Day 10 Octopus for Lunch - Pulpo

It was a gorgeous day so we stopped to pose for a pic and a Brazilian pilgrim photo bombed us! Gotta love pilgrims. 

We started walking around 8:00am from Casa Domingoon at Pointe Campana. Perfect weather. 

Each day the first stone I picked up was for me. Then I picked up stones for my 3 daughters, my son-in-laws and my 4 beautiful grandchildren. Then I picked up stones for other family and friends, and then I went to the list of intentions I had from people. It was a ritual I repeated every day. 

That afternoon there was a period of time when I felt really down I found myself getting sadder and sadder as the day went on. I decided I didn't want to hold onto that emotion anymore on this Camino and picked up a stone. I put the sadness into it and walked with it for a long time. When I set it down there was a shift. The sadness immediately left and I felt at peace. I left it all on the Camino. Gee, I hope no one picked up that stone after me!!!

I think my favourite terrain is rock. Whether it is in the forest or a stone road, it feels fantastic on my feet with or without Barebottom Shoes. 

Halfway through the day we stopped in Melide to try the famous Galician Pulpo at Exequiel's. We had some Rebiero wine although I never drink during lunch, I had to have some to compliment this delicacy. Not everyone in the group liked it, but they all tried it. As you can see, Jan and Katherine weren't impressed. 

The Octapus is boiled, cut with scissors, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with paprika. Yummy 

Along the path there are often stalls with fruit, home baked goods and water/juice left for pilgrims. It is suggested that a Donativo be left, which everyone is happy to make. 

We had been walking in the forest for a long time and wondered if we missed the sign to Casa Garea. I happened to notice a wooden sign and turned into the forest to find we were on the right path. We enjoyed time together on the patio and then a pilgrim meal. We had lots of laughs and shared stories of our day. 

Santiago is getting closer. 

Sue Kenney

@barebottomshoes

www.suekenney.ca

The next group Camino is in October 2015. We will offer backpack service and all accommodation is booked. Details will be on the website but feel free to email mycamino ook@gmail.com

Day 7 Thistles on the Side of the Path

Today was a relatively easy day with only 17 kilometers to walk and much of it in the forest where the terrain is perfect for Barefooting, my feet adapted quite well, I just kept going without having to put on and take off footwear. A totally freeing experience!  

People often asked me if I had hard callouses in my feet, as that is the assumption. I think I had more callouses when I wore shoes all the time!  The human body is much smarter than we think. The texture of the soles of my feet actually adapted to the terrain I was walking on almost instantaneously. 

For example, if I was walking on pavement,, the skin on my feet became more tough and slightly calloused. On gravel the layer of fat on my sole hardened and sometimes the gravel would stick into it and is have to stop and pull it off.  I love sand and mud. My feet soften in this environment and the fat becomes mushy. 

That day I walked on stone, sand, gravel, dirt and a bit of mud. It was sunny and about 22C so even the weather was perfect. 

The biggest problem I encountered were the thistles on the side of the path. They wound lodge in my foot and is have to stop and pull them out right away as they are too painful. Last year a thorn got stick in the centre of the ball of my right foot when I was walking the Camino. I had nothing to remove it and had to walk about a Kilometer on it till I got to a bar where they had a safety pin that I used to remove it! Yikes. Don't want to do that again. 

I found that I needed to take numerous rests along the way. I would put my NEW Demi-soled Barebottom Shoes that I've been wear testing) on to give my feet a break or when the gravel was large and sharp. They are so comfortable and the leather sole is still perfect for Earthing! I think runners will like them too. 

The best part if the day was having Lynn and Jan barefooting too! They danced and giggled. It brings out the inner child in each if us. 

By the end if the day I was tired and sore. Carrying an extra 15 lbs on my back puts more pressure on my feet. 

I felt calm, at peace with myself, more energized and happy. 

Suseya!

Sue Kenney

@barebottomshoes

www.suekenney.ca

The next group Camino is in October 2015. We will offer backpack service and all accommodation is booked. Details will be on the website but feel free to email mycamino ook@gmail.com

Day 9 Queimada at Casa Domingo Albergue

That day walked most of the 23 kilometers barefoot as we were often on trails. Unfortunately, one of the guys had a bad blister and couldn't walk the whole way. They say, "You don't walk the Camino, the Camino walks you!" I se this happening time and time again and the best advice is to just go with it. 

We ended the day with my dear friends Anna and Gonsalves' beautiful Albergue in the small village of Ponte Campana. I have been going there since 2005, when we filmed a scene from the documentary Las Peregrinas. They keep a copy of My Camino book on display in a cabinet. And a bookmark hanging on the wall. So sweet of them. 

We arrived tired and hungry. After getting settled in our bunks, we did our laundry and hung it on the line. Them Anna made us a plate of Jamon and queso to snack on with a beer or glass of vino tinto.

We celebrated dinner in the dinning room with about 30 other pilgrims. We sat with Misha from Germany whom we had shared a bunk room with a couple of nights before. 

We also met a man named John, who was leading a group of 5 others on a marriage retreat. They were all from Georgia and Tennessee and had all been sponsored by a restaurant chain to do the Camino. Al the love they shared  and the fun they had was so inspiring to witness. 

After dinner Gonsalves surprised us with an ancient pagan ritual, a Queimada ceremony. He and his brother dressed up in costume and they called men up to the front to stir the concoction of a local liquor Hierbos, coffee beans, orange and lemon, sugar and maybe a few more ingredients. It was lot with a match so it burned a bright flame. 

Gonsalves asked a pilgrim to read to the audience while I stirred and stirred. 

Gonsalves dressed up in a costume with a hat. Once it had cooked long enough we all had a taste. It was very sweet!

It was an early night as we were all very tired. 

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast together and set out to walk 24 kilometers in the sunny and comfortably warm 23 C weather!

Ultreya. 

Sue 

@barebottomshoes

www.suekenney.ca

Next Camino walk with Sue is in October 2015. Pack pack service is included and all accommodation is booked in rural pensions, hotels and private Albergues. 

Mycaminobook@gmail.com