What Was I Thinking?

For months before I started my trip to Spain, I said I would bus from Sarría to Santiago. I knew from past experience that there are a large number of people who only walk this section and that makes it more crowded than the rest of the Camino. But I was walking, and walking, and walking, and suddenly I was in Sarría. I was going to get a train to Santiago. I needed to see a doctor. So I saw a doctor in Sarría. Then I thought I would walk about 5 km to the first Albergue after Sarría. That wasn't too bad, but since I didn't leave Sarría until noon, it wasn't crowded. 

So I got up the next day and, after tripping and falling down, started walking again. I really didn't intend to do this, but I didn't seem to be able to stop. So I walked past Portomarín to Gonzar, a small place. It wasn't too bad that day. The next day I walked past Palas de Rei, which was a zoo, to Casanova. By going beyond the big stopping places, I guess I was ahead of the crowds. 

Then yesterday I walked from Casanova to Ribadixo, because I didn't want to go past Ribadixo to Azura, which is like a big city stretched along on road. I also didn't think I had enough left in the tank to go beyond Azura to the next Albergue. So I stayed in Ribadixo at an Albergue I like. It is comfy, but they have added a lot to it since 2013. 

Sunrise is past 8 am now, though I can usually see the trail to walk by 7:45 am. I was the last one to leave the Albergue. So it was pretty peaceful walking to Azura. I figured all those who stayed in Azura would be ahead of me, so I would have some quiet time. 

When I came into Azura I met up with a huge bus unloading day walkers. There must have been fifty of them, maybe more. And I'm sure there must have been one or more other buses. The Camino looked like a line for a ride at Disneyland. Lots more people than I encountered in 2013. The saving grace is that these folks don't sleep where the rest of us do. That would take up a lot of beds. The bus picks them up at the end of the day and takes them to a hotel where there's room for all of them. Then the Bu brings them back to the Camino the next day. 

It was then I thought, "what was I thinking? Or was I thinking at all? " I had a choice. It was sink or swim. I just kept saying to myself, "Go with the flow, be the river." I'd like to tell you I totally transcended, but I cannot tell a lie. It was ok. I was surrounded by beauty. I didn't take many pictures, because one or two pictures of people's butts walking down a trail are enough. 

And here are two walking hand in hand. I am always amazed when I see people do this. I don't think it would be comfortable, unless you were strolling, which  they were, I guess. I'm not a very good stroller. 

Here are some nature shots sans people. There was heavy ground fog this morning. It was colder tha a witches elbow. Like 42 F degrees! I wore my micro fleece jacket and my core was warm. My legs were a little cold because, as you may recall, the zipper on the legs for my pants, got mangled in a washing machine a while back. 

The sunrise was seen reflected off the clouds. 

There were horses

And a doggie

Cows going out for a walk:

And pilgrims at the bar

I got to O Pedrouzo and was concerned about getting a bed. There was a long line at the municipal Albergue. I stayed there once. It was a little crowded, but ok. But strangely enough I got to the Albergue I stayed in last time with the atrium in the middle of the dormitory, I was the second one there. I had my choice of beds!  So I chose one next to the atrium. Isn't it nice? This Albergue is on my top ten list and it doesn't take reservations. The guy is really nice and there is soothing music piped through the Albergue. 

Mr Burple said people were taking photos of him today. How would I know, he's behind me. But why wouldn't they? He is so cute. I did hear people talking about him as I passed. 

I took my shower, got dressed, put my clothes in the washer, and went to the store. When I got back I went up to the Terrace, where there is a semi outdoor kitchen and a sitting area. I'm sitting on a long bench at the table eating my lunch when an Asian teen sits down about three feet from me, even though I am at one end of the otherwise empty bench. She had a plate of boysenberries. Then another Asian teen sits between the first and me. At this point I'm feeling a little crowded. Then the one next to me starts wiggling and flopping her arms around. Just as I'm preparing to look for a tongue depressor to keep her from biting her tongue, she stops. I look at her and ask, "Are you through?" She asks, "Through what?"

I mimic her flopping around. She says, "There was a . . . fly." I'm thinking, "This is Spain. How long have you been here? Is that the first fly that has landed on you? But I thought I would start laughing if I asked any one of those questions. Just writing this has made me giggle. 

And now an addition to that story. I went up to eat my dinner, a banana and yogurt, and the two girls were there eating blackberries and some cooked dish. I smiled at them. The girl with the fly, Rainie, asked me if I wanted some blackberries, and we started a conversation. The two girls are from China. The first girl, Sue, is from northern China. Rainie is from Guangzhou. She was surprised when I told I'd been there during my bicycle tour of China. She was shocked that I was there during the SARS epidemic. Apparently it started in Hong Kong, which is close to Guangzhou. I was also in Hong Kong. She lived in the states for 17 years. This past year she had been in Valencia, Spain studying Spanish. She's quite accomplished. Her English is perfect. She goes back to China in 10 days. It was an interesting conversation. The other girl didn't say anything. I think she was shy. 

And tomorrow, on my seventieth birthday, I will walk into Santiago.