Will Wonders Never Cease?

Today was my second day on the Variante Espiritual aka the road less traveled. I did not see one other pilgrim from the time I left the Albergue in Armenteira until I got to the Albergue in Villanova 26 km (16 mi) later. 

Today was spectacular. About half the walk was along a river surrounded by plants and trees. Another one forth was along a beach on an inlet. There were all kinds of caravana (RV) camping along the shore. It reminded me of the places John and I stayed in Spain when we lived in the RV. 

The day began hiking along the river. To say it was beautiful is just so insufficient. The first part was called the Piedra de Agua because there were lots of rocks and water and in ancient times there were water mills in this spot.

I got confused a couple of times here, fell on my bottom once and almost fell into a big deep hole because I was mesmerized and hypnotized by the beauty of the river as the water crashed over the rocks with foamy force and melted into watery reflections.

It was hard to pay attention. lto the rocks and exposed roots and walking over bridges made of old stones that weren't cemented together. 

After the first part the river widened and just drifted along and I drifted with it. 

About half way thru, we left the river and walked through pueblos and forests. I had one short uphill and then walked down hill to the outskirts of Villanova. I walked through Villanova to the water. It was glorious. I don't know what the official name of this body of water is, but I would call it an inlet. 

It is summer and there were people, groups families doing all the stuff that people do on the beach. At this point I was expecting to see the Albergue and I didn't. I guess I was looking lost or confused because a young woman slowed down. I asked if she knew where the Albergue is located. She got a very concerned look on her face and said lejos, which means far. Then she said muy lejos, which means very far. I'm thinking, "Compared to what? To the 200 km I've walked from Porto or the 20 some km I've walked today?" Then I realize she's talking to me. She pointed to a big bridge in the distance and said you go past that bridge to another bridge, a much smaller bridge and after you cross that you go right and you will find the Albergue. She didn't speak English. So I was trying real hard to pay attention. She was very nice. She asked me where I was from and seemed a little surprised when I said Estados Unidos. She said that is very far. She asked why I was doing this, was I Catholic. I told I wasn't Catholic, but was doing it for spiritual reasons. She asked me if I would pray when I got to Santiago. I told her I would, that I pray every day. She asked if I would pray in the Cathedral. I said yes I would be doing that, probably more than once. She seemed pleased and said that she was going to pray for me. I said thank you that would be nice. I figure, with my record, I can use all the help I can get. She went her way and I went mine, looking for the little bridge past the big bridge. It turns out there were two little bridges past the big bridge. I crossed them both, followed some arrows past a children's play ground and came to a stand still. There were no more arrows and I didn't see anything that looked like an Albergue. There were some worker guys there and I asked them if they knew where the Albergue was. They chuckled and pointed to the building right in front of me across the street. lol Though, in my defense, it didn't look like an Albergue. It was a three story huge scare building. It has a gymnasium on the first on and one half floors, so I guess it is a deportivo

I got signed in, got my ticket for the boat that goes up the inlet to the next city, got my clothes washed, and ate a little snack before taking s short nap. When I got up I did my stretching and went out to find a store to buy some stuff for dinner. You know in these small stores you can buy three slices of cheese? It is so much fun. 

Then while I'm eating my dinner the hospitalera comes out and says I get a new boat ticket for tomorrow because we are taking a bigger boat, one that holds 25 people. All this because they are going to shoot a documentary. At last, my chance to be a star. And all because I chose the spiritual variant. 

Here are some more pictures for your viewing enjoyment.