Category: 2018 Camino

Its another early day but I have worked out how to get from San Martin hotel just outside the cathedral , round the tourist office and onto the trail. Have I not learned the lesson yet?…I follow the redline on my magic app and suddenly I’m in the middle of a field. I’m lost after 5 minutes!! There seems to be no-one around. I don’t panic though…its just…

”OH dear, I’ve done it again”

I look around under the beautiful starlit sky and there up on the highway I can see a bobbing twinkiling light. Its a head torch from an early pilgrim…Yeah!! I double back…with speed so as not to lose him and tuck in behind…gasping for breath!!! Its only 6.55…but I’m off and I know that before sunrise the sky will lighten and throw a silver grey light onto everything….in 20 minutes or so….I’ll be fine.

This was a long stretch…but as the sun had risen and the Kilometers ticked under my boots I caught site of a man who had strayed off the field onto grain stubble because he had seen a wild sunflower all by itself in full bloom. He bent down to photograph it…so I took a picture of him taking a picture of the sunflower. Is it wrong of me…but a Chinese man was in his pace clacking along with his sticks just as I was about to click. As he approached me trying to take the picture, he called out,

“OH Solly solly”

But he wasn’t at all….why say it? Nothing was going to make him stop and pause whilst I clicked. He was on his mission…nothing would stop him? Bizarre?  I reckoned I needed holy forgiveness because I kept thinking that he wasn’t sorry at all.

Some time later, the only shade was a picnic area which I didn’t stop at  because out of the morning air, for the second time I heard gunshots!!

Yes, gunshots. I kept walking and looking to see why? An army range? Rabbit shooting?  As I’m thinking on this, I see a little red Renault car pull into a siding and out gets a man and two dogs and the man is cradling a rifle across his arms!!!  I mean, he is 200 yards from me…where is Health and Safety when you need them. What if a bullit ricochets…? ?

Walking walking, I reach a canal. Quite refreshing really except it looks very green and sort of…no life in it…but I don’t care. I’m walking the red line from my app so I am on course.

Province of Polencia??? Where is Riocha when you need it???

I stop to eat at the only place as the man on the Camino with a donkey passes by nodding sagely and smiling to everyone.   Why is he sage? Is he carrying Mary? I have met a wise man but that is all.

No sooner than I breathed that but I came to a pathway crossroads. I had to take the left turn. Not a problem until I realise that heading rapidly towards me is a shepherd and a huge flock of sheep!!! I have to wait while they dustily pass by…Is this my epiphany?

Now I have met a wise man and and a Shepherd!??  ?

My reverie is broken as I can hear 2 people talking behind me. I know its David and he is asking a lady if she is on her own.
“YES, I’m Janine from South Africa” she says with her lilt.

“OH please join me for dinner tonight “ Says David.

They catch me up. “Hi Carol, “ he enthuses…would you like to join us for dinner? This is Janine, a lady travelling alone”

”I’d be delighted, “ I add….dinner date at 6pm…sort of 3 hours before the Spanish!! I’m up for it.

They walk quite quickly over the rough rocky path so my concentration flags for a while but Janine is full of questions.

I but in and tell David about the Chinese man. He smiles and says, I taught for several months in China and there is a saying….

”Go to China for a week and you write a book, go to China for a month and you write an article, go to China for longer and you never write a word because you understand f***K all”  ?

We get there and I check in. Can’t wait to wash and change.

BUT THERE IS NO CASE!!!! AAAAAGGGHH

I rush down stairs…well hobbled..and asked the lady to telephone because I am dripping with sweat. She does and spends 5 minutes flirting with the guy on the phone….but I have learned PATIENCE!!!!

It comes, all is good and before I meet up, I spy Dawn. She is a tonic and so thoughtful about everything.

“Join us” I demand as though it was my idea….but she does…so the 4 of us sit and have a pilgrim dinner for 4, plus wine!!! All included…3 courses and at least a bottle of vino for 11 euros!!!

Janine fussed a little over the bill as she counted out her change. She was on a budget and in Hostels for 6-11 euros a night. They had this huge beach house in BaHa California….which is Mexico???? With a pool and private beach. Her husband is buying property to do up so they can retire and live off the rent!!!! So she is ravelling on a budget.

Life is full of surprises.

I collapse into bed. ???