Sometimes checking something off your bucket list happens exactly the way you imagined it.

And sometimes it happens one mile into a 15-mile hike, in the rain, on the Camino de Santiago, while wearing clothes that are definitely not dance attire.

On Day 3 of the Camino, I got to check another item off my 50 by 50 bucket list: Dancing in the Rain!

We started the morning thinking we had an 11-mile day ahead of us. Turns out, it was actually closer to 15 miles because our albergue was several miles outside of town. Surprise! 😂

We had checked the weather that morning, and the forecast showed no rain, so we made the decision to put our ponchos in the bags that were being transported ahead of us. My backpack was already about 17 pounds, so every little bit of weight mattered!

About a mile into our walk, the rain started.

Of course it did.

We walked for a few miles before stopping for a pilgrim breakfast. Along the way, we collected our first stamp of the day from a police officer and another inside the albergue where we stopped to eat. Then it was back out onto the trail.

And, once again, the rain began.

That’s when I realized: This is it. This is my moment.

It was time to dance in the rain.

The only problem? I couldn’t figure out what song to dance to. For the life of me, nothing seemed quite right. So, in a pinch, I turned on Down by 311.

And somehow, it just worked.

So there I was, somewhere along the Camino de Santiago, dancing in the rain.

Did I look ridiculous?

Yes. Absolutely.

Did I care?

Not one bit.

Did I love every second of it?

Absolutely!

And really, it shouldn’t have surprised anyone. I love to dance.

Two days earlier, in Porto, we were listening to a street performer, and of course I had to dance there too. My kids can tell you that this has been a lifelong habit. When they were little, I’d dance while feeding them in their high chairs. Put on a good song in the grocery store and there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be dancing down the aisle.

I did Zumba for 10 years, and last year I even decided to get back into hip hop.

My forty-something knees had other ideas about that one. 😂

But dancing? That’s staying.

Maybe that’s what I love about a bucket list. It’s not always about doing something extraordinary. Sometimes it’s about giving yourself permission to be silly. To be spontaneous. To stop worrying about what you look like and just enjoy the moment.

And on that rainy day on the Camino, I did exactly that.

So there you have it, folks:

Bucket List #24 — Dancing in the Rain. ✔️

15 miles walked.

About 7 of those miles were in the rain—not consecutive, thankfully.

And at least one very happy pilgrim danced her way through it.

Would I do it again?

You bet.

Although next time, I’m checking the weather forecast twice. 😉