Day 19 to O Cadavo

22 September 2023 Day 19 destination O Cadavo 27km -19 miles - 41000 steps a fair amount of elevation change up and then down, and then up and down again, over the entire 27 km. It should be a strenuous day and in my mind - the last one that I will allow of this length, but there are no services until we get to destination - no choice today

Today will be about left ankle management!

Arrived in destination, and after a thorough discussion, I will split the next extremely long stage into two different days to allow for recovery for my body and focus on nutrition and calorie intake

Holger will go directly to Lugo and have a day off because he has some health challenges as well. We will spend the afternoon Sunday together and then press on together on Monday after Lugo.

Today was actually a very strenuous day as you can tell from the steps walked I list those because that’s where the truth be told because many of those steps are short due to step up hill or steep downhill where my stride is 50% of normal. Steps is a good measure for me for expenditure of energy, which is why I keep track of them.

Additionally, today was about M&Ms or what I refer to as mud management it was our first very wet day as you will see

You can see the elevation changes as well as the physical map. We enter from the right and move to the left to today’s town. Today believe it or not it was 1000 m of vertical and 1000 m of descent Oofdah over a seven hour day. The initial elevation increase was actually pretty brutal on top of that steady rain 15 knot wind which created a windchill and how do you spell mud management?! And fun! I think Santiago in James one says it best:

Santiago says:

(San tiago 1:2 ) “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” ( when on Camino 💥 )

M & M s. = mud management system required

Today we lived in the clouds as you can see. In the distance it’s cloudy, and if you look carefully, you can see heavy, downpours those moved in and out of our life, most of the morning and part of the afternoon.

At the first Apex or pass, we came across this little chapel, unfortunately locked so we couldn’t get it I think the reason is the powers to be don’t want any camping or vandalism or worse. Sad and unfortunate.

I think if you look at the background, you can see that it is raining rather intentionally, what you can’t see or feel is the 15 knot wind.

Of course I always look inside to see what’s going on and there was good old Santiago standing guard wishing me “Ultreia!” - press on -don’t give up is what that word means

Sun came out …. For like 10 minutes.

Walking the dream ! Thank you to mi espousa for blessing me to do this

My good friend Cornel from deutschland. I tell him about RAGBRAI. He’s considering it for next year. Wow he’s also a unbelievable photographer taking pictures of just about everything. He shared with me some of his future plans. I can’t wait to hear about which direction he’ll go. Maybe he decides over the winter. These are friendships to be valued and continued I guess via email for now

This is the bar at the bottom of the big hill that saved my life. They were very disorganized and many walkers moved onto the next town wherever that is, I stayed. Holger was leaving, but I got an omelette which is basically cooked egg with nothing inside and a bocadillo -, which is a giant baguette with ham and cheese and then I got a café con Leche . Note: I supersized everything I told the owner make everything Gigante!!! I kid you not those calories saved me today.

Besides dahlias, Spain, kind of has the hydrangea thing nailed . We will never catch up in America. They’re the most beautiful I’ve seen, and they’re the size of a volleyball.

Arrived at San Mateo Albergue- private room 2 beds 1m apart- better tha last nites bunk bed so low I hit my head 10 times getting up. Got 70% chocolate jumbo bar and vino for a quick charge before dinner. Holger went out for his provisions and came back with the official food for entire Camino - Asturias Blue Cheese- Oh wow! Blue cheese, chocolate vino rojo ! Magic! Talk about a major jump start. WOW.

Dinner for me Galecian soup, and pizza. The other half of pizza is breakfast for Saturday morning

Walking allows people to reconnect with their thoughts, challenge their bodies, and meet and befriend many like-minded people and it can also change their lives.

Highlight of the day: surviving limping!

“Pain Reminds me I am Alive” ~ anon

“He who limps is still walking” ~Stanislaw Lec