Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Ain't No Valley Low Enough to Keep Me from Getting to Santiago!

A week from today Jean will be headed to me!.

What a beautiful morning again... Villafranca says goodbye. I took several pictures on the way out. I went over the river. I took the alternate path, away from the road, quite a climb! But so beautiful... I took several pictures, same or similar picture, but at different heights. I am about ready to lose sight of Villafranca (funny, the microphone on the phone thought I was saying “Little Frank”) I’m not sure how much I have climbed but it feels like maybe 700 - 800 feet... I don’t know for sure, but maybe it’s the steepest climb I’ve climbed on this Camino,  for a very short distance and it’s consistent steep climb. However, as I said, it’s a glorious day and like every other one, I’m one day closer to being with my love and having this Camino completed.

If there was ever any doubt. I am now sure I’m not the sharpest tack in the box! I’ve been, taking my glove off for the last week or more so I can operate the camera. This morning I decided to cut a hole in one of the fingers so I could operate the camera. Works like a charm. Sounds like something my wife might’ve suggested. If she did, I don’t recall.  (No she didn’t-jmf)

I’m about ready to climb over the top of something here and have a new view and that happens several times a day: sometimes more intriguing than others. As I mentioned, I’m on an alternate path totally out in the woods up in the hills... very peaceful, very quiet... I’m aware of two people in front of me maybe five minutes and ten minutes... maybe more now because I have stopped several times to take pictures! Yes, it is a beautiful day. More later bye for now. Thank you God for this glorious day on the Camino in Spain.

Oh, my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time, and time, goes by, so slowly, and time can do so much, are you still mine? I need your love... I need your love... God speed your love to me... Unchained Melody... has been a welcome ear worm.

So, I’ve climbed over the top of some kind of a pass and have climbed back down again. it was a difficult climb, but very worthwhile. I took many pictures many of which probably look like duplications but they are not. What a beautiful day. I ran into Meredith again, the young lady from Virginia I walked with a couple days ago. She had not noticed the stork nests, I was going to show her some pictures, but forgot to. I figured, surely, she would have noticed some by now as there were several the past couple days but she again said she had not seen any! She did say she was pretty tuckered out so was not in good focus other than the path in front of her. She’s just ahead of me again now. I stopped in a small village I had a coffee and a banana up at the top or around the top. According to Meredith we climbed about 1200 feet on the way up to the top and then about 900 feet back down again.

Yesterday I had intended to be sign day. I think I may have mentioned that but I’m not sure if I clarified the uniqueness of having a walking trail with enough people walking on it to bother with advertising on this trail. In the United States that would be very rare as I believe in pretty much any other country, except the Camino in Spain, and possibly, Portugal’s also. As we approach a village or town, there are signs hoping to get us to sleep, eat, or drink at their place all on one big sign.  (Jean here… He didn’t tell me that, so I didn’t upload most of those pictures…my bad)

Not sure where today’s going to end probably about three hours down the road, time will tell. I’m back alongside the highway... still a nice walk, not on the highway, but close enough to hear the cars pretty clearly. the quiet path was very nice, certainly glad that I did take that. Thank you, God, for all you created, for creating me, for blessing me every day... particularly this day, Amen.

It’s about 3:20 or something like that and I’m continuing to walk. Been through several small towns in the last couple three hours. Met with David and his son Darren who we met a week or two ago. Darren is still making it, and seems to be doing well (He had really bad blisters earlier I think I talked about… he went and saw a lady and came back with band aides all over his feet). He was in doubt at first but his dad said Darren is in good spirits... good to hear. 

I just took a picture of a route kilometer sign. I counted steps from 1 km sign to the next... exactly 1250 steps between signs so presumably 1250 steps per kilometer when you do the math with 800 km that equals 1 million steps. Which is about the plan. Overcast now, mostly cloudy, maybe a threat of rain but not really. I am continuing to walk by a river.  I think it continues to be the Rio Valcarce. Once I got down from the high route, the road less traveled, I’m now on the main path. I counted six bridges across this river and I took a picture of the name of the river, quite windy needless to say, the river and the road. There’s obviously a newer road, kind of a freeway up above. I’ve taken pictures of that and this is the old Road so not much traffic, which is very nice for walking. I will come to a destination for the night probably in the next half hour or hour. It has been again a very blessed day.

I am at my room now and editing. I am in Herrerias at a nice hotel... dinner is next up. I spoke with Jean and then with Jillian for a bit as she and Steve were at the airport in Miami. Then some texts with Halley and Jean.

Downstairs for dinner... a great cheeseburger with fries and a glass of tinto vino... or two. Very good... a soft bun... sort of looked like a pretzel bun, but softer. I am very slightly concerned as I have been touting the idea that whatever one consumes tastes better or worse depending on the company one is consuming with... I was alone and I loved the meal... nuff said.

Maybe a hot bath 🛀 tonight... sorta worked... a pretty short tub... showered after... ready to turn in... continued appreciation for the moral and spiritual support... from all... specially You Buen Camino!

Sweet dreams from Spain.

 We call them Speed Bumps, they call them "Sleeping Policemen"

 The next pics are of my digs for the night... and scenery around it... The rooms all have windows on the street side, yet the views behind are so nice and serene.