Who's Who (Part 4) or "The Group"

After taking a bus from Burgos to Carrión earlier this week, we didn't know anyone who was walking around us. It was hard for me, the feeling of apprehension. I never was the new kid at school, but I have a vague idea what it feels like now. In Carrión we met a Portuguese guy named Jose who is walking about 50 km per day. That's 30 miles. After reaching Santiago, he will walk to his home in Portugal--another 300 km.

The next day we met two guys who will be seniors at Kenyon (a university near where I grew up) this fall. They seperately indicated that they are traveling in a group that just sort of fell together. This sounded  exclusive to us, but we have since met "the group," and of course it is made up of some wonderful people:

Andrew, one of the Kenyon students, who is self-deprecating and witty and feels kindof like a little cousin to me.

 Mitchell, the other student, seems more reserved. He likes soccer, so Adam has watched some with him an a dozen other people the last couple of nights.

 Amber, who will go to Greece for a couple of weeks after reaching Santiago, then begin law school this fall.

 Colleen, a delightful Aussie who is a nurse in England.

 Lee from Austin, TX, who looks at least a decade younger than his forty years.

Jeff, a New Zealander who could walk 50 km a day, but resists in order to enjoy spending time with his new friends.

Steve, was born and raised in Maryland, has four kids, and will spend a week in France with his wife upon finishing the camino.

Liz, who lives in Chicago, lived various places in Ohio after attending Xavier, and will move to Michigan next year when she marries a man with an apple orchard and maple syrup business.

Jody from England who is bubbly and quick witted.

Miguel, a Spaniard who joined the group a couple of days before we met them. He doesn't speak much English, so Jody carries on conversations with him in the best Spanish she can remember. was kicked out of the group because he apparently got "annoying." (I later found out that that meant...and agreed.)

Angela, another English woman who has been walking with Jody and Liz since almost the beginning, I think.

 So, there you have it. The Group, of which we have grown fond. As I started typing this post, I wondered why I keep describing the other pilgrims we meet. And I realized it's because the people make this trip just as special as the walking, the quaint villages and historic cities, the views, and the fact that we're experiencing it all in Spain.