2 may

So here I am again in Ourense, ready for my last shift of walking into Santiago ( again). Taking the train from Burgos was a trip down memory lane. Just outside Burgos I saw the church in a little village where Julie parked Merlin next to the church. I didn’t recognize anything in Leon. Then i was wondering what happened in Sahagun? Did we stay in a campground there. That’s kind of what I’m thinking now. Then saw the Gaudi episcopal palace in Astorga in the distance. Still a weird building. And where did I come from when I passed Ponferrada. Without the help of my diary – which I only will reread in a few months, if ever – I just couldn’t get a grip on it.
The real event of the trip was a few women and the young son of them being kicked out of the train. I had just gotten over to these woman to ask them if the horrible music of the boy could go a little less loud. Musica I said while pushing my hand down. After a few times explaining they seemed to understand what I meant. But convincing the boy of 7/8 years old was a different story. Porque, porque he kept asking, not turning the music down. And then the police came. I call it divinely interception and being the proof that I was looking for that God does exist. I kept a very dignified face in the whole process, hiding my ‘don’t fool with me’ face.
But here is Ourense, the place where I left for the monastery one week ago, and the place where I had to talk myself into the albergue again. It was a little fishy, according to the civil servant housekeeper, that I was coming back after not much more than one week. In my pilgrims passport there’s a stamp from Silos abbey stating that I was there for a week. That ultimately was proof enough. I gratefully paid my €6 fee.
So there’s 108 more kilometres to go. Three more days. I am looking forward to some more walking, but also looking forward for it to be done. My toes act like they could use a little rest, and my right leg has not been a real part of my body from the moment I stabbed myself. They want a normal life again, and to be honest, me too. But these last three days I will enjoy. Also because the weather is heavenly.