THIS IS JUST ADIOS AND NOT GOODBYE

As noted before, I was hoping that a tour company could work miracles on my behalf.  Well, they couldn't.  COMPLETO.

I found that out yesterday, so I found a travel agency in Leon and they made the arrangements.  There's a three day wait for things to happen, so this morning I rented a car and drove to Santiago.  The place is awash in pilgrims.  I'm gonna go to pilgrims mass tonite.  

This cathedral, I believe, is the oldest one of the bunch and allegedly contains the relics of St James.  I thought they might charge accordingly, but it's free.  They could make a lotta money--no pilgrim is gonna walk that far and not go in--but they don't.  Maybe the powers that be in this jurisdiction prioritize grace over profits, but that's just a guess.  Maybe if they charged, St James would turn over in his grave and scare the hell out of everybody.

Among the things I've seen lately: An outdoor market in Leon that was one km long and was devoted exclusively to women's wear, with a flea market at one end.  You probably think I'm exaggerating, but I am not.

The cathedral in Leon.  Like all of them, it is truly awe inspiring.

The drive from Leon to Santiago.  All kinds of sights to see.  It includes a kind of mini- Coquihalla...tunnels, bridges over deep gorges, fog, and etc.  I'm driving a little Peugeot with a stick shift, so love that.  All the trucks are five axle only.  No b-trains.  And it rains all the time.

And other stuff.

I've been wrestling a bit with pulling the pin, but all things considered, it was more or less inevitable, given all the variables. After chewing on it a bit, I've made peace with it.  Which, after all, is what the Camino is about, I think; getting off the treadmill, the competition, the schedules, etc...Whatever the case, I'm not doing regret.  I'm grateful for all of it.

Thanks for reading these things.  Thanks to the folks I met along the way who might be reading them...look me up.

Next week, when I'm sitting at my computer instead of this midget keyboard, I'll try to offer some coherent reflection.

Right after I touch the green green grass of home.