Today celebrates the feast day of San Isidro, Isidore the Laborer, patron Saint of farmers and by extension, those who live and work in the countryside. Luis, who runs the Pikua Landetxia Casa Rural where Peter and I spent the night, considers himself a country worker but laments that he does not get to celebrate the holiday because his business runs 24/7. His Casa Rural attracts pilgrims because it is right on the official Camino route and he showed us special respect because we were pilgrims. In the name of San Isidro, I salute Luis.
Today started out well with generally good trails but it was uphill to about the halfway point. I noticed more people on the trail today. We lunched midway through our trek with Joel and Anny from Quebec, whom we had forest met at breakfast. We also came across a breed of cattle known as larrebeixac, or the wild cattle of the Geopark coast. In the past, these indigenous cattle were brought down to the towns to celebrate in their festivities. Today, they are protected and live in wild.
We bumped into an assortment of other people. One fellow was hiking with his Pyrenees cattle dog outfitted with a backpack. There were some Americans who were still in high speed mode. But the most interesting, I think, was George theFrenchman, who had lost count of how many Caminos he had done. As Peter remarked, he probably felt more at home on the trail than he did back in France. I am not sure where in France he was from, but he was wearing a kilt.
About two hours before we reached Marquina the raindrops caught up with us and we had a wet final run into town. We found our apartment and explored the small village. I thought I would take Peter to enjoy a Pilgrim’s mass which were interesting events last year on the Francés. We attended mass, but unfortunately it was a somber affair with no recognition or celebration of pilgrimage. It was a beautiful church but the mass was in a drab and unadorned side chapel. I will keep on the lookout for a proper Pilgrim’s mass so Peter can enjoy that special Camino experience.
To Paula and Juan Miguel and Rafael and Ignacio, and Juan Lago and anyone else in Madrid, may San Isidro bless you abundantly.
El Peregrino 
I would love to see a picture of the backpack wearing Great Pyrenees. They are one of my favorite dog’s.
I’m enjoying your blog, I did a small camino from Portugal a few years ago and this brings back lots of memories.
Laurel, a walking friend of Paula’s
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Thanks for sharing. We love reading about your adventures. BTW San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid as he was born there. (I think)
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