Day 7: The Spry Spaniard
September 27th: Baiona to Vigo: Around 16 miles (my watch got bumped and stopped recording).
The Camino spirit was strong today. Sometime in the early AM, I ran into this gentleman traveling solo. We talked a bit in English, Spanish, French and Google translate. His name was Andres, he was from eastern Spain, and this was his 3rd camino. Our paces were similar so we continued walking, often in silence. At one point I asked if I was slowing him down and let him know he could go on ahead. He replied that he would prefer to stay with me. OK. Now the paranoid, scared American in me started questioning internally but I decided to not be afraid and to trust.
He turned out to be a very funny and kind man, the kind of person who picks up the trash as you walk along and touches all of the plants on the side of the road. When we would pass dogs, he would bark, cats he would meow, goats...you get the idea. He told me that he had been a dog groomer for 30 years and then worked in hotels. He was single, no kids. I told him about me (married, two kids, Josh, etc.) to the best of my ability given the language barrier. And on we went. Around mile 10 my legs started to feel weak and I slowed way down. He hung out. After eating a power bar and drinking a coke, I came back to life and we continued on.
We eventually made it to Vigo, which is the largest city by far in Galacia, and I still had hours to walk before I would reach my hotel. He seemed intent on walking me there and I still wasn't sure about his intentions. What did he think was going to happen once we got there??? I decided, rather than stress out about it, I would just ask. So somehow I did. He laughed and said that on Camino he meets people and he thought I was a good girl with a good heart so he would walk me there, nothing more. Phew. Turns out I was very happy for his company as we wound our way through Vigo, as it was industrial and a little scary in places. When we finally reached the hotel, I bought him a beer in the hotel bar and we talked as best we could. Then he got up, put on his backpack, gave he a hug and left. He was just a really good guy who had my back today.
Sounds like you’re wearing out some a bit. Probably to be expected on day 7. Sounds like you met one of the good guys…..glad he stuck with you.
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