Day 14 in Rabanal del Camino
By the time I post this, Dave’s flight will be taking off and he’ll be on his way to Porto. His original flight was leaving Victoria on September 16th, but it looks like Friday the 13th is his lucky day! (Thank you, Dennis, for not letting the Air Canada Airline strike interrupt Dave’s Camino.)
It was an unusual morning. Sadly, I didn’t say “Adios y Buen Camino” to any pilgrims. There is something missing when you don’t see them off. Instead, I spent time in the office, trying to reach Air Canada and TAP airlines about cancelling Dave’s original flights and (hopefully) securing refunds. I got nowhere and had to ask Dave to do it, even though he didn’t have much time this morning before his flight. When I emerged from the office, everyone had gone, and it was time to start cleaning the kitchen and putting things away. I did it all out of habit, but my mind was still preoccupied with figuring out how to get those refunds sorted.
Fast forward to bedtime, and it looks like everything is resolved. Dave reached Air Canada to cancel his flight but wasn’t given a refund, just a credit. Part of the credit will go towards rebooking his return flight. The rest will be used on our next flight to Spain, hopefully next year. All is good, I think.
We have 16 pilgrims from ten countries today including Liam from Victoria! Most of them came for afternoon tea and Janine’s delicious apple lemon cake. Some cake was leftover which will add to our simple breakfast of coffee, tea, bread and jam tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be a brand-new day—one filled with excitement. The three new hospitaleros who will take over our roles arrive late in the day. We will prepare a chicken dinner with all the trimmings for them amidst the festival that will be happening in the village. Janine will bake her 14th cake for afternoon tea. I will pick, peel, and chop apples for the cake and the veggies to go with the chook (chicken). At 6 o’clock, Janine and I will be interviewed “live” by Mary for hospitalero training in Victoria. What a day we have to look forward to!
11 thoughts on “Day 14 in Rabanal del Camino”
I was witness to Dennis (and Jim in the background) yesterday morning working on strategies and options for Dave’s trip to Porto. It was a camino community in action!
So looking forward to “meeting” you on zoom this weekend! What a privilege it’s been to follow your time as hospitaleras.
Will Janine share the apple-lemon cake recipe? 😊
All good wishes
Kate Duncan
Hospitalera in training
Thinking of you and Air Canada issues . Glad Dave is coming sooner . Hope you guys get your refund . Take care . We are flying Air Canada January 4/25 from FLL . Keep our fingers crossed the AC strike is over by then
Hi Judy Janine and Nigel.
Wow that flew by. 14 cakes and a Camino reputation unsurpassed.
So happy Dave is en route. Will it be you or Dave to hear those special words at reception.
What an amazing time you are having. Next adventure to begin.
Enjoy every moment
Ps. If your poles are hard to grip. Get some foam or something to make the hand grip bigger so you don’t have to work so hard hold the pole over a long period.
Love ya. Be safe. Buen Camino Amiga.
HI Judy. I’m so happy Dave got his flights sorted and sounded much easier than he imagined and less two changes of planes to boot! I spoke with him this AM and he
sounded pretty excited to be going to meet yo even though it’s earlier than he’d planned.
Happy too that you’ll get your credit with A/C for next time. I’m hoping that Janine will share her cake recipe too – it’s become a staple for you both and sounds delicious. If you can send ‘link’ to the live interview I’d love to plug into it. Your next part of this adventure starts soon.
Buen Camino.
Maggie
I am glad David is on his way to Porto. He will have more time to adjust to the time change. Happy last day in your albergue, Judy. On the Sunshine Coast, today was a real PNW day. And you know what it means. It was ok to walk to see the Skookumchuck… I even got to use my gray poncho I wore on the Camino Portuguese in May !!!
What a wonderful adventure you have had. I imagine it may be with mixed feelings that you bid adieu to your albergue. And what a find in Janine, to do all that wonderful baking for the pilgrims (and your birthday as well)!
I’m so glad Dave is on his way and things have mostly gotten sorted out.
I’ll look forward to hearing and seeing the pix from the next leg of your journey. We have a friend who is currently doing the via de la Plata, and Larry is still seriously considering coming over to walk another Camino this Fall. We’ll see.
We are currently on a camping trip in Oregon and Washington and he’ll decide when we get home.
Have a wonderful last day at your albergue!!
Hi Toni! It definitely has been an adventure of a different kind being hospitaleras. We are ready to move on after being here since August 30th. Let us know what Larry decides. What months would he do this? Hopefully when it isn’t too hot! 🥵
Hi Judy! So glad Dave is arriving early in Porto and the flights got sorted. The labour dispute has many of us scrambling. I have a feeling I will be flying early too on my backup WestJet flight! 🤞
Hope to see you in Porto or later along the way.
Have so enjoyed your posts from Rabanal and look forward to more as you and Janine head out! Buen Camino!
Hi Joy! Dave is in Porto now and I’ll arrive there on the 18th and start walking the Camino Portuguese on the 20th. It would be great is we could connect in Porto or somewhere along the way. Even though Janine and I enjoyed our stint as hospitaleras, we are ready to be pilgrims again. 😃
Glad to hear that Dave was able to arrive a bit early and that your airlines has given you some sort of solution. It is such a distraction to have to stop and deal with these types of problems, though! I’ve loved hearing all about your time as hopitaleros and wish you continued health, safety and “Buen Camino” as you resume walking along The Way.
Thank you so much, Carolyn. I’m glad you enjoyed hearing about our time as hospitaleras. Janine and I loved it and would like to do it again sometime. 👍