Today’s Miles: 27
Total Miles: 4,183.1

Past Lodève, France – February 7, 2017

The day never felt right. Not when I missed the first half of sunrise as I packed my tent and saw the red streaks fading behind a wall of trees. Not when I walked a half mile off the route to find a bakery even though I came away with a raspberry tart. Not when the trail seemed intent to curve and bend five miles to travel one. Not when every water fountain in a town seemed broken. Not when the supermarket clerk asked to look in my backpack and I smirked thinking searching through a bag that has traveled 4,000 miles is punishment enough for thinking me a thief. Not when the nice lady stopped me a few minutes later to talk about the Camino and wish me luck. Not when I took the wrong trail out of town. Not when it got dark before I made it back to where I needed to be. Not when the car stopped to ask if I needed a ride to the next town and couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t take it. Not when the windmills wooshed through the air above me in the night and reminded me of colder times in Germany. Not when I laid down in a quiet bit of woods, snug in my tent and sleeping bag.

Just an off day, like an engine that tries to start but refuses to turn over. I wish I knew why, but it just was. I can only put away the key for a night, let the engine rest, and hope it sparks to life in the morning.