I have not come upon many wayside chapels and this had been a disappointment but today such a space began to grow as a real desire.

I started the day walking with a young man from Korea who told me he was walking the Camino because he was going through a divorce and he thought if he could make this journey then he could survive that journey of his heart.
He is the first person that I have met who asked me why I was walking. I did not really answer his question but I held it for later review.
Why am I doing this?
He told me that 300 or 400 km ago he had thrown out his guide book and was trusting God and the signposts of the Camino.
I asked myself could I do that? My pockets are stuffed with maps and I have two apps on my phone and if all else fails a compass.

I began to hear the Camino speak to me, “let go”

My pace today was very fast and I made it to my goal within three hours. I considered continuing along the path. It is to rain tomorrow and I could have a day of rest but in the end I decided not to continue. I stopped where I was checked into Casa Loncho and for the first time had the energy and the time to explore my destination. I walked the streets of the small hamlet of Olvieroa, I bathed my feet in a cool stream and I enjoyed a yummy lunch and some excellent albarino, yes there is a theme here with the wine, just supporting the local wineries.

As I returned to my hotel after lunch church bells began to ring. I was drawn to this sound and there I found a middle aged, female “Quasimodo” in a sweater set pulling the bell chain. She rang that bell for 20 minutes and I sat on the ground in front of the church and felt the sound vibrate through my body.

It seems the bell ringer was also the cleaning lady and when she finished she entered the church and began to sweep. I stood in the doorway tentatively, just wanting to thank her, but also sneaking a peek inside the old stone building. She gestured for me to enter. She went off to clean and I knelt on a prayer bench in the dark, cold church.
I do not know if I was praying I only know that at some point I felt the tears on my cheeks. The Camino had begun to work inside me; in those moments of meditation I could feel it.

We shall see what tomorrow brings, besides the rain, but for today I am grateful.