Post Run - September 21
Santiago de Compostela. Both Amy and i woke up the day after our roughly 40 mile run into SdC hurting. Our minds finally let go of all that lay ahead to what is done and the body finally was allowed to feel what it went through. I had taken a hard fall the day before and landed on my left side where my left forearm was swollen and cut, left hip bruised and left knee scraped up - it all ached now. Left foot, right ankle, sore legs, back - it all hit. Amy had her own assortment of hurts. I felt solid the entire trip, until I finished. That always seems to be how the mind controls the body until it doesn’t have to. Two days later, everything feels good again.
Yash and Jacqueline finished their Camino experience walking in the final 10k the day after and we all celebrated that night in the old town at a restaurant called A Noiesa. #2 Rated by Trip Advisor - #1 was a Michelin restaurant that I would’nt go to - we went early to see about a table at opening 8pm. No tables. I asked if we could get a cancellation and the maître de thought about and said to return at 8:25pm. Back at 8:20pm and 1 table for 5 had not shown up which was not often. He asked us to give them 5 more minutes and we were in! This was the best dining experience I had in Spain by far. Exceptional muscles, eggplant, tomato and onion salad, artichoke heart apps and fresh lobster rice followed by desserts and bottles of Emilio Moro Ribeiro del Duero, one of my favorites. The owner/chef and his wife came out to speak with us and I thanked him. Feeling proud that we had outlasted everyone in the restaurant at 10:30pm, I spoke to our waiter and said, “not bad for gringo’s, eh?” He smiled and told me the Spaniards will begin another shift now at 10:30pm-12:30am dinners!
One of the amazing things about Europe is the ability to have a wonderful dinner and then walk through cobblestone streets to your hotel or airbnb safely and like people have done for centuries.
Back at San Francisco Monument Hotel that was an old convent converted to luxury hotel, a statue stood in front of the entrance and we learned Francis of Assisi was the patron saint of animals and on his right, looking down on us was a dog with one ear bent looking a lot like Lucky Camino - see picture below.
Run Across Spain is in the books.
Cheers,
David.
