Two days in May

[windswept]

The Camino Norte was to be my 4th Camino. I set out from Bilbao and had made good progress by midday getting within 8kms of Castro Urduiales when I received a telephone call from my daughter to say that my wife had been taken into hospital. I immediately did an about turn and headed back to Bilbao. On the way it was pointed out to me by many of the locals that I was walking the wrong way. I explained my predicament and that I had to get a flight back to the UK as soon as possible. Well, I was offered a wi fi connection to book my flight and coach travel, food, and very importantly prayers. Everyone I came across could not have been more helpful.

I managed to get home within 24 hours and I'm pleased to say that my wife us on the mend and out of hospital. While it was a exhausting experience to say the least the kindness shown by all the Spanish residents I came across was given from the heart. I have heard it said that the Spanish can be taciturn, well, can't we all? But in a crises they come good.

I do my treks to raise money for charity and having had substantial sums pledged have an obligation to complete a trek to honour the donations made by those that support the causes I do.

So I will be returning to walk the English Camino and onto the coast in September, my days of being away for five weeks at a stretch are well and truly over, but I will never forget those two days in May that demonstrated how kind people can be.

 

[ktchnofdngr]

Sometimes our Caminos don't go as planned, but it was the Camino you needed to have. Always remember that.

Blessings,

Ruth

 

[Davey Boyd]

The Camino Norte was to be my 4th Camino. I set out from Bilbao and had made good progress by midday getting within 8kms of Castro Urduiales when I received a telephone call from my daughter to say that my wife had been taken into hospital. I immediately did an about turn and headed back to Bilbao. On the way it was pointed out to me by many of the locals that I was walking the wrong way. I explained my predicament and that I had to get a flight back to the UK as soon as possible. Well, I was offered a wi fi connection to book my flight and coach travel, food, and very importantly prayers. Everyone I came across could not have been more helpful.

I managed to get home within 24 hours and I'm pleased to say that my wife us on the mend and out of hospital. While it was a exhausting experience to say the least the kindness shown by all the Spanish residents I came across was given from the heart. I have heard it said that the Spanish can be taciturn, well, can't we all? But in a crises they come good.

I do my treks to raise money for charity and having had substantial sums pledged have an obligation to complete a trek to honour the donations made by those that support the causes I do.

So I will be returning to walk the English Camino and onto the coast in September, my days of being away for five weeks at a stretch are well and truly over, but I will never forget those two days in May that demonstrated how kind people can be.

I am so glad your wife is on the mend windswept. And yes, one of the wonderful things about walking in Spain is the Spanish people!

Davey

 

[VNwalking]

I will be returning to walk the English Camino and onto the coast in September, my days of being away for five weeks at a stretch are well and truly over, but I will never forget those two days in May that demonstrated how kind people can be.

I'm sorry, windswept, that another kind of wind has picked you up and carried you home--and am glad that your wife is OK now.
Not an easy experience but aren't people amazing? It's all too easy to focus on the bad things that people can do and forget things like this pure gold bigheartedness. But you won't!
Buen camino, when you return...and buen camino de la vida