Category: Uncategorized

Day 18 ending in Rabanal Del Camino

I made 4 hours of walking before I crapped out.

Still feel awful.

We’re finally leaving the plains. The wind laid off someplace else and the walking is much more interesting. Someone used the S word (That’s snow). I hushed them.

Really charming, this little town. At 7, there’s some Gregorian chanting on offer for Easter Monday. Edit: it was Vespers and it was very peaceful.

The pope died. The news here has been nuts with it. Hope the next one is a good person.

The lambs this morning made me happy
A hermitage outside of Astorga
The health water faucet was broken, but I managed to squeeze out a drop. I felt better immediately

All the important information is readily available to pilgrims
Giant stork nest up there
The cute purple flowers were everywhere today
This cat hated me for some reason

Miles 12.6

Day 17 ended in Astorga

My allergies and asthma have wiped me out. If I still feel this bad tomorrow, I’ll check into a hotel and take a day off

Otherwise I had a pretty good day. Managed to catch a mass at the cathedral and watch the Sunday procession before eating a giant meal and napping.

The albergue I’m staying at is old and so neat. There’s beer in the vending machine and hot showers. Can’t ask for more.

Just a beautiful morning
Another roman bridge
All the apple trees are blooming
Most of the walks into towns are along pretty grim roads
This hunchback has been following me for days
View of the cathedral from the hostel
St James

Miles 17

Day 16 ending in San Martin del Camino

It was a shortish day. Got to the hostel and got a bottom bunk bed. Lol, it’s the little things in life that make it good. Nice place, and I needed a whole afternoon to rest.

Most of the old pilgrim hospitals are now hotels. This one is a Parador.
Literally the only pleasant 200 meter stretch today.
The drink is a “lemonade” consumed mostly at Eastertime. Leonese limonata it is, and tastes a lot like sangria.

Miles 15

Day 15 ending in Leon

It’s Good Friday in the world, especially here in Spain. I got to see a procession finally and it was pretty neat. The one I watched had several Jesuses. I thought to get a video but you can see better ones on YouTube.

I made an expensive mistake. I only brought one, almost empty, albuterol inhaler. The cost to see a doctor was more than I thought it would be. Those of you who really know me, know that I really hate expensive mistakes. So I’ll just chalk this one up to life happening. (EDIT: it cost 170 us dollars to see the Dr.  I got most of my deposit back)

This was a neat little town
In Way better repair than most village churches
Pilgrims had died on this very old bridge for years before a footbridge was built
Leon. I walked into town and it took about 50 minutes from here
Man, I just love fences around rocks
Leon cathedral. I didn’t get to go in
All the procession sleds are stored in this giant tent
This is when the Jesus was too tall and had to come out another way
This dude was very fatherly and fixed everyone’s pointy hat

Miles 19