first signs of a pilgrim

I had been walking on this famous road for several days without any signs of pilgrims like me!  My own fault, I had to choose, like always, the road less travelled....In the Youth Hostel of Ponte de Lima, I finally met Claire an American lady now living in Madrid.  We shared the same room with a French teacher who was there with a group of kids.  Her feet were full of blisters.  It was obvious that she was in pain.  I gave her a tube of cream to protect her foot and a few tips on how I managed to walk over a 1000 km without having any problems.  She was going to stay behind the next to get her feet looked at and she would decide what to do...  I felt sorry to leave already my new found companion of the road...