November 8th 2016

It is likely that this blog post will receive little attention on this auspicious day back in the States. I am lying in a corner bunk in a small village just west of Astorga called Rabanal del Camino, population 50. There is no wifi in the bunk room. We are exhausted and happy to have our boots off. The other side of the Atlantic is vibrating to a very different frequency. I'll check in on the election later at the attached bar but I most looking forward to hearing the local monks chant tonight at 7pm.

As we were packing up to leave this morning we encountered a French family that was hiking the Camino together. What they are doing is beyond my comprehension. The family includes the parents and 6 children, ages 10 years to 3 months! I asked them where they had started and they told me at their home, in Toulouse, France! That was back in early September when the three month old was only a few weeks old. They are pushing two baby joggers and carrying a full sized French flag. This morning in addition to readying themselves the father was trimming adult-sized ponchos to fit each child and the mother was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for 8. I simply don't understand how they are doing this. An even more interesting question might be why. I haven't gotten there with my limited French but I may try if we see them again.

Also staying at our albergue last last night were two French twenty-somethings who are skateboarding the Camino. They carry the boards when they have to but then when there is a pavement option they whiz by. One has a Yoda hat and the other dreadlocks. They are the odds-on favorites to be voted coolest of the Camino 2016.

Today's stage was 13 miles with 1200 feet elevation gain that occurred slowly over the entire stage. We are staying at the high point of the stage and tomorrow will climb higher into the mountains. We still can only see the snow from a distance but sure enough we are heading into it.