That’s him. Sort of. Image from Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (New Line Cinema: 2001). I found the image here (accessed 11/17/2021).
We came upon a character sitting on a folding chair between the trees.
He was a robust chap. He sported a beard that would have made Gandalf proud. He wore a t-shirt with a picture of himself in full peregrino garb on his chest. Beside his folding chair was a table. On the table were fruits, Camino paraphernalia, and a gourd for collecting donations. Nearby was an assortment of walking sticks.
The Art of the Stick
Bob and I had picked up a trail companion earlier in the morning that turned out to be a good thing. Evan (from San Francisco) had spent a year in Madrid and was fluent in Spanish. Our Gandolf didn't know English, which was the only language that Bob and I could muster.
Evan inquired about the sticks. These varied according to the length, grain, and (undoubtedly) power. Evan settled on a straight one about shoulder height. Gandalf rose from his chair and demonstrated proper walking form. He gripped the stick and poled about the clearing, concluding the circuit by brandishing the wood menacingly.
It was impressive; impressive enough to make a goblin shudder.
Who wouldn’t want to be a wizard?
With the two of them occupied, I meandered over and browsed the rack. One stick caught my eye. On its head was a lovely knot, capable of thwacking a thief, dog, or the occasional orc between the eyes. Below the handhold was a wrist-loop of leather that ran through a hole drilled in the shaft. On the bottom was a metal cap, sure to produce a tink—tink—tink sound when striking the ground. This stick was in the twelve euro set.
The wizard was in the forest by this reservoir in the Parque de la Grajera y la Barranca.
A Wizardly Bargain
Evan made his purchase. I decided to try my hand at some pilgrim bartering. Without a word, I handed Gandalf my old metal trekking poles and five euros.
His whiskers twitched. His teeth flashed. His nose wiggled.
I pointed to the knotted stick. “Deal?”
What followed was a string of “wizardly curses” that would have curled an elf’s ear. He muttered about perro loco (“crazy dog”) as he pocketed the cash and retreated to his chair, grumbling more choice phrases under his breath.
Evan immediately burst into a belly-laugh. I looked at him, confused. He translated the Wizard’s final assessment of my bargaining skills:
“He says, ‘You smoke marijuana.’”
I may not have the greybeard’s approval, but I have the stick.
¡Buen Camino!
Ready for the trail with my new walking stick (and my old giraffe gaiters). Me sentí como un peregrino!
With travel restrictions easing, we have a full slate of Bible Land trips ready to launch in 2022. Check out a complete list by clicking here or perusing under the heading “Find your Trip.” For more information on how to join one of these trips or if you are interested in helping to craft a unique trip for your own group, church, or school, contact me at markziese@gmail.com.