Day 29: Hiking My Camino de Santiago

August 17, 2018

I walked 21.76 miles from Portomarín to Casanova. I walked part of the day with Julia, Astrid, Angela, and Denise. At other times I walked by myself because we were walking different speeds.

At one point, I was talking to two different Kates along the way. One Kate was from London, and I was the first English speaking person she met. She had originally planned to be in New York City for her birthday but plans fell through. So she is doing a short version of the Camino.

The other Kate is from Poland. She has been walking longer than the first Kate but not as long as me. She is planning on walking to Santiago de Compostela and then to Finisterre like me. I am sure we will see each other several more times.

As for the photo, it seemed appropriate to share a photo of my shoes. The duct tape worked although you can see that I will need to tape them every couple of days. Obviously, I have never worn out a pair of shoes so quickly before. If you look closely, you can see that the shoe is bald in parts.

They say everyone’s Camino is different, and I believe it. I also look at every adversity on the Camino as a gift. So my shoes with holes in the sole are a gift. I am trying to find a life lesson from this, but I am grateful for this gift. I really love these shoes and will tape them as many times as necessary to get them through six more days of walking on parts of the Camino and for little walks in communities. They will make it back to the United States with me.

I still feel blessed and very fortunate. This continues to be a great experience in every way. Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement.

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See additional photos from August 17th below:

1) A view from the trail

2) Hórreos

3) Hórreos

4) Free Hugs

5) Pilgrim sculpture

6) Church in Palas de Rei.

7) Pilgrim statue

8) Pilgrim statue

9) A view of the trail

10) Church in O Cotón

11) A view of the trail

12) My shoes with duct tape

Brief descriptions of the photos:

1. This is a view from the trail today.

2. This is a hórreos used for grain storage. It seems like every house has one. I am not sure they are used for grain storage today. It seems like every house has one.

3. This is a hórreos used for grain storage. It seems like every house has one. I am not sure they are used for grain storage today. It seems like every house has one.

4. This was a stone outside of a structure where someone was offering "free hugs." I think it was a ministry as there were several Christian tracts inside of it. They spread a lot of joy and smiles with their hugs.

5. This is a pilgrim sculpture and arrow along the trail.

6. This is a church in the city of Palas de Rei.

7. This is a pilgrim statue in the city of Palas de Rei.

8. This is another pilgrim statue in the city of Palas de Rei.

9. This is part of the trail I walked.

10. This is a church in O Cotón.

11. This is part of the trail I walked.

12. This is a photo of my shoes after the first day of taping them because of holes in sole that allowed dirt to get in them.