Sept 5 - Rubaies to Valenca - three graces

1.     left the Alberque Constantino in Rubaies at a reasonable time to stop at the first café.  L and I went up over the hill following the trail while W took the simpler route following the road.  we met at the café for coffee and a breakfast before heading off. 

Wendy's leg was being bothersome after the short downhill walk; Wendy had decided to catch a taxi to an interim point. As we were getting up to start off the daughter of the café owner came over, having overheard our discussion, and offered the service of her father to drop Wendy down the road approximately where she had been planning.  As he was shortly heading that way it was no trouble and very pleased to be able to freely offer the assistance.  At the drop off point, no money accepted though offered.  Just a common courtesy offered to someone identified as needing assistance, so what else would you do! 


2.     Laura and I continued on up over hills, down lanes, through towns for the morning.  we had chatted briefly with Alexis and Yolanta from Belgium along the way previously.  As we descended into another small town, Alexis called up the hill for us to grab some oranges off the tree we were just passing.  the tree was by itself in some resident's back yard;  however Alexis being originally from Portugal and being a gently gregarious and curious person had chatted with some of the elderly women neighbours close by who had instructed him to grab some as well.  Apparently the owners were away and not expected back until after the oranges had matured so the fruit was going to waste.  Solution - Feed the pilgrims! 

Laura and I chose some 6 from the tree, and smelled the real orange natural scent.  Very delicious for the nose filling its sense of smell with that fresh tangy aroma which  suggests there is more delight to come.  packed most but cut into one which was so full of magnificent juice my mouth almost overflowed.  Laura laughed at my sounds of delight coming through the full mouth of juice and orange - she observed it sounded just like the Wooky speaking.


3.     it had been a hot day of walking, although hadn't yet covered 12 km - beautiful clear sky, mid 20's - and looked like it would be another hour at least before the next identified café was available;  so one carries on.  Only to be surprised by the presence of an alberque, the Quinta Estrada Romana, with lunch available out on the patio by the roadside.  No traffic here as the road was getting down to a little more than a dirt track.

This is a recently added alberque owned and operated by a Canadian couple Leslie and Geof.  Their goal is to become as self-sufficient and sustainable as they can, without doing away with the comforts they find necessary.  When Leslie asked what we would like to eat, the automatic response is what's on menu.  No menu here!  Tell me what you want and we'll see what we can do.  Laura was thrilled to not have to have another minimalist sandwich so asked for a salad.  Leslie, using the tomatoes, onions and lettuce they grow added some tuna and cheese and presented us with a magnificent salad surprise. 

Sunshine on the patio, quiet other than the birds and our chatting, no other guests at the time, it was easy to suddenly realize 2 hours had passed and the road still ahead.  we discovered that both Leslie and Geoff had worked in  Calgary at various times, Leslie's daughters still there, one of whom lives very close-by to Laura. 

It was a wholly unexpected moment of rest in the middle of a day's trudge; warmth and gentleness and generosity of space, time and material things all with the intended purpose of helping us on this particular day and stage of our walk.  A veritable oasis; 

And just to affirm their commitment to being in this particular place at this particular time for their particular purpose, the lunch was donativo - whatever you want / can.


I recall observing myself being filled with a sense of utter contentment and well-being, letting a great inhaling of breath and exhaling of same be my word of wonder at the goodness there is in the world and, in contrast to the concurrent news of the plight of the refugees in Budapest, that I am so greatly blessed by all the surprise and unbiddenness of each of these different events;  what's to say except thanks Dad.

Dave