpack mounted speaker). Some of the songs are upbeat, some are thought provoking, some are inspirational, and two of them are among the greatest songs ever recorded. All of the songs are attached to good memories compiled over a lifetime. Here’s the Playlist:

Beautiful Day by U2, Beautiful Girls by Van Halen, Best Laid Plans by Tyler Stenson, Cough Syrup by Young the Giant, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, El Coco Rayado by Ruben Vela, El Rompeolas by Loquillo, Feel Good, Inc. by Gorillaz, Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin, Hell N Back by Bakar, The Middle by Jimmy Eat World, Mr. Jones by Counting Crows, Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda by Manuel Torizo, Si Me Dices Que Sí by Reik, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits, Superposition by Young the Giant, Tacones Rojos by Sebastián Yatra, Thank U by Alanis Morissette, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show, Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits, Here I Go Again by Whitesnake, Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down.

Usually by the fifth song (Dreams by Fleetwood Mac), I can sense a change in my mood. By the twentieth song (Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show), I’m strolling along like the happiest man on the planet!

Feel free to use this list, or even better, create your own!

Taming the savage beast…

The original quote (from a 17th century play) was “music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” To sooth the savage breast meant to calm human emotions. The quote eventually evolved into savage beasts. Either one works for me.

And from a religious perspective, there’s a story in the Bible (1 Samuel 16:14-23) that tells of a king that had a tormenting spirit that caused depression and fear. The surefire remedy – listening to music. The shepherd boy (future warrior-poet-king), “David would play the harp, then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.”

So, if a pilgrim tries to lecture you about how listening to music is improper for a pilgrimage, plug in your headphones and listen to Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits or Dreams by Fleetwood Mac until you can no longer hear them.

Music is good for the soul. Go ahead and listen while you’re walking along (just not on a backpack mounted speaker).