Donal's Camino Walk
TREES:
I haven't a great knowledge of the Flora of Ireland so you can imagine the knowledge that I can impart about the Flora of the Camino. But I can tell you about some of the trees that dominate the landscape of the paths that I have been walking on. Oak trees and Chestnut (eating chestnuts we would call them, not the Horse chestnut or conkers) seem to be the most common tree, but Apple trees are very common and you would see thousands of apples on the ground on the paths. Ive also seen pear trees, fig trees, plum trees, peach trees, and an odd walnut tree. Broom is a shrub that is very common. Of the weeds, nettles are very prolific.
DOGS:
Not many people know this but I had a phobia about dogs. And I heard lots of stories about really wild big dogs on the Camino, so you can imagine that I wouldn't be very happy about them- wrong. I was cured of my phobia by my daughter Sarah, who first of all got me to foster a deaf German Shepherd who was my favourite dog of all time . He was so gentle and affectionate and really depended on me. He now has a lovely home in Sussex.
The second dog that Sarah got me to foster was an American Pit Bull Terrier called Ruby, a big strong, softie of a dog. She was too strong for me and walking her was difficult but I did a good job of training her to walk properly. But her big disadvantage was that she couldn't be left on her own. And she also was an escaper. She could jump any wall,especially if she saw a cat. And most people would be very scared if they came across her if she escaped. Her favourite occupation, when she was with me was to lie on top of me on the couch.
She is still awaiting re-homing.
Dogs on the Camino. On about my second day walking along a narrow path, which just happened to divide for a few metres, I came face to face with a huge Rothweiller sort of dog. He looked me in the face and I looked nonchalent away from him . He gave a frightened yelp and ran passed me.
Today as I came up to where I am staying for the night, I was met by about 6 barking ,growling dogs. Thanks to Sarah I have now a completely different attitude to dogs and they weren't a problem. I have met lots of other dogs as well and no problems with them.
CATS
Ive seen a lot of cats two but just two notable ones. Yesterday in Decazeville I saw one with a very short tail and today in Le Communal I saw another one- very similar to a Manx Cat.
Tonight I am staying in an Equestrian Centre but they do not supply dinner but there is a kitchen where I was able to make my own. I did a Pasta dish and I made the sauce from a large tomato that I had bought this morning and a tin of tuna. It was very tasty especially since I had bought a small bottle of white wine to compliment it. All I can say is that its hard work on the Camino.
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