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| Two Pilgrims |
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| On the Camino Today |
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| Entering Astorga |
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| Sean, Lea, Michele and el oso outside Astorga |
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| On the Camino Today |
I had a fantasy about doing the Portuguese Camino before coming home. It was just that. I am coming home after the Camino.
We had pilgrim dinner at the Albergue last night. Michele came over. Lea had dinner with Sean, which pleased her. We drink my bottle of red wine. Amelia made delicious meatballs.
I laid down and listen to music for a while, dreading the 10 o’clock curfew. Lights out, ear plugs in.
The snoring was tolerable. I actually got some sleep. this Albergue had a reasonable rule that no one could get up before 6 AM. Nonetheless, at 5:30 somebody’s alarm went off. Asshole.
At about 630, Lea Michelle Sean and I started our walk. I forgot my sticks and wallet at the Albergue. I had to run back to get them. It is getting very cold. it was 39° on our walk this morning. I put on long pants and wore my rain jacket. still wearing sandals with no socks.
It was a nice walk. We went through several cute little towns. had a delicious breakfast with the gang.
At some point we entered some foothills. It reminded me of Sonoma County. The color of the dirt was just slightly red. Lots of oak and pine forest.
Sean came up with a good title for a book: “How the Camino Ruined My Life (in a Good Way).”
There was a woman named Mary from Sacramento at the Albergue. She told me yesterday that she had a come to Jesus talk with Justin about his work situation. she said that he told her he did not get his contract renewed because he wasn’t productive enough. essentially, she told him that he was a slacker and would need to buck up in life. Probably true. I saw that he was upset and asked him about it. he told me what happened. I told him that I would talk to him on today’s walk.
This was his first job out of college. He’s a mechanical engineer. It was a contract job lasting six months. I told him that life is long and that this job was just a blip on the screen. Everyone has a bad job experience sometime in their life. At the same time, he should consider what Mary said. Workers do need to be productive.
He is immature and lost. he is happy on the Camino. he has a ready-made community of supportive people. I talk to him about finding community at home; at work, at church, with hobbies and activities, etc . His family puts an incredible amount of pressure on him. I encouraged him to move out of the house as soon as he can. he will never be independent living there.
We arrived in Astorga about 1 PM. 25 km, about 15 miles. We ran into cowboy Russ. He is staying at our hotel. He says Juan and Maria are also here.
I showered, washed my clothes and hung them to dry.
Visited the impressive Cathedral and walked around Astorga. Very touristy.
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| Gaudi Palace |
Drama with Lea and Sean: as we walked around town, I could tell she was upset. Sean was unclear about meeting her for dinner. Now she has a date to meet him in half an hour. Her world is right again.
Love,
the bear
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