As I was walking today, I saw this snail on the road. With its big shell and slow pace, I thought ah ha. Perfect visual representation of me walking the Camino.
So I put my camera into super macro, lay down on the road all spreadeagled out, my backpack still on, my sticks abandoned, as I tried to get this shot of the snail with the road and the horizon in the background.
Then I heard all this shouting behind me!
I didn't bother to look at what was going on – I was too intent on getting my shot. But then I heard these heavy footsteps, and huffing and puffing, and more shouting.
I got the shot and turned around. These two blokes were racing up to me.
Oh mein Got, oh mien Got, they said. Do you need ein docktor?
They were two German blokes, and they'd seen me splayed out on the ground and thought I'd collapsed! This was Nolbert and Josef.
As I got to my feet, I thanked them but said that I was just getting a shot of the snail. By this stage a car was coming along the road behind us too, so Nolbert quickly picked up the snail and put it safely on the side of the road.
We had a good laugh. They were both very much relieved. The snail lived, and I got my shot of me!
PGS - The Way 
Hilarious! Great story!
Angela xx
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Thanks Angela! Hope ypu had a wonderful birthday!
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Fabulous! Love the pic and the story!
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I took photos of snails too- they become your friends along the way- but I never ever spreadeagled myself on the ground to get a shot!!! Lovely shot- worth it all.
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loved that photo,enjoying your blog,many thanks
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hahahaha Excellent….that made me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes :0)
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Thanks guys. Made me laugh too!
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Thanks so much. Great story. I may just look at the snails in my garden in a different light from now on. Perhaps they may even be spared and relocated. You have inspired me to do a lot more training in preparation for my Camino. Today, with pain in my knee and back, I pushed through and met my goal. Thanks again.
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Just lovin’ your blog! Useful and entertaining all at the same time! and your photography is wonderful, too! Thank you sooooo much for taking the time to share your journey!
Angela
Toronto, Canada
(starting my Camino Frances May 8!!!)
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that is one lucky snail. If a Spaniard had found him, he´d have been lunch!
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someone along the way told me that he heard the local Spaniards refer to the peregrinos as ‘caracol’ (snails) because we move slowly along with our belongings on our backs!
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Very funny! What kind of camera do you use? Is it light?
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