Grogan
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francis (April 2015)
24 April 2015 - Arzua to Lavacolla -- 29 Kms
10 KMs from Santiago -- Very Hard To Believe! - Will meet up with Martina tomorrow -- Really looking forward to that -- has been a crazy day in a lot of ways -- first -- Yep -- rained on and off for a good majority of the time -- not a buzz kill -- but just, will, not real fun - just call me Cowboy Bob.
So awhile back I mentioned my issue with breaking the toothpaste container and putting the toothpaste in a snack bag -- well -- did not work out as I had hoped -- at least I was able to scrape some toothpaste out of the toiletry kit to take care of the ivories until I finally broke down and bought some more toothpaste -- yep -- gave up a beer for toothpaste -- that is dental hygiene dedication if you ask me.
On today's walk I ran into so many interesting and in some cases different people -- at one point I thought I was at a Pokemon Convention -- different colored ponchos, bright colored tennis shoes, umbrellas and yes -- lots of spandex -- truly felt I was at the old Star Wars Bar Scene all day -- entertaining to say the least.
I had this thought -- that the last part of the El Camino would be, I don't know, easy -- was not as easy as I had hoped -- there are some pretty good upgrades to hump and same with downhill treks -- lots of folks are working there way to the last Albergue (5 km out from Santiago) for an easy walk into the City tomorrow -- not me -- Embrace The Suck one last time -- but actually, did not want to sleep in an Albergue -- yep -- spoiled.
Ran into some Germans from Mannheim -- they were with the Fire Department -- How did I know -- they were wearing their full fire fighting kit to include helmet and oxygen tanks -- they had started their Camino from St. Jean on 21 March -- got to hand it to them-- very unique and they were very cool guys! Told them that Martina was also a Hessen -- they thought that was pretty cool -- the Fire Dudes will not arrive in Santiago until Sunday, so not sure if we will get to see them before we head back to Brussels.
So I get to the Hostel San Paio - two stars -- but who cares -- I have an option -- with my remaining CampSuds -- I can wash my socks, t-shirt, etc.. or I could pour it all in the bathtub and soak in it -- chose the latter -- good call as far as I am concern -- Martina may challenge that call when she sniffs me tomorrow -- but for now, was in heaven.
Ok -- so ran out of deodorant a few days ago -- not wanting to go completely European -- I decided to buy some more -- in some little shop in the middle of nowhere, I am looking through the options and really do not recognize anything that looks like men's deodorant -- so go for some women's deodorant -- you know the roll on stuff -- anyways after a few days I get to thinking is this really deodorant or is it a female hygiene product --for the life of me, cannot figure it out -- but I do feel fresh!
Am sure tomorrow will be an emotional Rollie Coaster -- I look back and do not know how I actually got up and down some of those Big Ass Mountains -- I still remember the first day suck -- and thinking -- holy crap -- I'm screwed -- but with a couple of hours of hiking left -- it seems absolutely surreal - and -- Yep -- Grew My First Beard!
Grogan Out
10 KMs from Santiago -- Very Hard To Believe! - Will meet up with Martina tomorrow -- Really looking forward to that -- has been a crazy day in a lot of ways -- first -- Yep -- rained on and off for a good majority of the time -- not a buzz kill -- but just, will, not real fun - just call me Cowboy Bob.
So awhile back I mentioned my issue with breaking the toothpaste container and putting the toothpaste in a snack bag -- well -- did not work out as I had hoped -- at least I was able to scrape some toothpaste out of the toiletry kit to take care of the ivories until I finally broke down and bought some more toothpaste -- yep -- gave up a beer for toothpaste -- that is dental hygiene dedication if you ask me.
On today's walk I ran into so many interesting and in some cases different people -- at one point I thought I was at a Pokemon Convention -- different colored ponchos, bright colored tennis shoes, umbrellas and yes -- lots of spandex -- truly felt I was at the old Star Wars Bar Scene all day -- entertaining to say the least.
I had this thought -- that the last part of the El Camino would be, I don't know, easy -- was not as easy as I had hoped -- there are some pretty good upgrades to hump and same with downhill treks -- lots of folks are working there way to the last Albergue (5 km out from Santiago) for an easy walk into the City tomorrow -- not me -- Embrace The Suck one last time -- but actually, did not want to sleep in an Albergue -- yep -- spoiled.
Ran into some Germans from Mannheim -- they were with the Fire Department -- How did I know -- they were wearing their full fire fighting kit to include helmet and oxygen tanks -- they had started their Camino from St. Jean on 21 March -- got to hand it to them-- very unique and they were very cool guys! Told them that Martina was also a Hessen -- they thought that was pretty cool -- the Fire Dudes will not arrive in Santiago until Sunday, so not sure if we will get to see them before we head back to Brussels.
So I get to the Hostel San Paio - two stars -- but who cares -- I have an option -- with my remaining CampSuds -- I can wash my socks, t-shirt, etc.. or I could pour it all in the bathtub and soak in it -- chose the latter -- good call as far as I am concern -- Martina may challenge that call when she sniffs me tomorrow -- but for now, was in heaven.
Ok -- so ran out of deodorant a few days ago -- not wanting to go completely European -- I decided to buy some more -- in some little shop in the middle of nowhere, I am looking through the options and really do not recognize anything that looks like men's deodorant -- so go for some women's deodorant -- you know the roll on stuff -- anyways after a few days I get to thinking is this really deodorant or is it a female hygiene product --for the life of me, cannot figure it out -- but I do feel fresh!
Am sure tomorrow will be an emotional Rollie Coaster -- I look back and do not know how I actually got up and down some of those Big Ass Mountains -- I still remember the first day suck -- and thinking -- holy crap -- I'm screwed -- but with a couple of hours of hiking left -- it seems absolutely surreal - and -- Yep -- Grew My First Beard!
Grogan Out
Everyone loves them!! Hope you had as great a time as I did. Almost 2 years since we walked, and I still get on this forum almost every day to see what's new 
