TIME FOR AN UPDATE

Yesterday was the big day.  27 km, 1400 meters elevation gain. On the  best advice, I used poles and got my bag transported.  Wouldn't have made it otherwise. Also wore a hat provided by Gail.  Very good idea.  Why have I resisted that for so long?

Once again, not enough superlatives to describe the scenery.  Start with spectacular and go up from there.  Better yet, look up pictures on the net.  I tried to take some on my phone but they don't do it justice.

Price of scenery:  tapped me right out.  Took twelve hours and exhausted me.  But I didn't die.

The Camino is very crowded.  There is lots of room on the trail,  but rooms are hard to find.  Picture an army of people from all over the world, each with a cell phone, each expert at working the reservation system.  Big Jim doesn't stand a chance.  On the other hand, I have had two nights of crazy serendipity, providing stories for later.  If I don't forget them.  If you're not bored.

As expected, many conversations with many people.  All very interesting, but not really substantive because we're all focused on getting through.  Maybe more later.

Other notes:  saw two fighter jets doing low level flying in the mountains.  way below us.

A helicopter showed up right where I was, but then went further back down the trail and landed there.  Something went wrong with somebody I guess.

Saw a memorial plaque high in the mountains.  Somebody's journey ended there.  I kept walking.

Got where I was going after 12 hours, but not a room in sight.  So I sat at a patio and had a beer, and from a nearby conversation I could hear the word taxi being repeated.  So I went over there, and some kind soul was organizing taxis and rooms for homeless pilgrims.  Ended up in a dorm with mr. and mrs. Croatian.   Went to bed at 10 30 or so, and about 10 45 the light goes on and in comes three substantial Portuguese gents, who, I found out later, were on bikes but roomless.  Anyway, they got settled, and then at 11 30 the lights came on and in came a bearded fella.  Met him in the morning and had breakfast with him.  Fine chap.  All of it out of my comfort zone, but fun anyway.

I'll try to tack on a pic.  Having fun, still upright. 

Peace to winers and whoever else reads this.