Fourth day walking finds me in Tata after about 12 miles and an 800 ft climb—a good day that hit the low 70s. Sandwiches made at this morning’s lodging carried me through the trek—no coffee along the way, that I always appreciate. The road meandered through beautiful forests along the way until it opened up to fields and occasional horses. A few blooming rapeseed fields peaked at me through the trees.
With about an hour to go, I treasured a needed break under the shade of a beautiful tree. During the afternoon at my hotel, I reworked my route and based on a fellow SOCAL pilgrim’s advice (Mary McKinley), I decided to stay two nights at Pannonhalma, the birthplace of St Martin of Tours—a prized pilgrim destination point here in Hungary. I resonated with St Martin because the French city of Tours was celebrating his 1700th anniversary with a spectacular sound and light show against the cathedral—it had mesmerized me. BTW, I will gain an extra day tomorrow to allow an extra day in Pannonhalma!
And incidentally, our military word: chaplain, connects with St Martin who gave a beggar half of his cloak, capella (capellini). Chaplaincy is defined by the same compassionate impulse as the incident of Martin with the beggar!