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- Oct 25, 2023, 9:25 AM
- ☁️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 262 ft
- SpainGaliciaVigoEstación de ferrocarril de Urzaiz42°13’56” N 8°42’53” W
Hitting Our Stride
October 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Here was the plan-we fly in to Portugal and walk north into Spain and we pray our way up the coast and the sun shines and it’s warm and we get some exercise along the way….and that’s not what’s happening! It rained again (hard) for 17+miles and it was difficult to see anything through the fog and raindrops-and it’s cold! Oh well, despite the unexpected developments in our plan, we know we are progressing and hitting our stride- at some point we just gave it up to God and kept walking. We are keeping our eyes on the official Camino markers with their descending km numbers as we march closer to Santiago!
Leaving Vigo was difficult because it’s a bustling city with lots of construction and activity. On the way out of town we passed so many shops and markets. We always drop into the fruitalarias for snacking fruit and pastelarias for snacks to add to our packs and there were many shops along the way! Vigo is known for its seafood and most importantly its oysters but we’ll have to try those next time! We had a serious wake up call by being introduced to Mount Vigo. Climbing it wasn’t technical but it was difficult and straight up and the rain made the streets slippery. At one point there was a line of pilgrims huffing and puffing and pushing their way up along with us! We caught our breath, hit our stride and just tried to keep walking out of town and towards the next tiny villages. In Cederia we were able to see the old church dedicated to Santo André which was designed by the same architect responsible for the design of the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. We had mountain trails again today and the rain has made the forest so green!
I turned 67 today- yes, walking the Camino on my birthday! In all of the rain I was able to do a lot of thinking and today it was about my mom who gave me life! She loved traveling and exploring and she inspired me as a kid and even now. I’m doing this pilgrimage but I’m bringing her with me in my heart and when I get my certificate at the end I plan to have her name added too. Her name was Marie Marguerite Thérèse Pellerin which is fitting that she would travel with me because the name “Pellerin” means pilgrim in French. And we were lucky enough to meet our first fellow Québécois on the journey today! Martine and Josée from Montréal walked a bit with us! I didn’t have cake but Lisa from Austria (a young policewoman!) who’s also in the Albergue with us gave me a special chocolate wafer bar to enjoy- so much kindness sent to me today! We are sleeping in Arcade/Pontesampaio and we walked across a one lane bridge built in 1600 that still is in use even by automobiles! Tomorrow is a short day into Pontevedra and we plan on attending the pilgrims Mass at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Shelter and the Divine Pilgrim- headed to sleep now- Thankyou all for the birthday wishes!!Read more
Traveler She’s protecting you both on your journey! ❤️
Traveler Yes!! Xoxo
Traveler ❤️
Traveler Love you Lise- wish you were here!