November 1, 2011. All Saints I woke at 6.00 a.m. to the sound of thunder and wondered if it was a mistake not to have begun the Camino yesterday. A look out the window revealed torrential rain. Daniela said it was too wet to go and I could stay in another hostel up the road. Julien said that if I went I should not take the more difficult mountain route because of the danger of getting lost and being alone. At 7. 50 a.m. I walked out into the gloom of the morning rain, uncertain and with the intention of going to the church to pray for guidance but it was locked and soon I found myself walking the road to Valcarlos where I arrived two hours later soaked to the skin, despite my rain gear. From there the rain eased off and most of the day took me through miles of beautiful forest, mountains and rivers. And utter solitude! Only two people crossed my path that day - one a hunter with his dog and the other a sprightly Italian whose pace left me feeling somewhat inferior. But h
...CAMINO2SANTIAGO 2011 by Eamonn Monson sac