We had a great day with Yayo and Pilar…finishing the day with only 20 kilometers or 12 miles to the completion of our Camino Frances from SJPDP to Santiago de Compostela.
The day was chilly…but the rain held off…and Yayo and Pilar are amazing at engaging anyone in a happy discussion. Here is a photo of them with Sister Christine of the Sisters of the Virgin Mary of Providence. Sister Christine was offering encouragement to pilgrims outside her convent as we walked through Arzua along The Way. Yayo and her were soon talking like old friends in Spanish. Sister Christine is a joyous and funny person..and reminded me of all the other kind nuns we have met on this trip…as well as the sisters back in the US that have affected our lives…including the Franciscan Sisters of Sylvania, Ohio (especially my cousin, Sister Margaret Hall).
In addition to bantering with nuns, Yayo also asked a group of high school arts students from Sweden to do a song for us. Nice kids…supportive teachers/leaders…and we appreciated the mid-day performance…Swedish version of the Irish blessing song! (The leaders reminded us of daughter Alex & son-in-law Dylan…as they both love music and break into song so easily.)
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Now that we have only 20 kilometers left…Sarah and I thought back to the sign that greeted us in Roncesvalles on our 2nd morning of walking…over one month ago. The challenge of 790 kilometers to go gave us an interesting combination of hesitation and motivation at the time.
We are now ready for the final walk into Santiago…and one day more of the Camino! Bring us home, Colm Wilkinson.
Dear pilgrims, we do not have words to describe the lived, shared, these last three days. We will only say that once again it shows that wanting is power, for us being here raised a series of problems, difficulties, complications, but Sarah, Pilar, Dave and Yayo have wanted and we have become machines to solve problems. Little more to add. For us an honor, a joy, a happiness, …, have been able to be part, a very small part, of the great path of Sarah and Dave; to have participated in the tremendous current of positivism that we believe is THE WAY. Just to add that in fact very specially we have been five, because Selín has also been with us.
The incognita is knowing only when and where the five will match again.
Today especially congratulations to all the American mothers and of course the mothers of Sarah and Dave.
Good Road to all “ultreia”
What a fantastic journey!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I look forward to seeing you both soon. One day more!!!!
Thanks, Linda…and a Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Congratulations! Great job! Maybe you should run the last 20 kilometers!? Happy Mother’s Day to Sarah!
So awesome the group stop and sang for you guys! Dyl and I would have gladly joined in 🙂 Colm brought you home! What a good pump up song to take you into the final stretch!
Thanks, Alex. We played it a couple of times to get the energy going!