I was the last to leave to Eunate... bond actually stayed behind and endured the snorer without having to leave the room. The hostess laughed and shared a story how a huge snorer caused the whole to vacate onetime. She shared how at breakfast everyone was waiting for " the snorer", it's odd and of course not fair to the snorer ( who in our case was a vet nice man) but I found I have passed him since and just pray he doesn't stop where I do. I walked thru Puente La Reina where the famous Queen's Bridge is (kiddos add that to your wall map). I was alone... How odd going from being surrounded by wonderful energy to being alone. I walked thru Puente La Reina and backtracked some to find a place that would serve me a salad, I lucked out to get a salad with a pear and cheese and thick balsamic vinegar. I also made a rush purchase, almost everyone has walking poles I saw a previous wooden walking stick with a typical gorge attached and purchased it for about ten euros. I had images of it being on my fireplace mantle and walked proudly down the street with it. Instantly I realized I had made a huge mistake...it just goring my way and handling it when trying to take pictures was no fun.
I walked for about two hours by myself, kind of second guessing my decision to separate from a group I loved dearly. I knew I needed it but it was still a change. Inclines kill me... I was huffing and puffing up one when I heard someone behind me. I had only passed a young couple in their own little world and assumed it was them. Coming up on me was a gentleman old enough to be my father wasting no time, he would make comment that his father was coming up behind him. I turned around to only the hat of another gentleman who too was conquering this incline really well. I did the math in my head and just could believe that his father was doing this... It ends up these two have been best friends since 1969. Two Irish friends who I loved instantly, one is a father of seven and the other of I think six. These two were a hoot and I felt like the luckiest person in the world to get to walk with them. Their pace just about killed me but their energy and enthusiasm for life was so much fun. V and G from Ireland... And G has a daughter named Neve (but spelled in the traditional way Niamh). We walked and ended up in a town setting up a band V approached the band (he is gifted in that he approaches everyone a happier people person I have yet to meet) and he told them he could play the trumpet and they shared in about thirty minutes they would play. We had walked right into a festival in Spain and all of the town's inhabitants were dressed white with red scarves, it appeared clear this festival was child related and confetti and beach balls came flying out of the windows. We enjoyed ourselves, but these guys don't linger long and instantly we were off. We passed "the snorer" from the night before and I worried he was going to end up where we were. I know that sounds awful but you need to survive out here and you need your rest to do so. I had a goal to stop in Lorca and what a special little spot it was. Life there centered around small bar and a bar maid who was so sweet. I had been searching for gazpacho and this would be my first bowl in Spain. I thought to myself how fortunate this sweet girl was in her job, she saw international people everyday, I doubt an employee at the World Bank could see more diversity in one day and the population in her town was four hundred. I would have my first real FaceTime with the family tonight as there were wonderful nooks to this auberge to escape to and have conversations. We did laundry in a machine and not by hand....ahhhhhh....and V was kind enough to let me throw my stuff I with his, somewhere I lost a pair of black undies, the clotheslines all have black undies so there is a slight chance someone took mine by accident, however I did forearm V to make sure he gives his wife some notice that there just might be some ladies undies on his clothes. His wife and daughter packed his backpack for him, it amazed me how they researched what he needed and he just trusted that he'd have what he needed. It ends up I remind him of his American daughter-in-law who lives with his son about three hours away from me...our paths will cross again. We had a wonderful pilgrim's meal at our auberge and all agreed we'd wake up early to start the next day. I am mastering the quick pack up now and so much more comfortable with my packing and just working my backpack.
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