Today, we hiked 26 km on Stage 8 of our journey to Santiago. Along the way, we had the opportunity to walk and chat with various individuals on a wide range of topics, from light-hearted to more profound discussions. 

In the past few days, we crossed paths with a hiker, and finally, today, we had the opportunity to talk with him as we walked. The gentleman is from California. He described himself as a nomad and has been in Spain walking for a few months, having already completed six Caminos. It’s not the first time we’ve met someone like him hiking different European trails. He told us he retired from a high-tech job and decided to live abroad. Since then, he has been traveling in Europe. He reminds me of another man we met on England’s Coast to Coast trail last year. The man from last year was also retired and had left the United States to begin hiking in Spain and other European areas. He was a fascinating man, known as the “Indiana Johns” of the Coast to Coast because everybody knew him, and he had fascinating stories to share. 

The two men seem to be hiking through Europe, seeking to embark on a journey of personal renewal following years of dedicating themselves to their professional careers.