Paella Day...

  Do you know how Paella has everything in it? That's how it was today.  A bit of uphill a bit of down.  A bit of road and a bit of trail. Rain, sun clouds. 

  After yesterday's experience, I was ready to ride the road today, especially since it started to sprinkle as we were about to leave. Michel asked about the best way for a bike to go and the woman said take the trail. Much of today was really nice road and trail, but about 10am when we were nearing the pass, it started raining really heavy and everyone was scrambling for rain gear including me. I had learned my lesson the hard way when I did the Spain portion 3 years ago. So I was much better prepared but still got soaked on a few places like my gloves, feet and somehow a bit inside as well. We split apart for a while each going their own pace and the all met up at a small town for a long lunch, stories and drying out. We had met this guy doing the Camino with his 81yr old mom. Kinda sweet. They actually were pretty strong hikers. 

  The trail this afternoon was moderately downhill and very rideable except a few muddy places. I was having a great time being able to do some actual mt biking. 

Our group had to spit up tonight to stay in two small towns a couple miles apart due to availability. Eva Paul and Michel are in Esparyac and Pablo and I are staying in the next town at a Gite that are somewhere between a hostal and hotel. Pablo and I are sharing a room and there are a group of older women sharing two other rooms. Pablo and I really got a chance to get to know each other better which often happens when you meet people on the Camino. His mom is French and his dad is from Mosambique. He has his own business with friends doing a internet job site there. He is going through a bit of crisis at work and maybe his marriage as well. So he came to sort himself out. Well, the good news is that except getting soaked, it was a really nice day of together time, alone time and a chance to be outside in nature all day. 

Not many pix today as we were trying to stay dry. Good thoughts for everyone back home. Gratitude for the simple things that matter most.

Camino

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The  81 yr old mom and son, Paul, Eva

Countryside after the rain

This 92 yr old guy gave gave us a tour around the small village we are staying in 

Gite where we are staying 

Dinner with the others at the Gite