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Penultimate Albergue

Have you heard the one about the American who walks into a bar? It turns out to be Erin Mosher's brother! There was no breakfast at our albergue this morning but we were excited to see the door open on the small café/bar across the street. Amy, Clare and I were sitting at the only table in the café having coffee, juice and croissants when a man walked in to have breakfast. He sat at the bar. He overheard us talking and asked where we were from. We said NC and he replied, "Asheville?" Turns out he is Erin Mosher's brother, Michael! What a small world after all. We finished breakfast and got on the Way. Our paths crossed several other times that day. He said that Greg had told him to look out for a family from Asheville just a few days ago. What are the chances that we would actually connect. Things like that happen along the Way.

At our second coffee stop we ran into Michael again. He had moved onto vino tinto. We met Petra from Holland who has been walking since July. She started walking in Brugge, Belgium. Each time she contemplated finishing tomorrow she became teary eyed. I know how she feels but I don't completely know how she feels, not having walked for 4 1/2 months.


During this same stop team Pink rolled by and I raced to the door and shouted "Feliz Cumpleaños!" It is Natalia's birthday today. She is 27 years young. Clare ran out with her gift, a KitKat. Natalia loved it and besos ensued. Team pink has been traveling along with us for the past several days. It is a mother, daughter and her friend. They started in Sarria and will finish with us tomorrow. They have pink coats, pink backpacks and pink baselayers. They have matching shoes and matching smiles. Every time we see them, they brighten our day. They live in Malaga in the south of España. Each year they take a trip together. This year it is the Camino.


Our pace is slowing and we only covered around 20k today. We were into our sleep town of Pedrouzo by 2:30 and now have less than 20k to Santiago tomorrow. We are in a 96 bed albergue tonight and many of our Camino friends are here. There are a few others not accounted for but I suspect we will all come together in Santiago tomorrow.


I don't want it to end but I desperately want to see Patrick and Abbey, so it must, and it will. We are currently sitting before a plate of jamón Iberico, semi-curado cheese and sliced fresh bread. We have a €3 bottle of Ribera del Duero that is unbelievably superb. I am going to miss this simplicity but not yet. We have one more day tomorrow. We walk into Santiago tomorrow likely beneath clouds. We might get wet. Possibly from rain. Possibly from tears.

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  1. Mike DaytonNovember 17, 2016 at 11:30 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Mike DaytonNovember 17, 2016 at 12:13 PM

    Congratulations for the penultimate penmanship. It has been a delight reading about your family 's adventures.

    ReplyDelete

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