Armentiera to Ponte Arnelas

I’m deep in the Spiritual Variant of the Camino. Very few people. Lots of time to talk to myself and sing right out loud. Which I did. A lot.

The Camino followed “The path of stone and water” starting with the Armenteira river which was roaring white water. Gushing with rain run off. The path itself was puddled, often muddy, a little slippery, and a few times squishy. There were ruins of old grain mills that diverted water to drive the millstones. The trees were like from a fairy land, mossy, falling over, creating dark arches and hiding unseen creatures.

The day started with rain, as usual. Someone at breakfast said ”oh yeah,I remember sun”. And in a couple hours the sun did come out. Yay! I stopped to rest and rub my aching knee. Someone came by. He pointed to the darkening clouds over the eastern mountains, said something “mucho fluvio” and wiggled his fingers like in the Itsy Bitsy Spider song. I decided I’d better get a move on, sore knee or no to avoid mucho rain. Well the sun came out again (and dried up all the rain, so the itsy bitsy spider…) and I needed to slow down anyway. Maybe the forecasted rain for this evening will wash the spider out.

Once the whitewater eased, I was in grape land again. Very few places to stop. Until I got to my hostal, not quite a hotel and not a hostel. By the time I arrived I was pooped. Muy cansado.

Inner journey: aware of the intense power of water, sending compassion to those affected by Helene and Milton. Hurricane Kirk will impact us here. I’ll keep a weather eye. My out loud chanting became “balance,” intending the Earth to come to balance. Hopefully with grace and ease.
Oh, and Im homesick. 😕Read more