My first solo day

 Posted by VQT

Left our hotel at 7:40.  Went through the usual frustration of finding the way out of town.  Camino is almost always well marked except in cities.  Ended up walking with a Bulgarian woman who lives in Germany along with several other lost & confused Camino people.  Part of the problem today is you can walk one of two routes - coastal or inland - the Camino markings didn’t distinguish which route they were for.  I wanted to walk the inland route.  It took a while but finally was on the correct route.  Then the rain started.  The Bulgarian woman went into a cafe and I thought I’ll stop at the next one - there wasn’t a next one!  Eventually stopped at a small open church where two high school girls were selling drinks, protein bars etc to raise money for a trip to World Youth Celebration (I think) taking place in Korea next summer.  Got to sit down - that’s one of the problems with walking in the rain there’s no resting. A British couple we’d met the day before walked in and I left there walking with them.  

The trails, cobblestone roads, the rocky paths were flooded. 

I walked solo most of today except initially leaving town and for a while with the British couple.  It was a different experience than having LP with me.  It is more fun to share the experience with someone. 

Didn’t take many photos - too wet for the phone and my fingers were so “pruned” I couldn’t work the phone  

Arrived to meet up with LP after walking for 6 hours. Walked approximately 12 total miles. Definitely a slow paced day.   My shoes might not dry overnight but that’s okay - there’s more rain tomorrow.

Photo: statue with overcast skies. 

Photo: One of the high school girls selling snacks. She’s holding a cross stitch of postage stamps that she’s  working on.  

Photo: Arthur, VQT and Jane - we are very wet!!  Arthur & Jane are the British couple.  Jane bought the pink plastic raincoat she’s wearing here for a nominal amount and was dry as a bone under it.  The rest of us in our high tech gortex gear were soaking wet.