Day 27 – Astorga to Rabanal del Camino on foot and then on to Ponferrada by Taxi.

Today I thought a lot about my travel inspiration and dear friend Mary Aubuchon. I think she was about my age when she set out on her first Camino alone. I loved her fearlessness and her ability to say I am done, and just stop when it was time. I haven’t quite learned the second part. I carry you in my heart on this Camino, Mary.

We discover at the end of our hiking day that there is no bus service in this area of the Camino. We need to get to Sarria by tomorrow and we are hours away. So we called a taxi to take us to Ponferrada where we will spend the night and take the train tomorrow. Remember, we have been walking 3 miles an hour for weeks. We get into a taxi with a driver who think he is Mario Andretti! He is going about 80 mph on this winding two lane back road. There are pilgrims on the road, walking and cycling, there are other cars….I am a wreck by the time we get into the city. 😳We almost ran over a couple of Camino friends that we haven’t seen for awhile! I didn’t tip him!!!!!

As if it wasn’t stressful enough, Eva’s friend who was staying at the albergue/cafe that we left ½ hour ago texts her to say that I left my hiking poles there. Fortunately, she has none and a leg injury so they will go to someone that can really benefit from them. My first real loss of “stuff” on the Camino.