Camino Magic

Leaving Sarria this morning.

Today was the day when we were joined by all who start in Sarria, walk 100 kilometers, and receive a Compostela. There is an exuberance along with adrenaline that helps folks move those first couple of days. 

People speaking Italian, Korean, Spanish, English, Russian. A cacophony of sound but you don't really mind. Everyone is fresh, then, farther down the road, everyone seems to have a story.

On the road today.

Some people plan their trip for months, or even years. Then, there are those, like Mark, a friend I met a week ago, walking along the way. He told me he planned his trip in five days. He said that if he had stayed at home, he felt he would have died. He was sick, tired, and out-of-shape when he started in Madrid. 

By the time he arrived in Logrono, about 300 kilometers later, he was in bad shape. One of his legs was injured, and he decided to end his walk early and fly home to Canada. 

Canada was requiring a Covid shot, or two weeks of quarantine. So, he decided to get on a bus back to Madrid and go to a clinic for the shot, because that would be easier when he arrived home. 

But the bus went nowhere near the clinic. So, he got out and walked and walked. By the time he arrived at the clinic, he realized he could walk again. He took a bus back to Logrono (correction: Leon), and began his Camino anew.

And he's still going. He will have walked nearly 1000 kilometers (correction: 700 kilometers) when he finishes in Santiago in a few days.

This is hard to believe but, as I wrote this, while waiting for dinner, Mando said, "Mark is here. " I said, "your kidding." He laughed and said, "no." 

It's a small Camino world.

Mark with friend at dinner tonight in Portamarin.

Footnote:

Cat on a warm slate roof.

 Tommy, thanks for taking such good care of Buddy while we're away.