It was pointed out to me by someone that adding pictures of cute animals (puppies, kittens, koalas) is a surefire way to increase traffic to your website.  So we lead tonight with a photo of a young foal we saw next to the path today as as we descended from Roncesvalles further into Spain.  So after saying Awww, please feel free to share this post.

Today we crossed more than a few fields and pastures with sheep, cattle, horses and pigs.  And we also heard a lot of cowbells as livestock moved across those fields.  In fact, the mother of the foal pictured above was wearing a cowbell.  This situation led me to ask myself a number of questions as we left the foal and resumed walking.  Why was the mare wearing a cowbell?  Why does a cow really wear a cowbell anyway?  If a horse wears a cowbell is it still called a cowbell?  These are the kind of deep, existential questions that you ruminate on as you walk 7 hours in the rain and mud.    (Ironically, the 2nd definition for “ruminate” is “to chew the cud” i.e. “The cow nonchalantly ruminated nearby”).  The answers:  Horses wear cowbells for the same reason as cows…for herdsman to keep track of them.  They are still called cowbells.  Calling them horsebells would just be stupid (Don’t check Wikipedia…Sarah provided me with this answer).

But of course…this was not the end of the cowbell discussion.  As everyone knows, the word cowbell cannot be said without someone asking for “more cowbell!”.  (If you don’t get this reference…check out “Christopher Walken/ Will Farrell / Cowbell SNL skit on YouTube).  Sarah and I then spent at least one hour discussing the “Top 5 Songs…with Cowbell”.  Or at least I spent 1 hour talking about it.  I think Sarah was listening to a podcast.  So here is my list…and you may be surprised by the order.

Dave’s “Top 5 Songs…with Cowbell”

#5  Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re an American Band”.  Great song, great band from the great state of Michigan.

#4 Rolling Stones – “Honky Tonk Woman”.  Saw Mick and the group perform this live at Tokyo Dome.  They really “explored the space” that night with cowbell.

#3 Blue Oyster Cult – “Fear the Reaper”.  You probably thought I would go with this as #1…but afraid the SNL skit caused an over-hyping of this very good (but not greatest) cowbell song.  I’m sorry.  I am a purist when it comes to cowbell.

#2 Beatles – “A Hard Day’s Night”.  My earliest experience with cowbell.  Listen for it.

And #1…the very best…and coolest usage of cowbell ever…the greatest cowbell song of all time..

Barry White – “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”.  I dare you to listen to this song and not come away thinking of cowbell in a totally different way.  Everyone believed Barry’s voice was the key to creating romance.  But the important subliminal enabler was…cowbell.  Listen for it about 35-40 seconds in (link at end of post).

Oh…yes…we had a great day today.   Rained in the morning…lots of mud…quaint Basque villages…really impressive medieval churches…some sun in the afternoon.  WIll try to be more “on point” with tomorrow’s update.  In the meantime…click on this link…and let Barry take you away.