1 September - Day 14

Same routine. Dressed, pack the bag. Ate half my breakfast, saved the rest of the bocadillo for later. Niall and I left together.


It was a steady climb to the LaOca region... a little tough. I still get shortness of breath. Hopefully that will end soon. I am visualizing the chemo drugs leaving me and I breathe better and better.



We came upon a monument dedicated to the fallen 1936- the Spanish Civil War. There was a note written to someone´s uncle who was executed on August 3rd 1936. It choked me up, as I remember some of mom´s stories. We talked about it awhile.


I had a feeling, so I asked Niall "what plan do you have for the rest of your walk?" I just felt that I was holding him back physically he is much stronger. He said he feels like his feet have adapted and feel better and that he can go longer distances. On we went.
MELOCOTON

Got to San Juan de la Ortega, after a very long downhill. The town is not pretty, run down. The albergue is in an old stone building.


Niall ordered 2 Shandys and I went and registered, He is going to Ages which is only 3 and a half kilometers away. I guess I could have gone on, my feet did not hurt today, but the plan was in motion. We did the Spanish kiss. I said "Buen Camino, Niall, son of the Norse man" and left.

I sat in the sun a while, since it was so cold inside. I attended mass. Why? I don´t know... I think I like the ritual and serenity of the space. The inside of the church is pleasant. I like its simplicity, makes me feel calm.


Afterwards I chatted with Lili, from Barcelona. A car full of French people arrived and they and only 4 of us peregrinos went into the dining room to have the priest´s garlic soup. I had 2 bowls of it, it was so delicious.

"When you walk through the fields with your heart pure, then the souls of all the plants, and the stones, and all the living things, come out to make a holy fire in you"

I didn´t like the albergue at all. Cold, damp, dark. No toilet paper (I always have some in my fanny pack)... no hot water (no shower tonight). So I didn´t get to wash my clothes either. I went to bed and layed down early but people were chatting and it was hard to get to sleep. But I did. I have finished 2 weeks now.