Pilgrims we have met

We walked the 20km out of León and at the first coffee shop met some pilgrims!!! They were headed to Vilar de Marzarife as well so we said we’d see them at the albergue and we did. So, we have:

Igor from Frankfurt who was a marketing manager for an international pharmaceutical company. A lovely man who likes to dance and is having no problems taking early retirement. 

Janey from Birmingham who is taking a break from teaching and has hurt her foot so I lent her one of my poles. She will not be able to finish so will take the train to Santiago and then fly home. 

Ben, from the US (Colorado), 18, well spoken and apologetic about his president. 

Peter, also from the US (California) and also apologetic about the president (whose name will not be typed). 

Wal....., a lovely woman from Munich who has done the Juan de fuca trail, taken the ferry from Port Hardy, and been to a horse camp near Valemont. When we went for a beer at the bar, we met a young couple from Nanaimo. Small world. 

So only seven of us at the albergue, but in the night, others joined us. Yes, they are las chinchas......bedbugs. 

I felt them crawling in the middle of the night and flicked one out of my ear. Les had several bites this morning. I reported to the hospitalera who was quite upset as her albergue had been fumigated two weeks ago. I’m now in Astorga, having taken the bus the last 10 km with Janey, waiting for Les and then we will throw everything in the dryer and kill the bugs and eggs. And then we’ll celebrate!  On the camino, there’s always a reason to celebrate.