Camino Forum encounters

[naplesdon]

I completed the Camino Frances on 16 July, it only took me 41 days from SJPdP and I will freely admit I cheated by riding a horse up to O'Cerbreiro in the fog and sleet on the 6th of July. I was lucky to meet several forum members on my walk. I ran into Mark Lee at Casa Magica and later at a really great new albergue in Ponferrada. I stayed at Reb Scott's Peacable Kingdom in Moratinos with Karin and Gizy, who I had the pleasure of walking many k's together with. I got to visit Paddy's bodega after a wonderful lunch at the Bodega restaurant in Moratinos with Reb, Paddy and Malvina from Tucson who was headed west of Hospital de Orbiga to buy a place to turn into a new albergue. I had a chance encounter with Olivares after O'Cebreiro who recognized me from my photo on the forum site. I stopped in Rabanal to introduce myself to Jenny H and Julie and had dinner with Jenny that evening. When I arrived in Santiago I tried several times to meet Johnnie Walker with no avail but on Saturday afternoon when I was wandering around town I ran into Jenny and AJ, and later Kat from Melbourne joined us. We all met for dinner later. I found Ivar's office but it was on Saturday when it is closed, Jenny took a photo of me ringing his doorbell in a "Steven Colbert" surprise pose.
The highlight of my Camino was getting to see the Botafumeiro swing twice on Sunday morning.

 

[ivar]

Sorry I missed you! (Loved the photo!)

 

[bystander]

Like Ivar, I love the photos - each smile tells a story...........

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Using names of pilgrims, not recommended. Never give your name or country, why ? A friend who blogged al his movements on this forum got home to find his house robbed, destroyed. Anybody can be reading blogs, anywhere

 

[Finisterre]

Because of one break-in we all need to change our behaviour?

Nah.

it sounds a real social whirl 'biarritz'

 

[JennyH94]

Meeting up with Don both at Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal and in Santiago was a highlight of my volunteer Camino this year.
Here's an example of Forum members looking out for each other ... Don had told us on Saturday night that he would get to the Cathedral early Sunday morning in order to be close to the altar and naturally, the Botafumeiro. He told us that he would make space for those of us who came along. He had secured a space in the second row, at the side - I would say one of the best spots possible in the Cathedral. Due to Don's generosity of his time, on his last day in Santiago, when he could have been elsewhere before both Masses, we experienced this ...



Don - thank you so very much for all your thoughtfulness - I really do appreciate it.
Cheers - Jenny

 

[naplesdon]

Using names of pilgrims, not recommended. Never give your name or country, why ? A friend who blogged al his movements on this forum got home to find his house robbed, destroyed. Anybody can be reading blogs, anywhere

 

[bystander]

Using names of pilgrims, not recommended. Never give your name or country, why ? A friend who blogged al his movements on this forum got home to find his house robbed, destroyed. Anybody can be reading blogs, anywhere

a) This is paranoia in extremis
b) How did your friend know that the theft etc had anything to do with this forum? Did the burglar leave a scallop shell as a calling-card?
c) If, however, you are right, should I give a false name and home address when on my camino so no one can phone my home country and arrange for my house to be turned over !!?

Stuff and nonsense, my friend.