Well we can’t honestly say this was as huge an improvement over the desert as we had hoped!
much like the desert there was very little elevation but instead of the empty landscape and deafening silence there was miles of asphalt bordering the highway with only a mile or so of wooded paths.
it was nice to have multiple places to stop and have coffee and not having to worry about conserving water! It was also nice to once again have numerous pilgrims to chat with along the way.
Max was one of the more interesting ones during this stretch.
Max
As is the norm when meeting, passing or being passes on the Camino a pleasant “Buen Camino” is exchanged; our chance meeting with Max was no different. pleasantries exchanged and on we went.
An hour or so later he was taking a break roadside and when he greeted us in English, asking where we were from, we stopped and chatted.
We introduced ourselves and answered his question and asked his name and where he was from as well as where he started the journey; and then things got interesting.
Max said “on the Camino I’m cut known as Max and this time I started in France”.
Wellllll, this led to some questions!
”May I ask… “currently known as?”
”This is my 16th Camino and I have gone by many names”… we didn’t know what, if any, questions we should ask!
”16 Caminos?”, “Yes, 6 the entire way and 10 partials”!
although there was quite a few additional questions and answers that went back-and-forth, the end result was, he is from Brazil and has traveled all over the world, including the USA, but after his last visa expired in the US and he over stayed; he has been asked not to return. So now he lives on the Camino, traveling back-and-forth from town to town revisiting many times the places he likes, and on several occasions going back to where it all started.
When asked why so many times, he simply stated he knows the Camino, but he doesn’t know himself. He continues to travel the Camino, looking for his purpose, trying to find his soul and looking for answers.
You just never know on the Camino
We did find some less challenging, but just as unique, items on this leg of the journey. One of which was a huge bronze Neanderthal type that Brenda immediately fell in love with.
we are now over 300 miles with less than 200 miles to go; just a walk in the park
Buen Camino
