A rebel without a clue.

Slept in, well passed the 6am alarm call, as the phone was off, but I am relieved as I was awake alot in the night: just too humid, no curtain cover with a street light pouring in all night, a very bright emergency exit illumination and, unbelievaby, a bleeding mosquito in November! But I am slowing down today - only two more days... What do I feel. Apart from weary once more? I'll consider it on Chocolate con Churros. The bin men finally woke me at 6:45am. Municipal albergues. A wonderful night's rest in Palas de Rei is followed by what I am struggling with all the rest of the time. Fair enough the albergue room was sparsely populated, but the snoring carried, as did the usual toilet visits... I am a little oily too from overheating - 20°C in November in Galicia is definitely wrong? *** Spain's sworn in PM is younger than me! Oh no! I've reached the age when not only footballers but now MPs are kids! Pedro Sanchez Presidente. Slim margin... *** Two more day...

That helped. Don't feel like hell warmed up this morning. Will keep going. Was tempted to get away from the hordes but they're everywhere. And it's my walk, pilgrimage, thingy? Three more days. 9 days since I restarted this two parter: with Archie the other Vizsla having a great time between and 24 since leaving Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on. Three more days. 4th October into the Pyrenees ending on Friday 17th November? The holgates: Holloway: following a hollow way; and I am such a hollow man? I was always hateful of hollow, even in my combustible youth!  And to the first place you come to el paso! Those who are crying out that it's the best food for miles, shout 'poo to you with knobs on' and, taking my erstwhile advice, walk on for many many miles as it is the last place you should go to to eat quality cuisine... Around Delirium Café in Brussels remember this advice? With so many options how would that dishonest person know? Carry on! Walk on by. Walk! Don't...

Tired this afternoon. Drifted away from the way into anxious waters ... Wondering how far to go, looking at the phone for answers, scratching the same scab I've had since July 2022. Please leave it alone hands. I am almost unconscious of the action; almost. Eucalyptus plantations remind me of the morning coming into Santiago back in 2013: quick growing, but easy burning, a paper crop. And also passing the colossal Aviator paper manufacturer near Figueira do Foz December 2021. At the road side eatery, where the host gave me the food gratis, he asked me to reach Santiago for him and his family as he couldn't make the journey: that was at the back of another wet wet day. This one got this way after lunch. O Canto das Rosas, N109. This man. Such kindness. In three days I will reach Santiago for him, at least ... If not for myself? 16th December 2020: I must return to Figueira do Foz to continue towards Porto, that way to Santiago? It's in the possible futures. A sho...

I had a day off the journal yesterday. Not that I hadn't plenty to consider, but I was busy with the visual effects of the day as I approached Portomarin, checked into a private albergue, with a fully functional kitchen, ate a lovely lunch, made a lovely dinner. Drank some wine, etc. Awoke at 2pm. Had an hour of struggling to get back to sleep wondering if I need to start examining my life? The unexamined life isn't worth much. This Camino is the one where answers are to be revealed and I definitely saw hints of serendipitous ponderousness happening after I stopped for coffee and cake mid morning... Those pump clips. The second time I cried tears of joy and happiness... Because I see things I don't see elsewhere: where I have peak experiences which fill me with hope, I keep going. But they are vanishingly Illusive/allusive as l sit down for yet another cup of coffee, orange juice and aceite y tomate this morning .... Such pathos. Ten years ago I bega...

A goal was reached yesterday. The third since I left Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port that morning. Walking the main route from Saint Jean, walking all the way to Burgos and entering Galicia on foot. Another 'goal', actually a source of fear, Sarria where the few become the many. Yesterday I received my first 'compostele' token. And the hunt is on. Walking through a canyon, after a large lunch, the dogs are scenting the quarry and I just hope it's not me or another bit of pilger meat? I think I am on the wrong side of the torrent of hounds running through the chasms. *** I decided to carry on when I might've stopped. For some reason I want to be in blasted blinking bleeding Sarria on Sunday... Another seven days since León on another Monday. Sunday is a day of rest so it's pretty quiet out. It has been since I stepped off the plate around 7:30am. But there was no rest for me *** A good menu del día in Triacastela, and I almost stayed in the co...

I ate well. Making a soup and a spaghetti dish from the various vegetables and the chorizo before hitting the hay. Asleep in no time. Now I am drinking tea on top of Kefir - tea on an empty stomach is a no no - as I await the percolator to produce java beans in the ground floor dining room of Albergue de la Piedra. It's not yet 6... Meandering around town after 5pm I was looking for a couple of pairs of replacement underpants as these three are developing difficulties in the gusset area: there isn't any material left, but the benefit is that they're airfree/carefree. All clothes are freshly laundered this morning. And I've a pair of Spanish, Astorga, Lana socks to replace the thread bare Smartwool™ ... ***Three hours then a break for coffee, burnt chestnuts and raw burnt hot potatoes*** which may have consequences? There were none. Coming into Galicia I literally cried. The food carried me all the way up to the final stop, prior to leaving Spain to walk into another wor...

Good morning? The very first hangover of the Camino ... too much Mencía. I threw up. Then I dry retched this morning. Not sure I over did the vino. I am sure I mainly cooked with it, mainly! Too many chica. Too busy. It got to me. Yesterday was pretty tough coming down into Pontferrada and after the first glass in Molinaseca, with the very lovely caldo(broth) I got vino crazy. Today's destination is the centre of the wine area here, el Bierzo, but I'll just look? I will not touch ... I should do some washing, sleep well and climb into Galicia on Saturday morning? *** And stop. A bit boring, straight ahead through suburbia but perfect with a slight hangover. Back In the church square of Pontferrada I had two coffees, two orange juices and a croissant (a little burnt) and it did the trick? With 1% battery and 1% energy I stopped opposite a Church, again, in Cacabelos and ate a hearty menu del día which helped to solve most of these problems! After a visit to the local fuente to r...