Camino Frances 2024 Day 9 - Jun 13, 2024

We walked 30 km today from Logrono to Najera. Despite the rest day yesterday my left hip pain came back with full force. I think I walked on one leg for 4/5 of the way. Still it was nice walk. The day started well with a gift of plums from the lady in the albergue where Victor dropped off his bag. We met Lother and Werner two German friends who have been walking the Camino for 20 years as well as Clive from South Africa who had a burst ulcer and had to spend 4 days in hospital and 10 days recuperating but is determined to finish even though he was advised to go back home! And we ran into Trila again in Navarette still going strong. She is definitely my favorite Camino person. We had seen Paula before and got to talk more today. She just retired from an Italian bank. Just now at dinner we met Mike and his wife drom Arizona who also have friends moving to Netherlands next month. It was also nice meeting and speaking with Javier and Lilian who live in Madrid. It was not too hot today and vineyards were the main backdrop. We passed a group of African men in one of vineyards and they waved when they saw us stop to look. They got really excited when we said we were from Sierra Leone. They were from Mali and a few other places. I also noticed a few inscriptions posted in different places. By this time in the Camino people get really reflective. The body takes a beating and you have to know what keeps you going. And there was a lot of art outside today!!! I love the international community and the crazy breed that decides to do this. Chance meetings lead to interesting conversations about purpose or history or people's lives. Need to figure this hip thing out…