Maryka and I having fresh squeezed o.j., toast and jam and cafés con leches. Having a dilly dally because there are only a few more kilometers to go to meet the film crew for the final sprint into Santiago.

Thank you all for the comments that have come in. So nice to be connected with you. And Annie, just watched a clip of Todd and me that is on Facebook, fresh in from Spain.

OK, I am trying to get my thoughts together meet with St James. I can feel the energy building as we move along in the flow of pilgrims. See you later today, Phil.

It’s an encouragement in Spanish written along the Way today. We are sitting at our hotel having a grande after covering 36 k today. My longest day and 58,294 steps! Just a few kilometers to go.

There’s a Spanish family here on the steps of the hotel taking family pictures. They’re pretty cute. They’re breaking up now, kissing each other and lingering slightly before they all jump in their cars. Nice.

Maryka here: the Camino does unexpected things, opens you up, beckons conversation, wears you raw, pains in places you never knew, but all the while there are fragrant roses along the way, surprises around the corner, and best of all: ice cream sandwiches at 3:00. Phil is keeping me in pace and I am so very grateful for that.

Pictures are forthcoming as Maryka has stuff to place here from her camera. A kid on a scooter just went by. It had a very strange design and I am too tired to try and describe it, sorry. Love, Phil.

Orange juice, coffee with warm milk and sugar, cookies, toast with jam. What no sardines and chocolate? On the road in a few minutes. Still dark. Love, Phil.

We forded the Rio Iso at Ribadiso do Baixo where we have a room. This is a working farm a little off the Camino. Things are so crowded that facilities along the trail are full.

Kelly and always talked that we had to ford or swim across at least one river to celebrate how the old guys did it. No bridges back then. We heard that Kelly is doing fine winning friends and influencing people back there somewhere west of Leon.

I am working on some homework that I need to get done before going to the Cathedral in Santiago. Clara explained this to me as we walked a while back. When one goes to St James to ask something of him because he is such a big powerful saint one is better off having a short list of items to ask of him instead of one thing. That way he gets to choose the one he thinks is the best for that person. So I will work on that and report back.

Oh, Maryka wants to go and party so I have to go. She had a great observation today about her own body as the Camino is working her over. She said that her heart was beating so hard that she can feel it in her lips. OK, how’s that for on site, up to date reporting? Love, Phil.

Lunchtime on the Camino. I have 6% battery left and I will try and sneak out a quick post. We are in Melide and about 50 k from the finish. You’re the best, Phil.
P.s. Jerome just showed up and is the first of the old crew to arrive. He is asking about Laura and really who wouldn’t?

It isn’t light yet but there is wifi so I thought that I would say hello. I love this place in all it’s funk and glory. Have an extra ordinary day. Love, Phil and Team Wifi and Hotel California.

We just pulled in to Palas de Rei and it is 1711. Most of the cafés and other watering holes have wifi so I try to keep in touch with you as often as possible. Rick is less strict than Kelly with this. Kelly wouldn’t let me wifi around during the day.

I am going to read through my blog posts from in Spain and see if I missed anything major and catch up. So many things have happened that I feel like I have captured ten percent of it. Maybe I can glean a few more important items.

I have some cooking/food thoughts that I could throw in here. 1. Gazpacho rules and is really a blend of tomatoes and peppers, onions maybe cucumbers. Then it needs some croutons, oregano and a little olive oil floating on top. 2. Olives, peppers and anchovies on sticks was one of my favorites. 3. Crunchy bread with olive oil and salt. 4. Tortilla Española is good and easy. It’s egg and potato pie.

Maryka just got some of her grades: three A’s. So we are celebrating, cervesa grandes all around. She is laughing and having a good time after all her hard work.

OK, I have to go do some serious stuff now. Shower, laundry and troll for dinner. Love you all immensely, Phil.

Stopping for an orange juice and a chocolate croissant in the town of Gonzar. Very crowded and hard to hold a decent conversation. Lots of individuals, families and groups walking the last hundred kilometers. Us guys that have been at this for a while seem pretty gnarly compared to the newcomers.

Sixteen kilometers to go before our rest. Phil.

San Miguel and Magdalenas, which translates to beer and sweet rolls for breakfast is what started us out this AM. Todd says that it is choose your own adventure day so I’m signing up for the Giddy Dilly Dally Adventure Package. So here we go! Phil.

I was walking with Maryka today and she said that the two of us were like two drops in the river of pilgrims. It is getting very crowded as we get closer to St James. But I love it as it is all part of the story, right? People are sleeping on the floors of the local school classrooms and gymnasium. I heard that in Santiago they are rearranging the Cathedral to accept a thousand people at the Pilgrim Mass each day. It’s massive!

I asked Maryka to help me today. The question is whether I am experiencing an internal hallucination or whether there is really something happening here that is exceptional. Well, She says that even on her first day that she sees that there is truly something happening here. Rebecca says that it is a combo of internal and external. Yes.

We are going to finish eating dinner and go for an evening walk (paseo). We are in Portomarin which is on the shore of a reservoir, very beautiful, of course, what else right? Need to sign off for now, love you, Phil and crew.