June 10th – I’m staying at a pension in the city but the rooster whose crowing wakes me sounds like he is right under my window. Last night was an unusual evening spent with old and new pilgrim friends at a dinner that lasted until almost midnight which meant it was much later before I could go to sleep. I’m usually up before my alarm but today it was hard to get out of bed.
Walking out of Sarria I was imagining what it is like for the new pilgrims who start the Camino here. Watching the leave I see their fresh clothes and shoes along with a spring in their steps – so different than the pilgrims who walk slowly and often with a limp who have been on the path. Leaving Sarria the walk is easy – no big hills up or down – and the scenery serene as it winds through the rural roads and across dirt paths. It would be a great way to start.
With only a few days left I find myself stopping more often to just look and feel. The Camino is always full of surprises and today is no different. The flashing red lights were a new experience (Be sure to watch the video to completion for an added surprise) but even more so that the signal to Stop, Look and Listen mirrored my behavior this morning.
Yep, that was my RunTracker app so you got to hear what I hear periodically as I walk!
Soon afterwards I see the donkey I’ve seen on the path and walking thru the town of Sarria last night. I stop to talk with the owner, Roland and find that he and Rocinante have walked from Finesterre to Burgos and are now returning. They have their own website rolandante.blog.hu , Facebook page and pilgrim credential stamp. I am missing my animals and this is an especially fun meeting for me on the Camino.
Continuing down the path I hear music. Not knowing its source I start taking a video.
How I will miss these surprises when I return home!
This is farmland and the farmers and their animals surround me.
The marlet I’ve been waiting for finally arrives – less than 100k to Santiago! It’s not that I want my journey to end – it’s just that I am amazed by how far I have walked.
A sweet little cafe with Bob Marley’s “We are the children” floating onto the path lets me know I am not far from Portomarin.
I am pleasantly surprised to see my next stop is located at a large reservoir and river. Portomarin is my home for tonight.
This is wonderful!! I can’t imagine how much you will miss it!