Today looks very much like all of the other days here along the Capistrano Beach. It's warm, there is a nice cool breeze. The wide walkway allows for RV parking along the shore where people take over selected sites which include a firepit and typically one or more wooden picnic tables. For most people it is an elaborate undertaking. Many times there is a special occasion being celebrated, wedding anniversarys, birthdays and more are usually marked by balloons and other decorations mostly hand made. Music is a standard feature and it changes from one group to the next. That's not surprising given the diversity of those here week after week.
While the music I hear while walking past each gathering tells me in advance, something about the group , it's the food which clearly tells me about the people I'm about to walk by . The smells are always inviting with an occasional mystery smell but for the most part it will tweak your interest in food.
When that happens and I'm close to a scheduled short break I will find an empty picknick bench away from everyone and rest, drink a little water take in the smells and calculate my days progress.
Today's break is different. I do choose a bench, it's well away from a large gathering of people who have pushed together a number of picnic tables which they have already decorated mostly in The American Flag. There is music and conversation going on while the food is being put out.
I am siting about 50 feet away across the paved area when I look up and there is an older guy walking toward me. My back pack is on the bench and I'm drinking water when he asks while walking toward me "are you hungry?" ..... Before I can respond he asks ....."would you like something to eat?" Finally I respond with a smile .....thank you but no thank you, your offer is very generous. So there you have it. My first interaction with a person who see's me as a homeless person! I always had that feeling walking along the beach, dressed in drab,worn,washed out clothes, carry poles and a bulky backpack that's also showing some wear, that people were looking at me with that look trying to guess if I am homeless. So it is official ....I'm the homeless guy. Next time I get asked if I'm hungry I might just say "yes, do you have any Caviar and a 94 Pinot Noir? Just kidding.
It was a nice gesture. Speaking of nice gestures I have a close friend,Gene, who helped me on my first Camino with is an act of kindness idea which I will be doing again. So I'll share it here. Gene has given me several hundred dollars and asked that I once again try to give a small portion of the money to many of the homeless I will encounter along the way. I will do it again it's a great idea and I get all of the "feel good". I will write about those encounters along the Camino. Thank you Gene!
One final surprise during today's training walk. I was making my way back with about 3 miles to go when a young woman on a bike dressed in the typical racing outfit stopped next me and shouted out "did you walk The Camino?" I immediately said "yes I walked The Camino two yeas ago". I asked how she knew and she said she recognized the scallop shell on the back of my backpack. She said a few nice things and wished me good luck. That was a first time anyone identified the Camino symbol during any of my training sessions. I will in a future post tell you about the scallop shell and it's connection to The Camino.
That's it for today. I fly to Spain in 56 days! Buen Camino!
