Day 2: Orisson to Burguete (Wendy’s version)

 Bob has given you the lowdown on the rain. And the gale force wind. Which combined to pelt us in the face much of the day with stinging pellets while also attempting to blow us off the road. So I won’t write about that.

Instead, I will say that I genuinely had moments of pure joy when we ambled along a ravine or through woods, sheltered temporarily from the weather, walking past a constantly changing mixture of shaggy horses, black-faced sheep, and beige longhorn cattle. I even said to Bob I was having fun, even though I was soaked to the bone and am notorious for hating to exercise in the rain. It was a good day. 

Some, though very few, people (peregrinos) passed us on the walk. Among those who did were a young man from Denmark, a 60 year old from Ireland who had just taken a voluntary RIF in June and enjoying his retirement with a weeklong bike ride of Portugal (hardcore 100+ miles a day) followed two weeks later by this 500 mile walk. Needless to say, he and Bob hit it off. Last night, we shared our hostel room with a man from LA who rode the Camino last year and is back to walk the parts he missed last time.

Now, we’re off to dinner with some very friendly Canadians from Manitoba. I know, weird, right?

As spectacular as the scenery is, it’s really about the people.