A salutary tale of two ( well three) blokes ………

Well, here we are safe and sound in Olveiroa

– we’ve got wetter today after 6.3 miles than we have on the two previous days – and thinking today would be a walk in a park ….well it wasn’t . There are loads of mountains ( my TN tells me they are definitely NOT hills !) – ah, I apologise , you’ll be thinking who or what is my TN . This would be my special friend Kathleen, my Trusty Navigator ! Have we got lost …. no we haven’t… she sees all the signs ( for those of you who wear glasses, unless you are fortunate enough to have windscreen wipers on your spectacles, rain clouds your vision 🥴) and we have had plenty of that !

The scenery is different today although we still carry the beautiful smell of eucalyptus with us everywhere we go ….

Now I know what you’re thinking …. “ what’s all this got to do with two or even three blokes ?” Well to put you out of your misery, – nothing!!! We just thought you’d like to know what we’ve been up to today – but we meet a lot of people whilst walking, everyone doing it for their own reasons , and since we left Sheffield two have made an impression on us and we’re old enough to be their mothers !

The first I am going to call “ the bloke who thinks he’s infallable” – Mr A .

Now we met him at the car park at Stanstead Airport. Kathleen and I were stood at the car park bus stop waiting to be taken to the terminal when Mr A appears , rushing across the road . “ When’s the next bus “ he asks. “ I’ve been stood for 30 minutes at the wrong bus stop in the wrong car park and my flight goes in 40 minutes”

No need to ask what Kathleen and I thought – so we asked him where he was going . “Sardinia” was the reply “ to do some photography” Well, that was fairly obvious as he had a technical looking tripod , and what was clearly a camera bag along with his cabin baggage . “ Well” we suggested “ perhaps you should look at rebooking your flight ?” His reply “ There’s only one flight every Saturday”

Now , you’ll also know what I tried to tell him ( though in truth he wasn’t taking anything we said in) ……, you’ve got it , next time practise the 6 P’s – his reply “ oh I know , I’m always like this , this isn’t the first time , at aged 39 you’d think I’d have learnt”

Things weren’t looking good for him – still no bus ( two drop off buses but no pick up ) – then he elaborated to tell us he’d been further delayed because he turned up to the mid-stay carpark and realised it would cost him £30 / day for the week ie £210. So he went on line whilst outside the car park to book a week’s parking for £130 , but had difficulty getting his card accepted so further delay! Once accepted he was in but clearly didn’t follow the signs to the designated parking , dumped his car somewhere he shouldn’t have , and you know the rest !

The bus finally arrived to pick us up – he agitatedly spoke to the driver, but there were families with numerous suitcases , a couple with an enormous twin buggy to get settled – finally we were on our way and the last we saw of him was him running into the terminal building with by this time , 20 minutes till his plane took off , surely to leave him in the security queue behind the hoards of people who have unnecessary liquids and electrical devices in their hand luggage , coats and belts still on …..

Now the second guy, we met on Day 1 of our walk and I am going to call him “ The guy who probably thought he was infallible but realised he had to change” Mr B,a similar age to our totally disorganised Mr A.

As we were walking, Mr B covered in a red riding hood poncho ( surprisingly it was raining) caught up with us and we started walking together and talking . We asked him where he had walked from “France “ was his reply. “ Oh St Jean Pied de Port, where the Camino Frances begins” said I . “ No, the middle of France” was his reply. “ I’ve been walking for 3 months”

“ I knew my life had to change and so I started to walk and find out who I was and what I wanted from life”

“ What have you learnt?” we asked. “I have to follow my dreams” “ And they are?” “ To go to South America when I have finished this Camino”

We met him again today- we were sat in the window of the bar of our hotel ( drinking our 6€ bottle of local white wine !!) when he walked past, and seeing us, came in to chat . He is a really lovely young man , clearly settled in his mind as to where he is going in life and what he is going to do next .

The comparison between these two blokes is stark and I think for that reason they made an impact on both of us.

Life can be hectic at times – the pace of life becoming ever faster whether it be work, social or family life . It is easy to lose focus – so it is good to stop and reflect on what we really want and who we really are. The Camino offers us the opportunity to slow down, reflect and understand ourselves- and for some like Mr B, it can prove a pivotal turning point in life.

Whilst I think Mr A might well benefit from time out on the Camino, in reality, from what we witnessed, he is highly unlikely to ever consider it!

Ok you say – didn’t you say three blokes ? Indeed I did ! However we haven’t met the third – he is someone who appears to have found out who he is , and expects the world to know too……..

This is allegedly a true story – what a smart young woman ! Life isn’t about how to survive the storm , but how to dance in the rain ….. oh and Kathleen and I have had to do a lot of that recently!!!!

And so to tomorrow…….

That’s all for now folks …. Buenas noches ! Bon nuit! Goodnight!