I have fallen in love with autumn again!

A lot has changed since I last wrote from the rain of Santander. We finished our portion of the coastal route and joined the Primitivo. This meant the terrain changed from the sweeping coastal views to more rolling countryside. Something in both of us shifted from “when will this end” to “we don’t want this to end”. I’m not sure exactly how or when it happened but part of it is I’m reminded of how much I love fall!

The weather has started to change. We start walking in the dark most mornings now and the mornings are cooler and foggier. Everyday we are out from 6-8 hours, walking or resting and we get to notice things we are often moving too fast to notice: Spider webs in the morning, slugs, snails and lizards, fog lifting and the sounds of the birds and wind moving through the trees. What I have loved the most are the farms. The fields filled with harvest. We have seen trees filled with figs, apples, pears, and chestnuts, and full grapevines. The farmers out hand picking potatoes or gathering kale. Others moving the cows from one field to another. We even saw sheepdogs herding sheep to another pasture. Beans and corn are being dried for storage. The smells of mint and eucalyptus along the road. We have even gotten used to the smell of silage.

We’re reminded of the importance of slowing down and taking notice of life all around us. Even the act of sitting down to have a cup of coffee rather than taking it to go. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to incorporate that one at home but I can try.

Enjoy the changing of seasons at home for us! We love you and miss you.