ultreia!  this is a word that i usually hear from old-timers as i pass.  it is meant as encouragement, and one man said that it is from the man of la mancha.  it means keep going, or go with strength, something like that.  there is a song that i think of as  ´ultreia´, but is actually called Le Chant des Pellerins de Compostelle.  that means the song of the pilgrims of compostella (the camino is to santiago de compostella, or ´composotelle´ for the french).   people sing it before or after dinner, and the hospitalero even played it this morning before everyone set out.  it is in french, so it is especially popular with the french people on the camino.  the melody is hauntingly beautiful, and hearing people spontaneously sing it is really lovely.  not just french know it, all europeans usually join in.  i copied the words, so here it is:

Chant des Pellerins de Compostella

Tous les matins nous prenons le chemin
Tous les matins nous allons plus loin
Jour apres jour la route nous appelle
C´est la voie de Compostelle.

Ultreia,  Ultreia.  Et susceia deus adjuvanos

Chemin de terre et chemin de foi
Voi millenairt de l´europe
La voie lactee de charlemagne
C´est le chemin de tous le jacquets.

Et tout lá-bas au bout de continent
Messire Jacques nous attend
Depuis toujours son sourire fixe
Le soleil qui meurt au Finistere.

brian-would you like to do a translation?  if you post it as a comment, i can cut and paste it to here. 

it´s almost time for dinner, and though i am in the albuerge next door to where i will eat, i am surrounded by delicious smells as they prepare their pilgrim´s meal.  tonight i will start with garlic soup, a specialty of this region. 

i happen to be on a very well-traveled camino, but everyday i realize how we are all on our own caminos.  and for many of us, the way is not as well marked as this camino is with its yellow arrows pointing the way.  for many of us, at one time or another, we cannot see the way to go, and it may even seem as though we have lost our way.  it is not so, but it can just be a short moment until the sun shines again in your life and your way is made clear.  so for all of my dear family and friends, i say to you- Ultreia! 
i love you so very much-
peace and blessings-
a