”Old people do it!”

May 16, 2024 – Cervera de Pisuerga – Guardo – 36 kms – Hotel el Tremazal

May 17, 2024 – Guardo – Puente-Almuhey – 19kms – Albergue Peligrinos

May 18, 2024 – Puente-Almuhey – Arrimadas – 32 kms – Hotel Rural Monasterio de Ara Mada

Well I’m not made of sugar, thankfully. Today was cold and a soaker. But I am now sitting writing this by a fire in a beautiful rural guesthouse that was a former monastery.  After tomorrow the forecast is dryer and slowly warming up. If tomorrow is like today, I’m staying put – it’s lovely here. 

I complain, but Gord is generally out for three or four more hours than I am. He really is amazing!  After all the praise I have doled out to my bike,  Grandma Friday, have I even once written an ode to Gordon’s feet? 

A recent post on Facebook by a young woman on the Norte commented that one of her favourite Camino myths is the suggestion that it can’t be too hard because old people do it. She then goes on to say that for those old people the Camino is their job and they prepare year round. They are the ones who are ready and much more able than her own cohort. Gord is certainly a perfect example of this. After 50 days of walking a total of 1319 kms, Gord is generally asking for longer days not shorter ones.  Other than losing one toenail his feet have literally stood by him. He is a walking machine and the Camino is his job. 

Caminos, like life, have their ups and downs and we have had wonderful experiences even on days with big challenges. Last night we had a wonderful stay at the Albergue Pelegrino in Puente-Almuhey. Sonia, the hospitalera, left a comment on one of my Facebook posts a week ago telling me she would love to host us when we pass through. Gord and I don’t have many rules, but one is not to refuse kind invitations when travelling. 

We were not alone in the albergue, as the two Austurian pilgrims and another woman from Bilbao were also there.  Looking around the table I realized that I was the youngest one there. All of the others were strong, tough older people who are successfully tackling one of the toughest mountain Caminos.