Day 7 - Beautiful Day, 18 Miles and I Arrived in Viana

I am starting a new day after a wonderful night at La Perla Negra. Hard to describe what happened last night, small group of people ... three Italian folks, one German gent, myself, Crystal from Belgium and Helena the owner of the Albergue. We had a most enjoyable spiritual conversation. God was there hopefully directing me to speak and encouraging them to listen.
So the German gentleman, Reiner could not speak Italian, the Italians could not speak English or German but Crystal speaks English German and Italian so she did the translating. She was there for a reason. God put this all together in my opinion. A very high-quality conversation. Some food for thought for me and hopefully some definite food for thought for the pilgrims as they make their journey and for Crystal as she goes home.

It is a beautiful morning. It occurs to me I am walking in faith and sometimes I’m walking quite a way seeing no sign that I’m on the Camino path. It occurs to me that life is like that... there’s no need for God to give us sign, sometimes maybe for long periods of time, while other times we need to hear from him every minute it seems whenever there’s an opportunity to alter our path. If we are on an easy section of life or the Camino, we may rely on faith... I see a sign for the Camino so it keeps me on the path but other than that no need to let me know because I’m on the path. In the last hour or two I’ve been walking with Katie Galvin. She is from Dublin, Northern Ireland and she is a police officer. We had a good conversation. Not much faith talk, but that is okay. She loves BlueBloods, the TV show! 

I had a dog stop by me. The first dog that I was able to pet on the Camino.. very nice dog... thick coat... helped me to miss my Oliver. Katie stopped in los Arcos for a coffee with her friends. She is planning on going to the same town I’m going to (about another 6 or 8 km I think) and I plan to find a place to stay. I am enjoying this walk and talk and quiet time also I could’ve stayed with Katie but I decided to go on.

About 30 minutes outside of los Arcos, walking alone on a dirt road, beautiful fields, three in at 60° hills out a few miles in a middle of a valley just beautiful two or three towns in front I can see not sure where I’ll be tonight but probably one of them it’s amazing.

I'm approaching a city that’s getting closer, This morning, I didn’t fill up with water at the Albergue, the German gent said that he thought the water smelled a little bit bad so I didn’t get it. I passed one water spigot before los Arcos, busy talking to Katie and didn’t fill up. I haven’t found another one since, and my bladder (no not that one, but my water bladder) is empty. I’ve got a bottle with about 6 ounces in it so I’m sure I’ll be fine. The next town is I think where I’m staying today but one way or another, I’m sure I can get water there. Yup... I did.

I continue to muse about God and what the future holds and what is happening to me if anything on this Camino.

On the way from Torres del Rio to Viana, I was kind of trying to decide whether to stay in Torres del Rio or not. Did not get an obvious message but I stopped in at the Albergue where Katie was going to stay and asked about a hot meal for lunch ... no hot meals so I went to a restaurant hundred yards away and didn’t seem to get any help there. I was sitting outside in the shade under an umbrella. Put my backpack back on after five minutes or 10 minutes then someone was at the counter so I was able to order a sandwich on a bun... I think cheese and egg and chorizo heated along with a Coca-Cola in a glass with ice. sat in the shade under umbrella... very nice as I was sitting there. I have full water now and I just bought some Oreos. I also have a banana. I’m ready to walk the extra 10 km to Viana.

I’m walking in very nice little bit of a breeze, mostly sunny, kind of warm my hands are hurting a bit but all is good as I’m walking along and I am not struggling but I’m tired. I see a little bird on the trail in front of me. He starts running in front of me and he runs in front of me for a minute probably jumping along staying in front of me and it was just a spiritual moment again is very good.

I finally arrived in Viana, found a great Albergue at 5:00!  Yes a long day, but I'm feeling good.  Still having issues with the sun rash on my hands, but hopefully that will get better.  Tomorrow I will travel on to a much larger town, and, a much shorter day.  I'm hoping to find lightweight cotton gloves I can wear to protect my hands.  Thank you Lord for a good day on the Camino!

  

First time on this journey, I took off my shoes and enjoyed the bench under the shade.

The Albergue I'm staying at...

 And of course, one must find power to charge!