I feel somewhat appreciated by the gang I've been walking with for the past week encouraging me to stay with them after I told them I was going to slow down. "We all want to slow down!"
It's me, three Spanish guys (aged 35 to 73) and Fredericka, the Belgian girl with the awesome poncho. They are all really strong walkers. The 73 year old, Rafa has walked a full Camino (various routes) 19 out it he last 20 years. Nacho, the 35 year old slightly irritating snow plow driver from Jaca is extremely good natured and engaging. Frederika has it made. She is just so damed Belgian.
Earlier today, as I was bringing Frederika some ice from the bar for her swollen ankle I was thinking about how the other three guys seemed to orbit around her needs, and that she was playing them like a fiddle.
We are all in Viana now, which is a great town 10km before Logrono. I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow but it feels like time to put a little distance between me and that group. Maybe catch up with them at some point but I've met a bunch of other interesting people in the past few days.
It reminds me of summer camp and high school. There's a certain Camino cachet about being part of a clique that includes three actual Spaniards!
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