Lots of pleasant surprises. First was just deciding out of the blue to go do it! I lived in Spain when I was a kid for 10 years until I was 16 and returned to Seattle, Washington, so even though that was 52 years ago, I still could speak a little spanish.
2nd big surprise was the dinner at Orrison- don't miss it! Fifty pelegrinos at dinner, we all stood up and introduced ourselves, said where we were from, and why we were there. About 6 or 7 said they were doing the camino for religious reasons, another dozen or so for spiritual reasons, and the rest of us heathens didn't have a clue - (adventure, meet new people, etc.) But the surprise was that 12 people were from Seattle!
3rd surprise was meeting Frances & Loretto in Zubiri and walking to Puente La Reina together until they had to go home, and then, several weeks later,
4th surprise, meeting Raquel and Montse on walk to Bercianos (I was momentarily lost and hailed by Raquel back to the trail). we walked together (juntos) to Leon where they too abandoned me to go home to work. But here's the kicker- all 4 are going to meet up with me this coming September where they left off last year! Raquel is a professor of Spanish for English speaking foreign exchange students in Alicante, so we spoke in Spanish only for three days- (with occasional corrections) it was fantastic!
My daughter and son in law joined me in Sarria (pre planned) but the 5th surprise was just how many peregrinos are on the trail from Sarria to Santiago. But the trail is much wider and easier walking, and never felt too crowded.
I was never bored, never hungry, never too tired to enjoy dinner, slept comfortably every night, always ready to go the next morning, sometimes an hour before sunrise, never got too hot, and surprisingly, didn't get sunburned or even good tan on left side (in shorts and short sleeve t-shirt) with no suntan lotion and sunny days EVERY DAY for 35 days! Can't wait to do it again!