Vinsman

Today was my final walk.  I guess everyone was a bit restless since there were 4 people up in my albergue at 3 45 this morning and out the door by 4.  I guess I  am a bit of a light sleeper because they woke me up and I tossed and turned until 5 when I got up and got ready to hit the road.  I was walking by 5 30 this morning which is way too early.  

I have made this walk many times and knew what to expect.  I got off to a good start by going the wrong way.  Thank goodness for my trusty GPS app that put me back on the right path in no time.  I walked without breakfast or most importantly coffee until about 8 when I found my first coffee bar open and promptly downed to caffe con leche grandes and a piece of delicious lemon cake.  

I arrived in Santiago about 10 took some quick photos and headed to the pilgrims office to get my Compostela.  They are very efficient these days. You complete the online form and it issues you a QR code which gets you into the office and enables you to get a number.  I and number 124, when I walked in they were working on numbers in the 80´s. It only took about 20 minutes to get through and I was off with my Compostela.

I checked into my room, if you could call it that, actually it is more like a closet with a bathroom but it works for me. 

After a hot shower is was off to the pilgrims Mass.  It was packed in the Cathedral.  I finally found a chair almost at the back of the room and sat down.  I said high to the guy next to me and we struck up an conversation.  Turns out he just graduated with a civil engineering degree from Davis.  He did his undergrad and BYU so we had a fun conversation.  The mass was amazing as always.  Very touching.  

After the Mass I met up with my Camino friends Hyun Soon and Fernando for lunch and then we just spent some final time together.  

Tonight I had dinner with Dawn from the Iowa chapter and Jackie who is on the board to the American pilgrims it was a fun night.  

Tomorrow I take my covid test and then head to Madrid on the train.  Tomorrow night in Madrid and then Thursday home.  

All in all it was a great Camino.  I enjoyed the difficulty of the route but also appreciate that it was only 12 days. 

Last night was by far the craziest night in the albergue.  It was full of students who were loud and did not go to bed until all hours of the night.  I did my best to sleep but tossed and turned a bit.  I was up at 5 and on the road by 6.  It was dark so I walked by headlamp for the first hour.  I had reservations to stay in Salceda but arrived there by 10:30 or 11 so I pressed on.  I walked my longest day about 33 km but felt great doing it.  I am on O’Pedruzo now and only have 20 km to Santiago tomorrow.  I will be on the road early so I arrive in time to drop my bag and attend the noon pilgrims mass.  I am excited as always to arrive in Santiago. 

Today was a very short day, almost a rest day.  A little over 8 miles.  I left early about 6:45 and was in Melide by about 10.  

My camino friends and I went and had an early Pulpo lunch.  Pulpo is Octapus which has been boiled and then cut drizzled in olive oil and spicy paprika.  Many love it but to me it is just ok.  I had a few bites and a glass of Albariño.  While we were at the Pulpería I met another American pilgrim. Joyce from Denver.  She used to be the co coordinator for the Denver front range chapter.  She joined us for lunch and then we made plans to try to meet up in Santiago.

The real highlight of the day was meeting Kelli and Jeff who moved to Galicia from Seattle with stops in Valencia and Portugal.  Kelli has been writing a blog which I follow and read avidly.  It was really fun to meet them.

In my albergue I met this guy who asked if I spoke English.  I said yes I am from Sacramento, CA.  He smiled and said he was from Yuba City.  His name is John Larson.  After some further conversation he told me that after he retired he had gone on this thing called an LDS mission.  I’m like oh your a member, my business partner David Nielson is a member as well.  He is in the Auburn 3rd ward and an ordinance worker.  John says does he work on Tuesday mornings?  I said yes he does.  John says we work together, I know David.  It is such a small world.