Day 10 and I've Completed 150 miles!

Had a wonderful night last night... slept well and looking forward to a good day. Time to hit the road!

Been walking and  talking with Jose from northern Italy & for the last hour and a half. a young man about 40 has a stuffed dog on the back of his backpack... very cute. He’s a tattoo artist. We are now walking to a town or city in which everything looks closed. The buildings look to be maybe 30 years old or less. And there’s a golf course that is open. People are golfing so it is active but no cars around to speak of. And all of the drapes are drawn on the windows of the buildings. A bit odd to say the least. 

We have been walking through some more beautiful territory.  It doesn't get old. Took one of my gloves off for a while. About the same time, we passed another girl from Italy and they talked a bit.  Jose and I moved on, when, a few minutes, later she hollered and she had found my glove... I had dropped it. Was very nice to see that because I would’ve missed it later. We talked about how the Camino is marked yet we have to keep our eyes open and our ears open and listen. Just as I said eyes open we walked by a sign that has a picture of the shell of the Camino and someone has drawn on the top of the shell an eye... very very weird. I believe things happen for a reason and at an appointed time. Have to admit, it was odd.

A little bit later now another long road ahead. beautiful scenery. Partly sunny behind us, partly cloudy in front of us.  I have been walking a bit longer today it seems & I just passed Birgitte ( I mentioned her yesterday). She’s taking a rest, but probably will pass me next time I’m taking a rest. Took a picture of the next city coming up, looks to be a good sized city. Will not be where I stay, likely I will go beyond. There’s another town in the background that may be the place I plan to stay.

Stopped and had lunch with Hendrik. I mentioned him yesterday.  Henrik and I walk for about an hour and then had lunch together in Santo Domingo De Calzada.... about 7,000 folks live here.  Shortly after Hendrik and I started talking something came up and he asked me if I had a phone number for God and I said yes I have a direct line to God. and we had a good conversation about many things and then we talked about maybe we would prefer not to have any rain but the farmers would prefer to have rain. How does God answer that question? 

Later, I was talking with Marshall from South Carolina and he said the rain will come on the just and the unjust...  so true!  Marshall is a young lad, probably 22, going to college at the Citadel in South Carolina, a military college. He and I walked for maybe an hour or hour and a half. he is a believer ... we had a very good conversation he’s the one I spoke of a couple nights ago who has a Polaroid camera and is taking pictures of folks he meets and then he writes a bit about them.... he said he is behind in that effort... feeling a bit unmotivated. He is traveling with a classmate and they have developed a few others so maybe 6-8 in their group. He took my picture this afternoon. 

So if I understand correctly, I just left one region and entered another region of Spain. I am excited to be here and I've become aware of the anesthesia that God creates that allows us to do more than we would do otherwise. I have a slight inclination that my feet will look worse tonight than they did yesterday but I’m here and I’m blessed for all the conversations I’ve had with people.

I came over the raise and saw my destination:  Redecilla Del Camino! I am at the Albergue I will sleep at tonight... There are 2 rooms with 6 beds in each... bunks. I did develop another blister today, on the same      location on my right foot. Such is life sometimes. On we march.

A gent and his son were checking in when I arrived... we have talked a bit now...his son is 23 and is really walking painfully... was going to see a masseuse who evidently helps with blisters also. His grandparents live close to Santiago so they will spend a week after the walk is complete. He came back with all sorts of band-aides on his feet... still limping. Sure hope it gives him some relief

Dinner was served here in the Albergue... very good!  Lots of conversation and musical entertainment by fellow sojourners!  We are all on a journey and bring different gifts.  

I would love prayers for my hands, they're still not back to normal.  I've completed the antibiotic so hopefully that will help.  Also, that my blisters go away quickly!