Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Barbadelo to Portomarin 94.8 km left

Jakob is napping so today it is my turn to keep you informed of what is going on. We had a quiet night, quiet mainly because of the excellent earplugs. We went to bed after a good dinner with our Polish Canadian friends and a Dutch couple, Good times and so so food. The Spanish cuisine really isnt that great, at least when it comes to dinners.
We woke up at 7 and by 7:30 we were ready to go again for another day on the trail. This was going to be an exciting one, since we would be crossing the 100 km marker today. By now there is a marker every 500 m to let you know how much more there is to go.
The landscape was lovely, mostly along paths and through slightly hilly country, not too steep and not too flat. The weather too was perfect, not cold at all today, so we started in our shirts right away. After 2 km it was time for coffee. Jakob was hungry already so he ordered a bacon and cheese sandwich, which ended up to be too big even for him. I just had toast with jam. It is funny how at this stage you meet up with all kinds of people from earlier on. It seems that no matter what pace you have, you all get there at more or less the same time.
So we went on, more paths, quiet roads, ancient trees and beautiful scenery. We must have passed through at least 8 villages. Villages is the wrong word to describe these palces, as they are mostly two or three farms put together. We ran into a herd of cows and felt a bit like being in Pamplona running form the bulls.
I think tendinitis is setting in again, this time in the other leg. Ah well, it is only 100 km to go. Yes we came to the marker that said 100 km!! Of course pictures had to be taken. At 99.5 was a coffeshop, and we all ordered a drink. My coffee came in a bucket size cup, and it was not cafe cone leche but leche con cafe. Terrible, I could not drink it, ordered Fanta in stead.
Eventually we crossed the bridge into Portomarin, a nice looking town at the shores of an artificial lake. we found a brandnew Albergue, and were the first people there. So much for worrying about finding a place to stay. Jakob and I went to town for lunch after the laundry and showers. Bought another postcard for you Trish. On our way we spotted the local pool, we might have to try that yet today.
Then it was nap time for me. read a few pages and promptly fell asleep. And now Jakob is taking his turn. I have bottom bunk today. there are 110 beds in this place, in one room divided only by curtains. But what amazes me is how quiet everyone always is, both at night and in the morning and even in the afternoon as many pilgrims are resting or napping.
So a few more days and this will be all over. We talked about what it would feel like to arrive at the end. Joy,sadness, or a combination of both. it is hard to say. For now we will just relax, make dinner together with Kate and Caesar, and enjoy another evening.
"the foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise man grows it under his feet" (Oppenheimer)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi You 2
It is hard to believe that it boils down to less than 100km!
It was fun to see Thea at the airport and full of stories wearing the T-shirt with the shells and arrows on it.
Your stories are amazing and so are your travels. You are closer now that when you started and you have Holland to look forward to.
If you can bring some sunshine home with you!
God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
Jenny

Anonymous said...

Hi Guys
I forgot to tell you yesterday that the crepe lady fed me and Betty too just when we needed it. Yes Portomarin is a nice place and we too stayed in the same Albergue. Very nice place. Sure feels good to pass that 100 km marker. Things here are pretty rainy but rain is great when I'm sitting in or close to the house. Great to read your report each day. Keep that tendonites in check Klaas and hang tough. God's grace will uphold you both!
Thea
July 30 at 4:45
Boo hoo hoo, Jenny beat me!

Jason said...

Hello world travelers! Jakob napping??!!! Hmmm...must've been a longer day than you let on! :P Hope all is well, Dad take care of that leg! So neat to hear that you're almost done, less than 100km lefts sounds soooo short compared to the numbers at the beginging of the blog! Sorry we haven't updated the blog lately...getting ready for camping!!!!Yay, we're trying out francois lake this year at a site call Sandy's Marina. Should be fun all us Onderwaters together! So we'll post pics soon (I hope) but other than that it's baking cookies, doing laundry and packing the trailer!. Take care. Oh Jakob, Felicity loved talking to you, she was so excited, she thought you were home! Have fun and keep walking! Love you the whole world and then some!~Laura

Anonymous said...

Ja, ja, I am still reading your blogs everyday, but I do not not what to say everyday. It is incredible what you are doing 800 km. in such a short time. Keep on walking and singing and talking (Jakob). We will listen to your stories in a couple of weeks.

Anonymous said...

hey u2, yep read the blog this morn with coffee. Klaas wrap dat leg up and put cream on it already!!!! You still got a smidgen to go. And besides you need both legs for ur dad's boat:} Liquid sunshine off and on today, pretty neat actually, cuz it poured. No wildlife today. Jenna and Alayna ate supper over. And they picked all the ripe raspberries and asked to put them on their girled cheese slandwich. Nasty. Busy day tomorrow, varnishing again, hope it stays dry. All the girls say hi, and are looking forward to playing soccer this weekend, and guys too. Only 93 clicks, wow, please don't take ur smelly shoes home eh? Have a rotten, nasty, smelly bonfire somewhere. Well happy trekking tomorrow u2 pilgrims and take care God bless. You can sing:::: 93 bottles of beer on the...oops 93 tiny clicks to go....... 93 tiny clicks to go, walk a few, only.......and make up ur own words. It will give u2 somepin to do other than reading the markers every 500 meters. Talk to you soon. Love you round the kitchen table.
trish

Anonymous said...

hey you walkers hows the travelin doing almost there hey!!! hope you guys are having a time of your life out there! i know i sure would! but hey im not sure if that hike would beat all the soccer games i would be missing!! this weekend is gonna be sooooo fun man im not sure what im more excited for, the games or the full time babysitters for two days!!!! jj well i just thought i would say hi and have a good walk talk to you later love steph, the kids and the hubby