Follow that Sign!

On El Camino, following signs pointing to the Way can be a challenge.  They can be found on posts, on barns, on the ground and on the roof of some structures.  They can be yellow, blue shells or yellow arrows . They can be piles of stones.
Leaving cities or a number of villages early enough you can follow other pilgrims or listen to locals yelling the Way or stand long enough on a bridge or highway or road and drivers will  slow down enough to shout and point you in the right direction. Or follow a map.
You can stop at every possible transition place with more than one choice and wait for others to figure it out or go ahead and take your best guess chancing the necessity of doubling back.  Taking extra steps on the Camino is not favored buy the sore of toes peregrinos.

Starting out with my husband we easily spotted the signs and the other pilgrims.  But when he and I went at a different pace we went a different Way as well.
Jim stopped and I kept going moving though a small town with many pilgrims and coffee shops.  When I finally slowed down I turned around and no Jim could I see.
I waited and waited and walked some more and waited again.
I met a couple from Holland , Hans and Pauline who heard of my unplanned solo walk.  They were concerned and could not understand why Jim and I had no phones and especially why I was not worried.  I was only an hour into walking alone and believed that the concept of "worry" was just not allowed on the Camino.
  I kept walking and Hans and Pauline kept meeting up with me. Each time, I worked to put them at rest and at ease. I was OK and Jim was OK and it would work out.
Six hours later, I walked into a small village and in front of me was Jim sitting with Pauline and Hans.  Jim had missed a Camino sign, got off the road and ended up walking for hours on the highway.  He managed to get in front of me while finding his Way back.
  When he got to this small village my friends from Holland were getting settled in the town and talked to Jim about getting a stamp for their Pilgrim Credentials.  Jim said, "well first I have to find my wife" and Hans said, "you mean Rosemary from Minnesota?".  "Wait right here and she 'll  walk into town in ten minutes"  And I did!
We left our new friends with hugs and tears from Pauline and walked the last 6 km of the day together. Pauline was amazed and touched that it all worked out without phones and fears and hysterics.
But, that was our Camino.

Trusting in each other and the Universe and the Camino .  We knew we would have everything we needed on this journey. It may not all look pretty and smell sweet but would be perfect.