Caldas de reis to Padron Day 9

Fourteen miles completed today. It was a nice cool, cloudy day, so we took our time. Received bad news of an unexpected death at SX this morning. Felt sad all day thinking of his family. I'm so far away and helpless, but will continue my journey and continue to pray for everyone. Last day tomorrow. It's going to be a long one. Patricia.
Well, I had a good night. I woke up at 8 am. Construction outdoors close by. Laundry dried partially. I had to hang against floor fans. It is to humid in the mornings. We left at about 11 a.m., which was to be a 3 1/2 hour trek. It was to be 10 miles nope 🙅‍♂️. We left without water, maybe a quarter and soda it was in Patricia bag she didn't share. She said your on your own. JK. We managed. We met a nice couple we were trying to take short to supermaercado. The lady was spanish and the guy was french. We chat for a bit. The gentleman had something to show me. It was a prized possession, a Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was hoping to tour the United States on a motorcycle. They gave us water and allowed a photograph. We ate at a truck stop and continued on our way. Scenery was beautiful on the road to Santiago. Oh, at the truck stop as we were leaving, a gentleman serenaded us with a "Santiago." it was so touching. We took a break at an old but still church. There were three elder men and a young girl. I assume a granddaughter. They were aughing and talking away. I got my spanish app out. I asked how old the church he kept doing a cross with his fingers. Finally, I got the app to work he was saying it was built in the tenth century. We left, and he began to sing a song. What I heard was "Amigos de Santiago." We ran into our friends, the German guy with his Tabascoan friend. We were the old peregrinos. Continuing on, we met an elder male he had been to talking to a traveler. He began to ramble on pulled out the app he was telling us of all the people that crossed this path from all over the even Hawaii. Be told how far we had to get to the town we were headed to. We left shortly after I saw another elder male. Didn't get my app out in time. I pointed to a remote lawnmower. I was trying to ask about? He went into his home and came back with a small bag with seeds. He said they calabaza seeds. He had gourds hanging from trees. These gourds are depicted in many artwork used by peregrinos in ancient times to carry their water or vinos. We continued on hours or kilometers to miles, and they don't mean much anymore to me. It I'd tiredness felt in my ankles. We ate our dinner at 10 pm. Finally had my Galician soup. This soup kept me going last year. Patricia had her fish. In closing, about 12 miles left on this pilgrimage. Thank you, Patricia, for your company. Lastly, I have been thinking about the elder man and his granddaughter. I want, and I pray that all of us Tohono O'odham men can live long lives and to be grandfather's to our grandchildren and to others. Good role models. Doug.Read more