Day 11/12

The last two days have been full and fun. Logroño is a very fun city. We had a great time exploring and people watching the locals. We even went to a Catholic mass at the breathtaking cathedral! Deb and I bunked with two men who we refer to as “the boys” even though they are really men and just met each other on this trip. They became fast friends and will probably be that for life now.

Their names are Stu (from Canada) and Claude (from Germany.) Stu teaches shop class and Claude manages internet for school districts. 

This is the cathedral where we attended mass. I lit candles for my mom, dad and sister.

Today was a long walking day and we left the alburgue at 5:30 AM. It was still dark. We left a larger city for the wonders of nature and grapevines today. At 8:30 we stopped for coffee and breakfast and I was already at 20,000 steps! My knees were hurting and there was still 9 miles left so I opted for a bus to the stopping point. It’s disheartening that what takes 5 hours to walk can be bussed in 15 minutes for 1.35 euros. 

There is a family here with a mom and four kids, and Deb and I referred to them as the Hail Mary family because they walk in a line and recite hail Mary’s as they walk. One of them is really struggling and has some serious problems with her feet and has been falling behind.

Her family was waiting for her at the breakfast place and we asked where the missing girl (Chloe) was, since she wasn’t with her family. Her mom said she was just walking slowly since she is in a lot of pain. I offered to take her on the bus with me and her mom readily agreed. While talking with her mom, Tammy, I learned that Chloe is 18 and about to commit her life to chastity as a nun! In my 23 years working with young people, I’ve never known a single student who became a nun or priest.

Her commitment has been delayed by a year because her mom (Tammy, who is doing the Camino with her four kids) has brain cancer and is not expected to live! 

What an amazing story and what an honor for me to get to know these people! I talked with Chloe on the bus and as we waited for her family and my friends. She is truly an amazing and inspiring young lady.