A short tribute to John Peter

I was lucky enough to meet John and Jimmy a few years before COVID and what a lucky break that was.

It set the tone for the trip. Great craic, living life to the full and it would get better. As the Camino Guide I had to walk them along to one of my favourite places. I knew they did a nice Gin in a rosebowl of a glass. John duly ordered one and didn't understand when the wait said when, he meant tell me when to stop pouring the gin. After removing a lump of ice, he then put the tonic in. We all know drink's bad for us, but judging by the smile on his face at that moment, it tasted pretty good to John. 

On later walks, in the Rioja moments, we would tell that story and bring back the joyful memories. We did it for years. It immediately diffused any situation. That would be the last night for that camino for the two boys from Glenvarloch. At that stage they'd been friends for over 60 years. By last week it was over 70 years. 

That's a great friendship and I was grateful to witness it day in day out on those caminos. The following year the boys would be back again, this time one at a time. As I waited in the airport, Jimmy said there was no answer. We feared the worst. We weren't sure what to do. Should we get on a flight knowing we might have to come straight back or had he just slept in. They were anxious moments until Jimmy got the word that indeed it was just an alarm clock thing. 

We went down to Puente La Reina and this time instead of walking up the steep 1km hill out of town we started at the next pueblo, thus making it a 5 hour gentle stroll. 

We arrived in Estrella and got the news that Lynne had organised a flight via Brussels and he would join us soon. 

A 50 euro taxi later and we were all re-united in the hotel bar. The next day we went to Los Arcos, then Viana, then Logrono for a tapas lunch on Calle Laurel, where John and I tried to convince Jimmy we could get a bus up to Navarette, thankfully Jimmy stood tall and dragged us up and over the last 12km to the digs. The next day we walked to Ventosa, Najera and finally Azofra where they had checked into the posh and very dusty real Casona de Las Amas while i took my usual Camas in the Albergue. We had a great meal in Bar Seville, 12 euros three courses beer and red red wine. The conversation was flowing as freely as the fresh air and water. The next day we'd get a taxi back to Logrono and I'd put the boys on the bus before carrying on to Burgos and Leon. Well I thought that would happen but at the bus station when I asked Jimmy what bus company they were with he said RENFE. John uttered those stern words, "RENFE JAMES?" I couldn't contain the laughter as I said the train station's this way and you've got 4 minutes as they run on time. Jimmy was pre knee op so running wasn't an option but we pushed on and I got John to head down to the platform and hold up the Bilbao train in his own inimatable fashion and if that failed just use "Mi Amigo Escotia Stupido". John's mastery of language would come to the fore as Jimmy hobbled down the escalator and they boarded the Bilbao express. Fantastic to have a happy ending instead of a missed train and plane combo, again.