Tough day on the range. Wifi is spotty. Bruce from San Diego having a short respite from the walk. That s what we call it now: The Walk. He is a Padres fan.
So what is our daily routine then:
Hoping to be up at 6 but wide awake at 4am. Toss and turn and curse the snorer beside you until around 6am. Then the keeners get up. They get out on The Walk while it is still dark. Bad idea as the terrain underfoot is terrible. Then the fighting starts for the single shitter and shower stall and that is when those walking sticks come in handy. I was here first. No you weren’t. Yes I was, no you weren’t and on and on it goes just like it says in the ” So You Want To Be A Pilgrim Do You? Handbook. I know, I know. A real classic it is.
Jerry and I wait until the morning mayhem ceases. Then we get up and dobie (wash), get dressed and hit the trail. Usually around 730. Civil twilight is good until sunrise,which is around 8am. We try to put on 5-10 kicks before we find a cantina to have our morning coffee and beps (bun). Then off we go. We always meet up with those early risers so you see,getting up early doesn’t pay.
That,s a me. Yay. Directing Pilgrim traffic.
A usual craic (conversation with Jerry) normally starts like this:
“Hey bye”
” Yeah Jerry
” Do ya have a hankering for burrs where you live?”
“Burrs?” I say
” Yeah. Burrs?”
” What,s a burr Jerry?”
” Ya know, those big black tings in the bush. You know, does a burr shyte in da woods bye?”
” Oh, you mean bears?” I say.
” Yeah burrs.”
” Yeah. We have burrs Jerry. In da woods Jerry and da pope is catholic.” I add for effect.
“Whew.” He adds.
Northern Ireland word of the day:
“Dinky”- means posh, la di da
We walk until about 12 noon. 2pm if covering off more than 25 kicks
Then we play ” Find the Alberque” which is a real game of chance I can tell you. Check in, find your bunk. Then a shower cause we stink and no bar or cafe is going to let us in. We are the unwashed, the unclean. Hey. We’ re even mentioned in the bible. And while the majority of the pilgrims lie down for a few winks Jerry.and I are off for a few pints. Back, find a restaurant, have a meal then back to our bunks and start the routine all over again.
After a dobie that is. I also ĺìķe to walk around the town, village or city to get a feel for the place I am at.
One of the more frustrating things about this journey is that the majority of the pilgrims keep to themselves and will not socialize.
I miss the German group snd Alberto the Italian and his girlfriend.
All for now. Read ya later.
In Leon tomorrow.
Wow, are you having fun yet, bet you will appreciate your shower when you get back. Starting to cool off here with temperatures in the single digits overnight.
It’s all cool
That was a good one pops!
Thxs Mark.