I had decided at breakfast to ride off the pass. It was lightly snowing and as I was getting ready, I realized things could get much worse and I just didn't have the clothes warm enough for the existing conditions. A taxi was looking for business and I negotiated to take me off the pass to the next town about 12 miles away at 1,800 ft elevation. It's a good thing I did. As we drove just a mile down the road; it really started snowing hard and didn't turn to rain until a couple miles before the town. It was really hard to swallow my pride, but so glad I did. I rode through the rain until 1pm but then, the sun came out for about 3 hours and I passed through wet, but really nice countryside. Just after lunch, I came across this offering to Pilgrims where they had cookies, oranges and a sign that said "Wake up, you are here!" A reminder that you are on the Camino.
I talked to just a couple people today. When conditions are harsh, everyone keeps to themselves, but I met Richard from Latvia at the Pilgrim offering. We didn't talk long, but still made some kind of connection as you do here.
I am in Portomarín tonight; a smaller town, but nice. I am about 60 miles from Santiago and wanting to be there tomorrow to meet up with Tom and Sandy who I met in León and I have a hotel reservation at the traditional Hostal de Reyes right next to the Santiago Cathedral, but I realize that current raining conditions will likely keep me from making it there. It's a struggle to do 40 miles on trail In the rain.
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