Day 32 - Third day of RAIN?

Well, the weather was SUPPOSED to clear up this morning.. Hahahaha!  Woke up (late, 6:45, no one wanted to get our of bed apparently) to howling winds with torrential rain (and no bed bug bites).  Ah, what a beautiful way to summit to O'Cebreiro (NOT!).  Went down to the bar to find my hat, the kid said he saw it on the bar, but couldn't find it now...

OK, I can deal with howling winds and wet boots, but where the frig is my hat!?  Of all the things to be upset about, is ticked at loosing my hat (OK, it was a nice hat with flap and adjusting vents)...  Seriously, I stomped my way up the ascent wondering why of all things to be upset about, I was upset about my hat!  I told myself to get a grip, I just couldn't listen to myself, the driving rain on my poncho hood with no hat underneath to lift the visor up distracted me.

So, upon summiting I decided to "release" that anger with a primal yell! - "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Right down the valley I just summited, then to feel better, a loud "WHOOOOO-HOOOOO!"!  Seriously, go outside and yell "WHOOOOO-HOOOOO!", it makes you feel better - might tick off the neighbors, but you will feel better.  Anyways, my calling card is getting known amongst the Camino family and some arrivals to the summit was while later laughed at the receipt of my calling card, they knew I was at the summit!

Visited the church of O'Cebereo...  I liked it, there was a church with pews and candles, nothing to speak of in the line of ornamentation, just a simple church!  I even paid €1 to light a candle cause it wasn't touristy (OK, in the back they did have postcards, but it was simple and honor system).  When I picture a place where people go to be spiritual, I do not picture grand cathedrals like in Burgos, but simple places, much like that church.

So, anyways, still pouring rain (I THOUGHT this was supposed to blow out early morning, is blowing for sure and still raining hard!) I take my leave of the area and head out for the days trek across the ridgeline before it dropped down the western edge.  I was managing myself pretty good until...  Yeah, remember my nice hat that had a VISOR, the visor that would have kept the poncho hookups from drooping over my eyes and not made me miss the trail turnoff...  Yeah, 1km DOWN a country road and 1km back UP the country road...  Doesn't really work miracles for ones mood...  On the other hand, is a REAL good thing I was alone then!!  See, I have taken up this habit of talking to the Camino, and today I was telling it that it wasn't going to win, it could piss rain, blow wind, and get me off track, bit skill that was going to accomplish was agitating me - not get me to quit!

So, an observation on the Camino lately - A ton more Spanish Peregrinos entering the Camino (100km or Sarria is the minimum for a Compostela).  I also notice an unintentional intimidation factor going on, they see to be nervous around long distance Peregrinos.  We shower every night and the last three days my clothes have been right-properly machine washed!  Hell, I even bought drops m antiperspirant, so smell shouldn't play into it...

ANYWAYS, so I entered the next town and just walked my sopping wet self right into a bar and right to to the bar...  All the "green" Peregrinos seemed to be giving be a berth and the bartender even tended my order first...  I felt like the bad-ass villian in an old western movie :/.  Funny, this was not an isolated occurrence either, I have noticed this happening more as I progress.  This is not how it should be, a Peregrino is a Peregrino and mileage walked should not matter, so long as they are true Peregrinos and make the Compostela rules...  Just interesting.

Anyways, I griped and grumbled my way across the ridge till I got started down the ascent.  Stopping at a bar there, i was just going to grab a limon drink (yes, another wide berth) when I hear "ah, it's the American!", looking I see a friend I made yesterday walking, a Spanish national living in Indianapolis :).  He was enjoying a nice bowl of soup - chicken noodle soup!  I don't care if it came from a can or not, it tasted good and was hot!  HAPPY KEVIN!  It was funny to set how the other Spanish people reacted to his interaction with me, somehow they feared me less?  Not sure, but he scored a free ride to town on that :).

So, this little town I am in - Triacastela - is pretty heavy Peregrino orientated, but a cute little place none the less.  Actually, from here to the end might just be one big Peregrino superhighway.

The end of the day tomorrow, marks the 100km limit, things might get more interesting.  All my Peregrino friends are all taking about slowing down and making 4 days walk into 5...   I'm going to play it as it comes :).  Even many seriously thinking of joining me to Finisterre and Muxia

Anyways, the end of another day is here and Peregrinos are already snoring and snorting :D thank god for earplugs (ooh yeah, you CAN sleep with them in...  Deafening silence!).  Ooh, and the skies finally cleared.

OOH!  My Camino motto appears to be getting a small foothold " This is my Camino, there are many like it, but this one is mine!  My Camino is my life, my life is my Camino! ".  Appears to resonate with a lot of peregrines.

Believe it or not, I have photos, rain be damned :
https://goo.gl/photos/QU64479DuVJGNPXWA

Buen Camino!
Kevin