I want to thank you for filming this lovely spot on the Camino. Last Sept.(2017) I was sitting on the concrete (to the right), a glorious day; blue skies, no clouds, and a soft breeze blowing from the south reading my Bryerly Bible when a man walked by, into the water (maybe 2" max) and disiappeared down the trail. A few minutes later a tall, lithe lady in tight jeans (I know, I know one shouldn't wear jeans on the Camino, but she did look lovely and the image remains with me still) appeared, entered the liquid flow, crossed, and disiappeared. A moment later a half dozen bycycle riders appeared and for a moment, paused to asses what was in front of them. All of a sudden one young man bolted forward and entered into the quick moving stream. Just below the water was an algae like growth weaving with the current. When the front tire made contact with this bio-phenonenem the bicycle sans rider fell forward and became a victim of "arrogant, over expectations!". I, waking from my sun drenched reverie jumped up and immediatly raced to the rescue. Upon entering the flowing river I too became a victim of "arrogant expectations", and watched as my feet, clad in their trusty Keens, slid out from underneath me (yes, I did feel abandoned) and, as they began to elevate, felt the cool, wet water quickly claim my lower legs and half way up my thighs. This dampening of my wardrobe (not to mention the Bible) brought me back to reality and I resumed an upward stance, assisted the rider to his feat, and, with great aplomb and non-chalance strode back to my concrete perch waving off all concerns for my well being. Let's face it as a pilgrim it's what we do. Martyrs in the making. Sounds like a T-shirt.
Taking advantage of the sunny skies I stayed a bit longer on the hard surface, and recounted my adventure to passing pilgrims as my wardrobe and holy document exposed themselves to the warm rays of the sun. A young lady came and sat by me and as I re-counted my adventure to her. While 'casually' mentioning my heroic deed, I noticed a small van arrive on the far side of the spillway and a man emerged from the drivers side. With the drivers door open I ascertained, by the sign, that he was a taxi driver and was here to, perhaps, assist any weary pilgrims with their journey. Seeing none, other than myself and my nubile audience rapt in conversation, he found a stick, maybe six feet long and two inches wide and began clearing out the debris that was collecting behind the concrete pillars and impeding the rivers flow. He was slowly working his way towards us and, I assume, was deeply engrossed in his project. I, on my end of the causeway, was holding forth on the 'rescue' of the impulsive rider and the quick thinking that only a seasoned pilgrim (did I mention that this is my second Camino) might responned to when I all of a sudden felt a smack on the back of my head as the "flowmaster", lost in his desire to regulate the Rio Erro, assaulted me with his primitive eco-tool. Stunned, and at a loss for words, I found myself verbally stumbling about as my young acolyte rushed to my assistance, and the driver/flowmaster, appalled at his faux-pas, apologized for his apparent loss of awareness.
So... for those of you who wonder why we walk the Camino, and why some walk more than once, I will answer for the only person I can speak for...me. Humility.If you open yourself up to it it's the gift that keeps on giving. As I think back on that moment I find myself laughing and shaking my head at the clown that I know and all the amusement he has given me all through the years.
Remember...one foot in front of the other, and keep on walking.
Buen Camino.