tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27381919542258585612024-02-07T00:04:11.081-08:00Mike's Blog - Camino del Ebro to Santiago de Compostela by peregrino MikeThis is the daily account of my adventures walking the Ebro camino from Tortosa to Santiago de Compostella starting in May 2007peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-81512878767786935692007-12-13T19:58:00.000-08:002012-10-06T22:52:55.800-07:00Amigos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemPh202Dib_g3_DvHkzMDnM81yP0onUf_CBenHlXv9lbckQZyU3aLlJqu9CydF-BDiVXXyw-BL5yT_5-agNhUO8A2bg_WAyuvztB5sUo6uHyb-1Mwb7bHf5Tv8AAzbi_CCku4uOYA_4/s1600-h/05089.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143673487082282258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemPh202Dib_g3_DvHkzMDnM81yP0onUf_CBenHlXv9lbckQZyU3aLlJqu9CydF-BDiVXXyw-BL5yT_5-agNhUO8A2bg_WAyuvztB5sUo6uHyb-1Mwb7bHf5Tv8AAzbi_CCku4uOYA_4/s400/05089.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<small>Hi all</small> friends and peregrinos<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><big>
<br />
</big></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">I
have managed at
last to get the last part of my Via del Plata walk - from Santiago
to Fisterra, then on to Muxia
and back to Santiago - onto the Amazon Books pages.
You can 'Look Inside' them to see an excerpt on line
and order a copy from them. If you are in Australia you may email me.</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"> Here are
the links:</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Amazon USA:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=fisterra+muxia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisterra
- Muxia</a></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Amazon UK:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=fisterra+muxia&x=0&y=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisterra
- Muxia </a> </span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="yiv999046382MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Amazon Spain:
(There's no 'Look Inside' available on this page)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.es/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/276-0582247-4166844?__mk_es_ES=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=fisterra+muxia&x=0&y=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisterra
- Muxia</a></span></span><br />
While my next project is to do the same with my Via del Plata story, I hope soon to do the same with<br />
This Ebro walk<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Amigos</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;">At last my Blog has it all, it is now complete, each day is in date order. It starts on the<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14/05/07 </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">This is my story of my life on the Ebro Camino to Santiago in 2007. I do hope I have mentioned most, if not all the wonderful people I met, for without them I would probably never have made it, and certainly would not have had such rich memories to think back on as the time goes by. Dear family and friends old and new, I thank you all dearly including those that may have slipped from my memory at the moment. I'd also like to thank those that encouraged me to keep going on this my hardest Camino yet. I hope you enjoy the story and the photos I took, and that they give you some idea what it was like out there, the good and the bad times.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> Amazingly just one word from a generous person can wipe the slate clean of a whole load of hardships, and for me they so often did. A cold wet night sitting up wrapped in a cape in a storm can be wiped away by the simple friendly interest and short conversation of an old lady you may be passing on the Camino later. I learnt a <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">rose</span> given spontaneously, or <span style="font-weight: bold;">kiss</span> on the cheek in Leon, can make your heart sing. A hail and <span style="font-weight: bold;">welcome</span> of a fellow peregrino that you saw perhaps a week ago and spoke but just a few words too. A lady's beaming <span style="font-weight: bold;">smile</span> as you struggle to find a word in Spanish. A simple text on your phone saying "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Animo</span> Michael". Words like "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Come with us</span>," spoken when you know you must look like hell and could be spreading flu germs by the million. Or maybe hearing in Spanish <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Just give the Santo a hug for me when you get there"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I could go on for ages.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Am I a better man for the experience? I don't know but I hope so, who knows!<br /><br />Well time is passing and I long to return but it looks a little unlikely at the moment so now it is your turn. There are many Caminos to try, my favourite would be the North Camino but the French Camino is the place to start I believe so start planing. If this old man can do it so can you.</span><br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">Remember the story starts on the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 14/05/07 see dates on the left of the screen</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">Hasta Pronto</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Abrazos</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Michael</span></div>
peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-35472813387364112612007-12-12T21:01:00.000-08:002007-12-13T23:20:46.192-08:0024th My short holiday from Camino<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">My short holiday from Camino</span></span><br /></div><br />24/06/07<br />The time flew. I was returning to my lodgings to sleep and rest often, while walking the town and trying to alter my ticket home. The days went by in a haze, I remember I saw two of the Spanish men, the one from Altea and Juan, so I know they made it there. No sign of Francesca!<br />I saw Horst and had a drink with him and met again the lady that I had got the taxi for.<br />It was wet and cold and I was having trouble keeping warm. When walking the streets again I went off on my own and found the Internet café and did my messages to everyone. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE49ySUDumxB7EiErh_cgi3kY5egxNgMz8zYmnPdYAbZWKR59jcTvdfATkHsvpi-QOaYC2njaPWrftYqc0yZgqBcTt5XImBPDSXY9Au2Up964rdx-H8YKb4jTTaNXjNPdTLEPfwHGVED8/s1600-h/05576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE49ySUDumxB7EiErh_cgi3kY5egxNgMz8zYmnPdYAbZWKR59jcTvdfATkHsvpi-QOaYC2njaPWrftYqc0yZgqBcTt5XImBPDSXY9Au2Up964rdx-H8YKb4jTTaNXjNPdTLEPfwHGVED8/s320/05576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143320708446151890" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EKDSExEcxh54F5g3S3Biz8MzwPA1ZUuxT_rvc4LrCWiIOmcXEgmfH-rRzwYfUzwCcQYVE8Y-9ewfIagb_O1NEcQKb8u6rfSPxZiEW0_l7ouYMDPM7LTo8rsHkeNH5V3X3Y7cibySIpQ/s1600-h/05578.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EKDSExEcxh54F5g3S3Biz8MzwPA1ZUuxT_rvc4LrCWiIOmcXEgmfH-rRzwYfUzwCcQYVE8Y-9ewfIagb_O1NEcQKb8u6rfSPxZiEW0_l7ouYMDPM7LTo8rsHkeNH5V3X3Y7cibySIpQ/s320/05578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143367089797982226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To show you what a state I was in, I left the computer open and had to change my password later after Maisie had got chatted up on the Internet from my account! I still can't remember what order things happened and spent a lot of time in bed sleeping.<br />25/06/07<br />I bumped into Barbara in Santiago. She was with a guy called Tomas. I didn't know him and to tell the truth I couldn't remember where I knew her from till she jogged my memory.<br />"You had dinner with Roser, me and the Italian girl in Molinaseca"<br />After several failed attempts at remembering her name she patiently said to me<br />"Think of Barbara Streisand."<br />Now I could get it in my befuddled mind! Ah! Barbara I will be forever grateful to you and your kindness on that last week! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpTcctWTzF7EEPwrxQ8mxDRxS_vdZN3iZdYPh505xGvU_-FLlB5gyWyiijuNjwO5g7dHTfTO3iclzGa0deVTlKfkKfn-c7R_vSZg6ImYr7Ly4Qxb7bOruKIT8xK9D-ZfIX390KJ6a5c8/s1600-h/BARBARA.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpTcctWTzF7EEPwrxQ8mxDRxS_vdZN3iZdYPh505xGvU_-FLlB5gyWyiijuNjwO5g7dHTfTO3iclzGa0deVTlKfkKfn-c7R_vSZg6ImYr7Ly4Qxb7bOruKIT8xK9D-ZfIX390KJ6a5c8/s200/BARBARA.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143321829432616194" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span>I was now able to call her Barbara from now on chuckle. She took this old peregrino with the flu under her wing, as we English say, and I arranged to meet her later at seven.<br />As we parted a lady called out to me but I couldn't place her, it might have been one of the Spanish girls at Casa Domingo or one of the girls I had first met. I was feeling so awful and the mind would just not work that day. I also met Yollanda who had made it too but was catching the train out soon. I never even asked her to have a coffee and felt so guilty afterwards.<br />I had rung my old friend Lara earlier and had arranged to meet her in the square at 6pm but she never arrived, so at seven I went down the street and joined Tomas and Barbara and a American girl as I'd arranged with Barbara. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13choFslFdsxLVDbe3hVzoocf2lYpHUo7XRVKdwSuPRU2YpH74UuvbdfqXe-BAhF_mccgEKaDrNwHCAy5GHOpfCu0u0Kj5o5W6mi-lyDEB9OJLCEFLwRqgJnBhhe-jXqfpRziDB5c87I/s1600-h/05580.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13choFslFdsxLVDbe3hVzoocf2lYpHUo7XRVKdwSuPRU2YpH74UuvbdfqXe-BAhF_mccgEKaDrNwHCAy5GHOpfCu0u0Kj5o5W6mi-lyDEB9OJLCEFLwRqgJnBhhe-jXqfpRziDB5c87I/s320/05580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143322185914901778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Much later I received a text from Lara saying she was sorry but she couldn't make it, but by then I had arranged to go to Finisterre with Barbara so unfortunately Lara and me were never able to meet up. You see I had a lot of messages on the phone so to keep it working I deleted it only to notice it was a different number than the one I had used!!! Too late I could not even reply to her!<br />I was sitting outside the bar and shivering, Barbara knew a cheap place to buy clothes and they all came and helped me buy a big red woollen jumper. I was warm at last!!!! We had a meal in a good Spanish restaurant on the way to the train station and then we walked the American girl, Casandia, to catch the sleeper train to Madrid. Returning Tomas and I walked Barbara home to her lodgings in town then parted, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxXSD8v9r2BHoNL5edsXDCbo0TnyqHt1qk5UWTiz1YKdOvW0xhQl0SyrUiRVVDwVyMYAbYUKj2Q_KeHsELD2_lzRE2BMxwjguBgswJZH0Zn_J6k3lk6mxVV4WrhsU2xj7cv003ndKQUg/s1600-h/05581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxXSD8v9r2BHoNL5edsXDCbo0TnyqHt1qk5UWTiz1YKdOvW0xhQl0SyrUiRVVDwVyMYAbYUKj2Q_KeHsELD2_lzRE2BMxwjguBgswJZH0Zn_J6k3lk6mxVV4WrhsU2xj7cv003ndKQUg/s400/05581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143322568166991138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was to meet Barbara at the bus station tomorrow to go to Finisterre. I've tried emailing since I got home, but sadly neither Casandia nor Tomas received them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />26/06/07<br />In the morning I walked to the bus station and there met Barbara and we found our seats. I slept most of the way except the last few kilometres. Arriving, we wondered what would be best thing to do. While walking away from the bus a lady stopped us and we went with her to look at a room. It was in a nice house with kitchen and lounge. Two other men were sharing another room. There were three beds in the room offered to us and Barbara said she was ok with that arrangement as it was no more than a albergue would be, so we took it. I collapsed into bed and slept most of the day only coming out later when I made myself walk round the beautiful harbour. <br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dJuF-SSM16q4hxDDObEhmgjKnVNiTJpyNh07FeEO5uCgAU9pd9-Yshx9eOyLIWyXq8KdAvvML4kWWUsYIMVvfqvU_Wgh37gvEEGgYObSGES3DMvYZBQf2OQlXh4S-zCJOXKnkwA4Jac/s1600-h/05583.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dJuF-SSM16q4hxDDObEhmgjKnVNiTJpyNh07FeEO5uCgAU9pd9-Yshx9eOyLIWyXq8KdAvvML4kWWUsYIMVvfqvU_Wgh37gvEEGgYObSGES3DMvYZBQf2OQlXh4S-zCJOXKnkwA4Jac/s320/05583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143323066383197490" border="0" /></a><br />Here I met Richard again and we chatted over coffee.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTohpC8qlnL7JQBqwJ7T9-O_1bJKoT338NAFdehT4o5wk-Evboc3XwnESKkFucP_hgMzJje_-JJ4t-i2u1e1zLxLwaOyUtJZgHVwP0wRvEdGZi5NEVfXyqDqDS9YqWH0ZfFJxFHPnhVeA/s1600-h/05584.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTohpC8qlnL7JQBqwJ7T9-O_1bJKoT338NAFdehT4o5wk-Evboc3XwnESKkFucP_hgMzJje_-JJ4t-i2u1e1zLxLwaOyUtJZgHVwP0wRvEdGZi5NEVfXyqDqDS9YqWH0ZfFJxFHPnhVeA/s320/05584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143323964031362370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP5LjJk3IFk2R5vxfbnNcI2gp3-McWKMDgUPL-KUHVMyWMaP-hbS4UPl1hlWiN0GMjLme3zvabviPHsxg6qPK5o1sM11Mt1wc8isLn8Z-pkZcfhk_glB7lbwCBe8Ip4-1CxUz2sKbk1o/s1600-h/05586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP5LjJk3IFk2R5vxfbnNcI2gp3-McWKMDgUPL-KUHVMyWMaP-hbS4UPl1hlWiN0GMjLme3zvabviPHsxg6qPK5o1sM11Mt1wc8isLn8Z-pkZcfhk_glB7lbwCBe8Ip4-1CxUz2sKbk1o/s320/05586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143326154464683346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbPCO3I_ZOdUjKUUv4G5CHJXqApRwYgG6ZNswyPPd409OSlDtmFJj7aCORm79aoyTNnN6ICEFZ6b_wMm6pxsj1IlN00VtFtODy5w7Y8ODWhKkbhQ0gC-odgLmuHX8l4BSUW5KgqJIq4Y/s1600-h/05589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbPCO3I_ZOdUjKUUv4G5CHJXqApRwYgG6ZNswyPPd409OSlDtmFJj7aCORm79aoyTNnN6ICEFZ6b_wMm6pxsj1IlN00VtFtODy5w7Y8ODWhKkbhQ0gC-odgLmuHX8l4BSUW5KgqJIq4Y/s320/05589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143327674883106146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The sun warmed me and the coffee con cognac so I set off up the road to the lighthouse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qD2VslG74KAqsZsuaExa0coxw1GhDLOH0s7AsHyJi7Q0qmU8LwYtfbmEaJKCODaOjskZwsUe-xHdkOdfvWCEoyOvjOcepiTKDC4Ynx__3zIUAjd7u0VXFyWkSi9cwnNeCqmIQFC3R_M/s1600-h/05590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qD2VslG74KAqsZsuaExa0coxw1GhDLOH0s7AsHyJi7Q0qmU8LwYtfbmEaJKCODaOjskZwsUe-xHdkOdfvWCEoyOvjOcepiTKDC4Ynx__3zIUAjd7u0VXFyWkSi9cwnNeCqmIQFC3R_M/s320/05590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143328907538720114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3FLBPgGev76sw7AlIlijYa8D6cqFUIV266LqcHVEXcntJKyNeu5cPkSLl7-zBrtPt69Tceape3pmkUboELWV-n0Jfdj2zXzvHDEaVQumy4mvu4qb8aygxnPKAtsnosuKKt_AsKrP4qs/s1600-h/05591.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3FLBPgGev76sw7AlIlijYa8D6cqFUIV266LqcHVEXcntJKyNeu5cPkSLl7-zBrtPt69Tceape3pmkUboELWV-n0Jfdj2zXzvHDEaVQumy4mvu4qb8aygxnPKAtsnosuKKt_AsKrP4qs/s200/05591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143329169531725186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuzHKCOU0mow5UPfEbMMl8Qd8oSqKSycNvJNLXpDlmI2Eq357U-Z_JY96GTQh4qknesLtPzk69fvwobxW90e_2lF7SNawJ_NR6O6pMvMrkdazuBMOXdCZtCroWuAJ_rxkid_MV8yS5iU/s1600-h/05592.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuzHKCOU0mow5UPfEbMMl8Qd8oSqKSycNvJNLXpDlmI2Eq357U-Z_JY96GTQh4qknesLtPzk69fvwobxW90e_2lF7SNawJ_NR6O6pMvMrkdazuBMOXdCZtCroWuAJ_rxkid_MV8yS5iU/s320/05592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143329551783814546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjdoq23ikolsYVKobwmuizFb-cdKgZPKWEui2bq9tvrPh6A6X0LbbaEhxzDf5a4FIARifERKxH7lWWF0Y30TmpgOMZ-1UbrPhtJs375y7WW-iEZd9KcLnGavrbeq7J65i816GpGbJ3e4/s1600-h/05595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjdoq23ikolsYVKobwmuizFb-cdKgZPKWEui2bq9tvrPh6A6X0LbbaEhxzDf5a4FIARifERKxH7lWWF0Y30TmpgOMZ-1UbrPhtJs375y7WW-iEZd9KcLnGavrbeq7J65i816GpGbJ3e4/s320/05595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143335852500837794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here I felt sad on being alone remembering Vigi, Conchi and Emmanuel my great companions of last time. Later coming down was easier with still those beautiful views. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0YrvF4RL7Nu_2l3-DbxXVvRhZ1Wt0QZG0LvKsYOCmwMxu2MINHYuFOwZZdihMq8oGod4x47CfD16JGRaatNwrepfYNWceQ_I-DQRRM7n9mFJzv8_vIVXmeZ3_X92kExms61iXXB-evA/s1600-h/05597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0YrvF4RL7Nu_2l3-DbxXVvRhZ1Wt0QZG0LvKsYOCmwMxu2MINHYuFOwZZdihMq8oGod4x47CfD16JGRaatNwrepfYNWceQ_I-DQRRM7n9mFJzv8_vIVXmeZ3_X92kExms61iXXB-evA/s320/05597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143336359306978738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3ysiGf2i5saTtStUH1pobJbCr64rIZeQQ61DHxV8_0CIVd3kNjSdgTCRZvy2tmckarauaVXx17i2-1AYsSRgieNF2GXrRIaah39XqgYYHZn7iYMEbsks7hlbx5DG39CgPcG9w2MIisc/s1600-h/05602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3ysiGf2i5saTtStUH1pobJbCr64rIZeQQ61DHxV8_0CIVd3kNjSdgTCRZvy2tmckarauaVXx17i2-1AYsSRgieNF2GXrRIaah39XqgYYHZn7iYMEbsks7hlbx5DG39CgPcG9w2MIisc/s320/05602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143338927697421842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I ate in a café somewhere. I can't remember where but I walked again over to the colourful boats. On seeing Barbara I joined her and was introduced to her friend Gert. Barbara said she'd spent the morning up there alone, writing up her 'End of Camino'! <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ILT-obbkAxnO8YRC1k7LdvjT2qI8E4LJTubypwD6XkWioYkqKnacU56Zp4-NTnYRFB7NxAD3ZjpwvykX6LE-NBwgBgIWn2x-9mmZXVxyhipWM1Bi2zxkgWr50ux2wiMIml5nCBORf7c/s1600-h/05598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ILT-obbkAxnO8YRC1k7LdvjT2qI8E4LJTubypwD6XkWioYkqKnacU56Zp4-NTnYRFB7NxAD3ZjpwvykX6LE-NBwgBgIWn2x-9mmZXVxyhipWM1Bi2zxkgWr50ux2wiMIml5nCBORf7c/s320/05598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143336887587956162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIv-4_Lb5mokGc7YgFZ1nofO4m8Lmq5OhlhdyTuHSFos7PA_Qa3WcP5DPkCXaYfBiPk7apCbSaWFNkNo2D6Gp2nB0Ej3JfWQist4K9eAH10e5JOeGsNUiwRFGoGkyq8TD2dDjZlmNC-k/s1600-h/05600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIv-4_Lb5mokGc7YgFZ1nofO4m8Lmq5OhlhdyTuHSFos7PA_Qa3WcP5DPkCXaYfBiPk7apCbSaWFNkNo2D6Gp2nB0Ej3JfWQist4K9eAH10e5JOeGsNUiwRFGoGkyq8TD2dDjZlmNC-k/s200/05600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143337622027363810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX5AVLP2y_ZqiIj1kg98YRWTxcFmK3Q2HqVtY5hNe8t6lx8XJO_GVv1znbN-w1WooCRY9BIYcXmmlOVSNduLm8Uj6jOtWuocWWIdbwKpKjQcdVT9z5tquK-XZwTnm5yY-glkZso2rj-Q/s1600-h/05599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX5AVLP2y_ZqiIj1kg98YRWTxcFmK3Q2HqVtY5hNe8t6lx8XJO_GVv1znbN-w1WooCRY9BIYcXmmlOVSNduLm8Uj6jOtWuocWWIdbwKpKjQcdVT9z5tquK-XZwTnm5yY-glkZso2rj-Q/s320/05599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143337218300437970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD1C5JPT-AH9haV8sKrxJ7WKpLJMZb94Yvf4etOxUA1ErPZhPmlK0-jMQh80doljB8W7wWp7I9OsQq4CWWAOrgvcNiN1P_YqGN3wGy0hjVqePjQx9tJzFV1sQkjWzJumh_udmFpRmizY/s1600-h/05601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD1C5JPT-AH9haV8sKrxJ7WKpLJMZb94Yvf4etOxUA1ErPZhPmlK0-jMQh80doljB8W7wWp7I9OsQq4CWWAOrgvcNiN1P_YqGN3wGy0hjVqePjQx9tJzFV1sQkjWzJumh_udmFpRmizY/s200/05601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143337931265009138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">27/06/07<br /></span></span>Poor Barbara couldn't have slept much with me snorting and blowing my nose all night, but bright as a button next morning Barbara suggested we take a picnic to just above the lighthouse on the mountain.<br />"It will be sheltered up there and out of the wind, you will be warm enough and sea air would do you good! I've found another, much nicer way over the mountain by the dirt tracks to a lovely sheltered spot" she said.<br />True enough arriving there after a beautiful walk I felt much better. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vWUYoI1spiTlP-FRGtxmLmIYO9fMYwFZSGMiNgz0Rf5T1CK5YICZG6zRuU7prTa1QqDcsoyLlGzvHc04XxrIUMrQkeC-f6R70kJEEp_7EqlH05dtwh_GX4pnwZPpIzWeQ4MszRwriw8/s1600-h/05603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vWUYoI1spiTlP-FRGtxmLmIYO9fMYwFZSGMiNgz0Rf5T1CK5YICZG6zRuU7prTa1QqDcsoyLlGzvHc04XxrIUMrQkeC-f6R70kJEEp_7EqlH05dtwh_GX4pnwZPpIzWeQ4MszRwriw8/s320/05603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143339984259376674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We pushed through some prickly gorse bushes to get to a clump of granite rocks. The view was super, looking down on the lighthouse and the shimmering sea to the horizon. The weather was bright and sunny and the wind cool but here out of the wind even the rocks generated heat. We sat and had our picnic leaning back on a large rock together. We chatted away, both watching the shadows of the puffy clouds scudding across the silver blue sea. Our lunch was my favourite, Manchego cheese, stuffed olives, crusty bread and good red wine, with a young companion who's so sweet and nice. It was<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh7PBu5RdDVS7sKhcLpVopMKblk3rNPqJd9m5irlrXKeNLnEOM6UXEkAbd-cUEKNYBrcrzLeUFLeXz9vByFB5VDVTwygub8ltjpzLdj4hWH5k2fH29-baRzV0JtL3fCR4SJydiZSr7hs/s1600-h/05604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh7PBu5RdDVS7sKhcLpVopMKblk3rNPqJd9m5irlrXKeNLnEOM6UXEkAbd-cUEKNYBrcrzLeUFLeXz9vByFB5VDVTwygub8ltjpzLdj4hWH5k2fH29-baRzV0JtL3fCR4SJydiZSr7hs/s200/05604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143363413305976834" border="0" /></a> another magic Camino moment I won't forget in a hurry. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcWiJXpnDLEfFCg8FTjK8PuXWhbz9MbgMZm8k2t8EMzo9c7ek_4yO0TtEXSBFAMF2wexL9r_ZZtQGOwOmG8LXwRuthEm57ojPvkpI1SB8AiWsOuSfs3rTzLCnd8l4JGVhBMUw_1W8aEM/s1600-h/05606A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcWiJXpnDLEfFCg8FTjK8PuXWhbz9MbgMZm8k2t8EMzo9c7ek_4yO0TtEXSBFAMF2wexL9r_ZZtQGOwOmG8LXwRuthEm57ojPvkpI1SB8AiWsOuSfs3rTzLCnd8l4JGVhBMUw_1W8aEM/s200/05606A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143341302814336594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX28_pfTMtmTG1__suXGUQyzbp0VpRLyAWFD7CNTTaSyvKx9E392hXmwr6cTsRQs2LLpv3Oh3jniaA4jnTym87t_XyDhqDHv28AB2KQlA942Thy_AGD8A-wtcOAjw_jSpJBwTlVl4I3A/s1600-h/05605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX28_pfTMtmTG1__suXGUQyzbp0VpRLyAWFD7CNTTaSyvKx9E392hXmwr6cTsRQs2LLpv3Oh3jniaA4jnTym87t_XyDhqDHv28AB2KQlA942Thy_AGD8A-wtcOAjw_jSpJBwTlVl4I3A/s320/05605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143340856137737794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the way back I suggested that I should cook an evening meal for us in the kitchen and we stopped in town and bought the ingredients, potatoes, onions, beans and pork fillets. We seemed to get everything wrong, there was much to much food and suddenly Barbara realised Roser would arrive on the beach at 4.30pm. We would not have time to eat before going to meet her! Plans changed, we hoped we would be able to warm dinner up later and hurried to the sandy beach on the other side of town where we would see her arrive walking on the sea shore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8-vz2OQhPgW3MweydypbO5LYAGdSfM8Ok7YsVwFfKAUXbs4rduo2QVarM7dVoDjW0fHWmFFG6vssjfWYX9F_RbC2Ep89chJaHOoRSiN7wEpm3abuCugUIx44sfKIpmsCkpV72CzqHOU/s1600-h/05607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8-vz2OQhPgW3MweydypbO5LYAGdSfM8Ok7YsVwFfKAUXbs4rduo2QVarM7dVoDjW0fHWmFFG6vssjfWYX9F_RbC2Ep89chJaHOoRSiN7wEpm3abuCugUIx44sfKIpmsCkpV72CzqHOU/s320/05607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143342045843678818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here came another happy moment as I saw the two girls run and clasp each other, tears in their eyes as I too moved to congratulate Roser. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWfulZR8thfYEg-safaeDJt9Orl9WnuX6DgsWjH89luO4JXPWBSZMkptNXKGCyXlTC4znugJeIEOKacE0EcdaMB8SZnRZH-TlxExResQk6lpAOvK7TeEN64cLDP-VQuSIcPEqThe7MNQ/s1600-h/05609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWfulZR8thfYEg-safaeDJt9Orl9WnuX6DgsWjH89luO4JXPWBSZMkptNXKGCyXlTC4znugJeIEOKacE0EcdaMB8SZnRZH-TlxExResQk6lpAOvK7TeEN64cLDP-VQuSIcPEqThe7MNQ/s200/05609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143343304269096594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV3oxiBUv3xE13EmN5XTxx7mT7rTm2tw_WVXutM6r-7D-_YLFQmKrXiHiSFidNhn3_6wvanYx6gU_ErhRMVRST2NLw8js9eoxL35QHV72MNzBdPDs50iXdWFU4goLCo3dh5sLIhhn1oQ/s1600-h/05608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV3oxiBUv3xE13EmN5XTxx7mT7rTm2tw_WVXutM6r-7D-_YLFQmKrXiHiSFidNhn3_6wvanYx6gU_ErhRMVRST2NLw8js9eoxL35QHV72MNzBdPDs50iXdWFU4goLCo3dh5sLIhhn1oQ/s320/05608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143342445275637362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br />In a cafe she later introduced me to her new companion Lydia, from America, but all three girls were speaking fluent Spanish. Walking back to town we arranged for them to eat with us and hopefully take the other room as the men we knew had booked out today. All was soon arranged and we ate a good meal of soup made by the Austrian chef, and beans and potatoes with pork fillets by the resident Australian cook. A super dessert course, (postre) had been supplied by Roser and Lydia from the local patisserie we had passed, but we saved it for later, to be consumed with a bottle of Cream de Orujo on the cliff top!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_RbS9MkslTXF4dObjdd94rWMNVbawoEih6ryuUywSGlvPrCCnl1r8tdnQk_ow8WIRA39iDFLQdeMgockBYctXxvVWerBttoR__Qq3fP-wDjbwjgOea3ktBrDHIZuIFaTIFB2_Q7JNLI/s1600-h/05611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_RbS9MkslTXF4dObjdd94rWMNVbawoEih6ryuUywSGlvPrCCnl1r8tdnQk_ow8WIRA39iDFLQdeMgockBYctXxvVWerBttoR__Qq3fP-wDjbwjgOea3ktBrDHIZuIFaTIFB2_Q7JNLI/s320/05611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143344240571967138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The girls now full of energy, naturally wanted to see the sunset at the End of the World like everyone does so off we went again! By taking the dirt tracks once more, we went over the top of the mountain to the Lighthouse. This side of the mountain was now in shadow as we came down to the lighthouse but that was caught in brilliant evening sunshine. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH3yaJErE2-S-hwc2wF6KtX5jurIv3AFgG-FmW_Z3udSPie85hBc0BJgwdM70r31mLAGYWdhAxbk1tZXAXoLq7kdB4_8YJiNYjquWGtSckgjoRxPqmFb-H4LdQ9nR780ChqKhSgY5qQM/s1600-h/05615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH3yaJErE2-S-hwc2wF6KtX5jurIv3AFgG-FmW_Z3udSPie85hBc0BJgwdM70r31mLAGYWdhAxbk1tZXAXoLq7kdB4_8YJiNYjquWGtSckgjoRxPqmFb-H4LdQ9nR780ChqKhSgY5qQM/s320/05615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143344824687519410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYpkWqZyYlKMGKA7hCFOnugxoT9W50I8IxkuxQyJ6rGL8ModJJPhshY5HoXsENe9-nZYUQW6Rg_rO-pA5Gt4esJTCkdXyJ50S2RZU_ksoJ2lF_q-J7S_ijk7BfyF0sExMJHxGg_FVD6U/s1600-h/06123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYpkWqZyYlKMGKA7hCFOnugxoT9W50I8IxkuxQyJ6rGL8ModJJPhshY5HoXsENe9-nZYUQW6Rg_rO-pA5Gt4esJTCkdXyJ50S2RZU_ksoJ2lF_q-J7S_ijk7BfyF0sExMJHxGg_FVD6U/s320/06123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143345292838954690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here on the cliff top we watched the sun sink in its golden colours, while taking lots of photos, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z0_cEeREiBnxNDZIJEuFSRwBMX1qDNiZ1xgFYJva3jJUB-OdBlDTXteRG-8NkPMW8q6S4JQWkf8HmdyDvsaQ4QRKTmq4D-c5U4Ph9mtogZMsflqO4cTV3KXVQtOkzOUN5PMbFZ468fI/s1600-h/05616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z0_cEeREiBnxNDZIJEuFSRwBMX1qDNiZ1xgFYJva3jJUB-OdBlDTXteRG-8NkPMW8q6S4JQWkf8HmdyDvsaQ4QRKTmq4D-c5U4Ph9mtogZMsflqO4cTV3KXVQtOkzOUN5PMbFZ468fI/s200/05616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143345928494114514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnFRfOeojKiPLVEm-Jb4SfVQKFeJ-2Iu6mtqPCrw_f28j3Q-B4UP3GNzyS2cDwv_82-dGgtKw7pYuXEvAdDkTehuirBIub-e8fyRlEgcghi1-N1reJM4Ipt4MnmAc-O5xrKWUd5nanGQ/s1600-h/05619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnFRfOeojKiPLVEm-Jb4SfVQKFeJ-2Iu6mtqPCrw_f28j3Q-B4UP3GNzyS2cDwv_82-dGgtKw7pYuXEvAdDkTehuirBIub-e8fyRlEgcghi1-N1reJM4Ipt4MnmAc-O5xrKWUd5nanGQ/s200/05619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143346224846857954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrJ5qM15-jJgszF6VbLIsla-x1QonJNXfRek0zSvK0V8Tl5RHheTb0Rpr-PI1OYMHb-sbsySidrfUT1-4FcS14Mi7Bvz0dUvCPXTYnWaKLZ9kTdUIGyOBJL101IZQct6u2fG1PIkbK8g/s1600-h/06121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrJ5qM15-jJgszF6VbLIsla-x1QonJNXfRek0zSvK0V8Tl5RHheTb0Rpr-PI1OYMHb-sbsySidrfUT1-4FcS14Mi7Bvz0dUvCPXTYnWaKLZ9kTdUIGyOBJL101IZQct6u2fG1PIkbK8g/s200/06121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143346624278816498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />we ate our postre and drank our fill of the Orujo, and joined the happy crowd singing. Next we made a fire and burnt a bra of Roser's and other symbols of the end of camino, mine being a handful of paper tissues!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0FlDENlAaK-X1OnzT8C68zQREkikv5j7v4c9eUm5XYX3lZG-7UYr2-hBwARp41GHuH-tKzXBPJQnWzy45nRJzCU3QmyJZeyVVOvvyK4m-aBbgM2KanbXLYpYhM8qWhdQQMPnjkB7sZc/s1600-h/06125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0FlDENlAaK-X1OnzT8C68zQREkikv5j7v4c9eUm5XYX3lZG-7UYr2-hBwARp41GHuH-tKzXBPJQnWzy45nRJzCU3QmyJZeyVVOvvyK4m-aBbgM2KanbXLYpYhM8qWhdQQMPnjkB7sZc/s320/06125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143347023710775042" border="0" /></a><br />I met and gave the high five to my friend Horst again and this time swapped addresses with him. Only one boot of Richards stood on the rocks near the fire! There was a stone cross nearby that we found, and by now the moon was sending a road of silver light across the sea to the heavens. We all tried to photograph that cross as it was silhouetted against this silver camino. Sadly we couldn't capture it with the silver moonlit sea beyond, that seemed to say,<br />"This camino has ended but one day you will continue." <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXp2qxFuGeGG2bc3DYmvKIufezqterZyoJlvMnZj7rfPofEyk4h8Y2B5d6nat8YgaWP1X3X7JDXCuSdp7GHjPVjcuImuJcaspo1_rK45R0OVjMW7wHADipbLjAaF0yAc4NTRkAOYyzpg/s1600-h/06129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXp2qxFuGeGG2bc3DYmvKIufezqterZyoJlvMnZj7rfPofEyk4h8Y2B5d6nat8YgaWP1X3X7JDXCuSdp7GHjPVjcuImuJcaspo1_rK45R0OVjMW7wHADipbLjAaF0yAc4NTRkAOYyzpg/s200/06129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143347633596131106" border="0" /></a>After walking to here and back in the morning and out to here again in the afternoon, I was naturally tired. Now with the silver moon behind us, I hardly noticed it as we walked happily in the darkness back down the tarmac road the last three kilometres towards the glittering lights of Finisterre.<br /><br />28/06/07<br />The following day was spent at the beach café and later we took the bus to Coruña on the top west corner of Spain and here we arrived fairly late and took a hostel. We then walked a long way to the beach and along the shore.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IFQCUGKgcEwL7RjeMwcOZRDQ6Vr7zWUfZ5L-IOK3X1wv6Jr3sc1ZO2SdPQolXgbPELGKmuNzdpoJO6bWhAzytvRgCQJmPhw-ZCQrA50u3xmQ2-pG93VLRv5I_l7IXmQXRvpX51RFGBg/s1600-h/06133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IFQCUGKgcEwL7RjeMwcOZRDQ6Vr7zWUfZ5L-IOK3X1wv6Jr3sc1ZO2SdPQolXgbPELGKmuNzdpoJO6bWhAzytvRgCQJmPhw-ZCQrA50u3xmQ2-pG93VLRv5I_l7IXmQXRvpX51RFGBg/s400/06133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143348123222402866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCXntK73Gw8ebqq9S0S0dL9Cdd7pi8mrC-UboLIUkkTRFTjpvQdCX032hJjzbbKRNvxvQ5Cb2By4nF12V-mh0FSX3RsLPmSvXSIHkCifQTZHPUOgvQhmXD-gwKXW0-7zsHV-ciIfBnNo/s1600-h/06135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCXntK73Gw8ebqq9S0S0dL9Cdd7pi8mrC-UboLIUkkTRFTjpvQdCX032hJjzbbKRNvxvQ5Cb2By4nF12V-mh0FSX3RsLPmSvXSIHkCifQTZHPUOgvQhmXD-gwKXW0-7zsHV-ciIfBnNo/s200/06135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143348449639917378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHym47lgM7T_KvMfjHo_nej_0vcUyUJyie7MTxskOqe0TZ6ko-Q8uiX4zPDV9g119FOTVuD_8okDoTTR8G-LpsSmbwWXgo0XA-Qo4BtLxYcmSikGZ2ZTZDXvpgqMA6dMtbICD1CeuwDY/s1600-h/06138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHym47lgM7T_KvMfjHo_nej_0vcUyUJyie7MTxskOqe0TZ6ko-Q8uiX4zPDV9g119FOTVuD_8okDoTTR8G-LpsSmbwWXgo0XA-Qo4BtLxYcmSikGZ2ZTZDXvpgqMA6dMtbICD1CeuwDY/s320/06138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143348887726581586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As it got dark the lights came on and we ate tapas in a bar restaurant. The seafront and the lights on the Pillar of Hercules looked great at night and we enjoyed ourselves immensely<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80eLNNRQQI3MC3wPaDUqCc73PkurTrhaAoh8ylqjqRqZ_L2STkRnwwnNl28-2tivqTonD3Eh_XgVOzBv8yh5zQcJFzfqqkE5mwjiwocA3I3ing0lzrTnA_ZUjUaGHi_fp7XNmGA2g5qg/s1600-h/06139.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80eLNNRQQI3MC3wPaDUqCc73PkurTrhaAoh8ylqjqRqZ_L2STkRnwwnNl28-2tivqTonD3Eh_XgVOzBv8yh5zQcJFzfqqkE5mwjiwocA3I3ing0lzrTnA_ZUjUaGHi_fp7XNmGA2g5qg/s320/06139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143349484727035762" border="0" /></a> walking back, till suddenly we realised how late it was so the girls called a taxi. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5pzAPn4nvYiZhC8pfO83Slk400CumLOzQaJISRULWaDzKUJmBjKhHygdUqfWFtTLZZFZTVsILS1pm-hfMzwfzsgU3FVRoGsOzPXt-ObiDZtoIC6Hcitfw0fRUzn4mxg2JIRW1uXt3TU/s1600-h/06137A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5pzAPn4nvYiZhC8pfO83Slk400CumLOzQaJISRULWaDzKUJmBjKhHygdUqfWFtTLZZFZTVsILS1pm-hfMzwfzsgU3FVRoGsOzPXt-ObiDZtoIC6Hcitfw0fRUzn4mxg2JIRW1uXt3TU/s200/06137A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143350936425981842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>29/06/07<br />Next morning we all met in the bar for breakfast. I was feeling good, my flu was much better and I was having fun now, but sadly time was running out for us. Today we had to find our way back to the bus station, where we sadly had to part company with Barbara. This was hard for us all as we said our goodbyes, but Barbara got her ticket and got on one bus and we three got on another heading for Santiago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTOACPLv5bdPvGpItYOzxUnCjuu-dJ3a97_RcCanXHG9hks8zlMFKm3yulpD4nHGaDUZhndsJP_l-pjYytlWH2ONkm6ia3SSrU4eYgqFxnnRBMN9WN9KfbldUH45VxWoQkWLehfEHUls/s1600-h/06142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTOACPLv5bdPvGpItYOzxUnCjuu-dJ3a97_RcCanXHG9hks8zlMFKm3yulpD4nHGaDUZhndsJP_l-pjYytlWH2ONkm6ia3SSrU4eYgqFxnnRBMN9WN9KfbldUH45VxWoQkWLehfEHUls/s320/06142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143351331562973090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The journey back to Santiago was uneventful but walking from the bus station back to the centre of town<br />we stopped for a glass of wine in a wine bar. I asked for a (vino de verano) and the chap didn't know what it was and I got an awful mixture of red wine and something! Rather than spoil the moment I drank it and so I was never sure whether it was that, or the shellfish from last night, but as we were waiting for the monastery to open its doors it hit. I knew I had to go find a toilet rapidly and hurriedly tried to explain to the girls that I couldn't wait, I must find my lodgings that I had stopped in before. I left Roser and Lydia hurriedly, saying I'd meet them in the square later at six. Sadly I never made that meeting, as I was far too sick. I was rushing to the toilet all the time, I think I must have been fast asleep at six and anyway I couldn't go anywhere for two whole days.<br />30/06/07<br />31/06/07<br />I looked in the bathroom mirror at one time and have never seen myself before with a few wrinkles where my stomach should have been. I looked just like one of those photos you see of the poor devils coming out of a prisoner of war camp. The lady at my hostel kindly supplied me with herbal tea and later cooked some bland food, some of which I kept down. With this and the help of some pills I'd brought from home I got well enough to go again to the Mass in the cathedral.<br />01/07/07<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDphtdAeWxXg3NXOmXnzn3OIHAhfY7R0_51vaOBPyylCDfo2z02fGYfTOP3j3xMFGWecEn_yGpyT4zGyT7zlgnILvw6G5cCWdDgevusymaBrf8q_rhSztyg2bqeopx-GV6bkdXgQgZ9C4/s1600-h/06145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDphtdAeWxXg3NXOmXnzn3OIHAhfY7R0_51vaOBPyylCDfo2z02fGYfTOP3j3xMFGWecEn_yGpyT4zGyT7zlgnILvw6G5cCWdDgevusymaBrf8q_rhSztyg2bqeopx-GV6bkdXgQgZ9C4/s400/06145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143353384557340610" border="0" /></a><br />Now I wandered around the town looking at the restaurants and seafood that I dare not touch, Percebes, grow on the rocks in Galicia and is considered a delicacy, many have lost their lives collecting them from the rocks<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUYH38PfjdodIgMaVWRXiYUmCUqlabpsfYSbX7qzumBImI6Q60_s4Dk_HXeiIKQCV5xORfZERWORWOQtQ-xeU9mdxgC2mBd_Jjgo3iplPdcdWA1kCwpqb_e1VmSwgz_Dq1FPLS35gBbA/s1600-h/06151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUYH38PfjdodIgMaVWRXiYUmCUqlabpsfYSbX7qzumBImI6Q60_s4Dk_HXeiIKQCV5xORfZERWORWOQtQ-xeU9mdxgC2mBd_Jjgo3iplPdcdWA1kCwpqb_e1VmSwgz_Dq1FPLS35gBbA/s320/06151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143353891363481554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE7-vD4gwvu18fHZ_qyjsMlePk59gk3yuvXXwEf5IuhJIAtBwM0CrKkT4SOeNRDEjqOAb1cppKw8u92QmJo0M1OuAO9cn8a_qQrMFnlL5zUg-LV1w9XM_p89bq6cd0E89_kBoMjvkeiY/s1600-h/06150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE7-vD4gwvu18fHZ_qyjsMlePk59gk3yuvXXwEf5IuhJIAtBwM0CrKkT4SOeNRDEjqOAb1cppKw8u92QmJo0M1OuAO9cn8a_qQrMFnlL5zUg-LV1w9XM_p89bq6cd0E89_kBoMjvkeiY/s200/06150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143354110406813666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />weak but glad now the time had come for me to walk to the station. Here I was able to catch the 10 pm night sleeper train to Madrid that arrived at 7.30 am.<br />02/07/07 I crossed town by the underground Metro direct to the airport. Now I had to hang about all day till eventually caught my flight home at 11pm. I was worried all the time travelling the pain would return to send me racing for the toilet. Yes, I was glad to arrive in Perth 22 hours later and to see Maisie's smile as she was waiting to take me home!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" >The End<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBY96CQRFL7149tNICLoH6g2AEHj1VcNAIWpLKlrhZZbjWsSaK1i3KLDIewG1yug8JdyTL3eH_jmGnpApHSYw0d2lD_bTC4pA7kk36azK7BUXm1bZ4myBZDV3qSqeRKGK5Y-MTeckOvM/s1600-h/KOALS.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBY96CQRFL7149tNICLoH6g2AEHj1VcNAIWpLKlrhZZbjWsSaK1i3KLDIewG1yug8JdyTL3eH_jmGnpApHSYw0d2lD_bTC4pA7kk36azK7BUXm1bZ4myBZDV3qSqeRKGK5Y-MTeckOvM/s200/KOALS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143357640869930994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Oh! A forgotten snippet!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Cyril's a young French man, I fell in step alongside him and we chatted, he was limping badly and I asked how bad were his blisters</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">"Oh I have a permanent limp" he explained "but now I have a blister on the good leg's foot!"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">To make light of it I said jokingly</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">"Oh! You should be ok now then!"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">He chuckled and took it in good fun and we travelled some way together till we came into a village where I remembered a house that had been in disrepair and now looked very nice and well restored. He stopped in the albergue here and I saw him in and I jokingly asked the girlsin there, doing their washing to look after him!!! I know he had a great time as we emailed each other later.</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Bon Camino </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br />Abrazos Mike</span></div><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-34713170635315594172007-12-11T18:32:00.000-08:002007-12-11T21:14:35.254-08:0023/06/07 Arca to Santiago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzl0y_jfHnbAVcsot6SNglvimolMEcOZGiDTXLA40rHoeoFEVYnt7DHXjBt4THDHkClYYEuJJ5yTO3mHibdD4oCm0rTCv_d2axGnuui-GGVqDSH0umridzLhOIZaRAraG6qH395RDmcw/s1600-h/CRED.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzl0y_jfHnbAVcsot6SNglvimolMEcOZGiDTXLA40rHoeoFEVYnt7DHXjBt4THDHkClYYEuJJ5yTO3mHibdD4oCm0rTCv_d2axGnuui-GGVqDSH0umridzLhOIZaRAraG6qH395RDmcw/s400/CRED.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142944808613438610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">23/06/07<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arca to Santiago</span></span><br /></div><br />After leaving town it starts off with a nice walk through woods of tall eucalyptus trees Here I remember I met the lovely Patricia on my North Camino and couldn't help but wonder how she was today and if she walked this year, we had lost touch after arriving. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWahxkPqmlVh54krsfkoVmoUVWH4rPMCgRzcbxnNj37yP29EtAz6KB5dvrsV0J1_9MKG30aNIT1kYYx0ckGDam2RNlaHGJ0hXTHZVGeB6rUPcv0nJ4KxG4B_2oi3AQuWauKdnV33sgcbw/s1600-h/05558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWahxkPqmlVh54krsfkoVmoUVWH4rPMCgRzcbxnNj37yP29EtAz6KB5dvrsV0J1_9MKG30aNIT1kYYx0ckGDam2RNlaHGJ0hXTHZVGeB6rUPcv0nJ4KxG4B_2oi3AQuWauKdnV33sgcbw/s200/05558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142918716687115074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99TGpBJRWEK73lIcBnPnT9lzq2rXVBmlNRaXLSsyaXe0WaD_xtYIZu9Ms-Zy5yLFnzhnwArL6jounDaTaun8EdmmiwkxY_uptRdSi0FdpZ2EatRajBuOchRzvE6Na1vQVhzSQrJMMnf0/s1600-h/05559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99TGpBJRWEK73lIcBnPnT9lzq2rXVBmlNRaXLSsyaXe0WaD_xtYIZu9Ms-Zy5yLFnzhnwArL6jounDaTaun8EdmmiwkxY_uptRdSi0FdpZ2EatRajBuOchRzvE6Na1vQVhzSQrJMMnf0/s200/05559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142918978680120146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Later the airport noises, the flowers in the meadows all seemed so familiar, and kept old friends coming into mind as I walked sneezing and still feeling awful. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF0EIwKT4IqDzOJFFwKO9pIO9vx_BvYj4Ni3VOJRxmJpTfQmKfQpFXrim-Q0cK-7p1eiYM0CDJvWFgJrpNxncnZ0Rp04WrU6zNJHK3X525B4yQceDCJKC_aMtElo8NNb2wT4a2d1IOmQ/s1600-h/05560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF0EIwKT4IqDzOJFFwKO9pIO9vx_BvYj4Ni3VOJRxmJpTfQmKfQpFXrim-Q0cK-7p1eiYM0CDJvWFgJrpNxncnZ0Rp04WrU6zNJHK3X525B4yQceDCJKC_aMtElo8NNb2wT4a2d1IOmQ/s200/05560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142919365227176802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3C3DMarMQvUwSVgEdw2TlYPGzedKGFIUB9DlpTmYnK0GRyCPbj1gG6L0iUHaNOMR_2u9Z7f-KnJQVnm0Q1V_R92T90UbJ5ucXpeCENO0Loug76yMEN2fjTwM2oZfnF35HkarCNbKL4s/s1600-h/05561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3C3DMarMQvUwSVgEdw2TlYPGzedKGFIUB9DlpTmYnK0GRyCPbj1gG6L0iUHaNOMR_2u9Z7f-KnJQVnm0Q1V_R92T90UbJ5ucXpeCENO0Loug76yMEN2fjTwM2oZfnF35HkarCNbKL4s/s200/05561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142919846263513970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span>I met Renate somewhere and we walked together chatting. I soon realised she would never become such a good friend as those I was remembering but she was a very nice person and good company and I needed that as we went along, I would not arrive alone now. We passed through Cimadevilla, San Paio and Labacolla where the plane noises come from, as near here is the Santiago airport. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefjklryqJH-34JZUuNHJFAfs77P3XeLtQuA71LL_201nnL7aCUZUW_9RU9tlwgeB1kSLWgSXZU9cq8C0WPJCdYk6U7Is7v0VdroQqIKPK0m6mNMiaIrCjW09QqT2DVOnw-uH6mlaFN7k/s1600-h/05563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefjklryqJH-34JZUuNHJFAfs77P3XeLtQuA71LL_201nnL7aCUZUW_9RU9tlwgeB1kSLWgSXZU9cq8C0WPJCdYk6U7Is7v0VdroQqIKPK0m6mNMiaIrCjW09QqT2DVOnw-uH6mlaFN7k/s320/05563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142920237105537922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then, after six kilometres of mostly gentle climbing, we came to the heights of Monte de Gozo at 11.47am. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjh6ZqzoEdPrlB9et0HS46qzt40YyGM-pLaK3pDhOsZdqLhmbfM-QPE4CGB5LcBcIPOBrNoYxjpahXnLLp1E2FoE300aqDC_tWd3MnJrcpPY-zu5ls3W8ScX60SjMf61YjBRJmqdVefg/s1600-h/05564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjh6ZqzoEdPrlB9et0HS46qzt40YyGM-pLaK3pDhOsZdqLhmbfM-QPE4CGB5LcBcIPOBrNoYxjpahXnLLp1E2FoE300aqDC_tWd3MnJrcpPY-zu5ls3W8ScX60SjMf61YjBRJmqdVefg/s200/05564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142920593587823506" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WhmDuobu0_U11wM4PTPTweAL5U-md4T5tSxkIYuMaUuZG_8JvqfOkx84na17cdnPzqxHhbSgEbOslqukaYqVaQuVmnBhCvVTz7W0bW7oLHsqVOTAPOFmQRmTq8XCbJjfDFvSSLHtMKs/s1600-h/05565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WhmDuobu0_U11wM4PTPTweAL5U-md4T5tSxkIYuMaUuZG_8JvqfOkx84na17cdnPzqxHhbSgEbOslqukaYqVaQuVmnBhCvVTz7W0bW7oLHsqVOTAPOFmQRmTq8XCbJjfDFvSSLHtMKs/s320/05565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142921014494618530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>We took an awful coffee from the stall there and went into the little chapel where I lit a candle. We walked up to the monument and further over to see if you could really see Santiago cathedral from here but we found that today this is just not possible. Renate met a young friend here and he joined us as we left. They spoke together most of the time in German and I tended to walk in front now. They were banking on me knowing the way and I told them what we normally did on arrival but neither seemed to show any excitement, which I thought strange. They were more worried about finding lodgings and I said I could help find that too once we had arrived. I had to stop and buy more tissues on the way into town as I was still sneezing. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxTUy0N3yvm-O6lzWV5cICrdEdNMxdn-2rL4_M1SqE1fTUodFradK6-mtv0d2Y-N04HiG_b0xBFJQDGIfmhGcmg7d_sCLLW2tERqrlUUw1yMFrB0PmZr3Cv2I3cwgonxC-6BqHgzbJIo/s1600-h/05566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxTUy0N3yvm-O6lzWV5cICrdEdNMxdn-2rL4_M1SqE1fTUodFradK6-mtv0d2Y-N04HiG_b0xBFJQDGIfmhGcmg7d_sCLLW2tERqrlUUw1yMFrB0PmZr3Cv2I3cwgonxC-6BqHgzbJIo/s320/05566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142930089760515010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span>We arrived and went down the side of the cathedral into the square that was busy as usual and I took them over to the shell<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZmqMOvAfn7GBW4jmgbAvYdlbxPwr_K_HP6LD4n6yhD7HEcO43rKjE6f06EwbZo93xT9kysJQKJVmrRU785HACU32lDRMAJyoOylzLLUJ3UhjoBBsDy2DzTkGnyfybTp8Ib6a7sDewzc/s1600-h/05567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZmqMOvAfn7GBW4jmgbAvYdlbxPwr_K_HP6LD4n6yhD7HEcO43rKjE6f06EwbZo93xT9kysJQKJVmrRU785HACU32lDRMAJyoOylzLLUJ3UhjoBBsDy2DzTkGnyfybTp8Ib6a7sDewzc/s320/05567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142930433357898706" border="0" /></a><br />but still neither showed any excitement at arriving! This was something I could not understand for I have cried every time I stood here and laughed and shouted too sometimes. Now deflated I never even got out my camera! Ok I had a horrible cold so maybe no big hugs!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q0-MgKtY6Y7CEqXzeKfMOgHUkKW4NUD6SR0oDnCTrHj1UoaGzHzXcnQBecnTJ4gprpCjtgsuSuLDbyrbUyGRdl0nRqzJfKdoy8L3b-msr8JR5BaNViJqf7fnA_VBg2QxrGmOXCj6McY/s1600-h/05568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q0-MgKtY6Y7CEqXzeKfMOgHUkKW4NUD6SR0oDnCTrHj1UoaGzHzXcnQBecnTJ4gprpCjtgsuSuLDbyrbUyGRdl0nRqzJfKdoy8L3b-msr8JR5BaNViJqf7fnA_VBg2QxrGmOXCj6McY/s320/05568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142931030358352866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"Ok we have (llagado) (arrived) now we go in the cathedral and complete the ritual" I said.<br />Leading the way we climbed the steps and joined the crowd entering. It was packed with people near the door and I pushed over to touch the marble pillar that to me was what I had been dreaming of doing for so long. As I got near I was amazed! Around it and the base now stood a stainless steel barrier keeping everyone more than arms length away from it.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SW7gwdoPkAYljXq24W53ph-CMwL0L4wgsxXRy4pHVaJ1iL_rOBtAPiu7I0d93-z44yXytYL5FOKf3D74LbTxQr3xiug2XnF7VOL6qls1HlJoKn5M-RF3QN0V_1dbx44LcafGQe0BXnU/s1600-h/05571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SW7gwdoPkAYljXq24W53ph-CMwL0L4wgsxXRy4pHVaJ1iL_rOBtAPiu7I0d93-z44yXytYL5FOKf3D74LbTxQr3xiug2XnF7VOL6qls1HlJoKn5M-RF3QN0V_1dbx44LcafGQe0BXnU/s320/05571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142932078330373106" border="0" /></a><br />"How could they" I gasped as I stood there unbelieving! "For a thousand years pilgrims have knelt and put their hands in those stone lions mouths to see if they are possessed by the devil and banged their heads for knowledge on that stone head <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNtMxPncfMK2EIOOuDpDvFa-eLciVPex_TLXfH6f5EZWmmZjO0-x8Bp4KwHuymXRb23YqC3-kTDRhnZ4xcu7uWVU8Qqb5kSYI5QmyeKDu3idfeHO4yRQYTHUFc8mp8-R8JULLvTMyj68/s1600-h/b10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNtMxPncfMK2EIOOuDpDvFa-eLciVPex_TLXfH6f5EZWmmZjO0-x8Bp4KwHuymXRb23YqC3-kTDRhnZ4xcu7uWVU8Qqb5kSYI5QmyeKDu3idfeHO4yRQYTHUFc8mp8-R8JULLvTMyj68/s200/b10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142932507827102722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>and then reached up and touched the marble pillar where you see it's worn away to fit your hand!!!!!!"<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiDyUhracFIK0W8dm7e2aSOwnntwttRAaY0ygNFSvZP03dZ8RisCiniDfdRWl3CxqXk985tpNQG2kHIObWdsNWJATL99Wv4rNxBFRsFGkW6o5IC_gqU7mZj2RGNvBsoojnUVc4wKWSkU/s1600-h/05570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiDyUhracFIK0W8dm7e2aSOwnntwttRAaY0ygNFSvZP03dZ8RisCiniDfdRWl3CxqXk985tpNQG2kHIObWdsNWJATL99Wv4rNxBFRsFGkW6o5IC_gqU7mZj2RGNvBsoojnUVc4wKWSkU/s400/05570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142933195021870114" border="0" /></a><br />I felt so terribly cheated. I had suffered and walked all this way for nothing! I felt this ritual was made by the pilgrims, for the pilgrims. Sure I could, and still would embrace the gold and silver statue of Santiago and say my thanks but that was what I have always thought of as basically a Catholic church ritual! I was told later it was to allow it to be restored! What utter rubbish, do they cut out the stone and replace it I thought!!!!!<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGmUEjXPyNB2T_899JgO4vhWAIfJsjXHih9pJcmfrF8UJWZEmpob8bdfLbngV7yvWlQF_HrGyPt-XQ3GTR0hgu5OaJidbkZSre2u6r8HQE53_cFXkRpAJNMRvKQpGJ2TJG_yvh3vUUlU/s1600-h/05572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGmUEjXPyNB2T_899JgO4vhWAIfJsjXHih9pJcmfrF8UJWZEmpob8bdfLbngV7yvWlQF_HrGyPt-XQ3GTR0hgu5OaJidbkZSre2u6r8HQE53_cFXkRpAJNMRvKQpGJ2TJG_yvh3vUUlU/s320/05572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142933628813567026" border="0" /></a>Now I can't remember if we did go hug the figure of Santiago then or not, but I did later. I hugged him and thanked and remembered all those wonderful people that had helped me on my way. My wife, my camino friends, the man who gave me an orange, the lady who fed me and would take no payment, the help to find a bed for the night in the town lock up, and all the others over the past six weeks.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8wqRFvI3Bm2WNYZSjVcsxRyKBy_8m2oF3lNU0hVzi-ojjfaYWn7qajByKmqwDV9CkFJrIlH2PuZcoihuMgvSljFWJZdYxiF9U1o9I1Al1NcAk_GaSnt8u0pbVszUYmgA4fTLjlE3XBI/s1600-h/05574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8wqRFvI3Bm2WNYZSjVcsxRyKBy_8m2oF3lNU0hVzi-ojjfaYWn7qajByKmqwDV9CkFJrIlH2PuZcoihuMgvSljFWJZdYxiF9U1o9I1Al1NcAk_GaSnt8u0pbVszUYmgA4fTLjlE3XBI/s320/05574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142933933756245058" border="0" /></a>Now I am outside with Renate and her young friend. We decided to find lodgings before getting the credential. We walked to the bar but new owners now ran it and he only offered a flat for 70 E in the another part of town and none of us wanted to be far from the centre of town.<br />"We'll try down the street" I said out of his ear shot and we went down to the place I had stopped in last time and I rang the bell. The other two saw that next door was a small hotel and just left me standing there after I had rung the bell and went in. I couldn't leave! The intercom asked what I wanted and I explained who I was and asked had she any rooms for the night. The door lock clicked and I entered and went up the stairs where the lady I knew waited for me. She showed me the little room I had used last time and a bigger one with two singles in it. I said I'd go tell the others but finding them in the hotel next door they said they had booked two rooms at 50E each. I said I had one at 25 and one at 35E<br />"We've booked" they said.<br />"Ok I'll see you in the square for dinner about seven"<br />I went back and took the small room for myself. I had a shower and unpacked a bit. I slept and later got my credential and text Maisie at 7.30 and she rang me back and we arranged to try to alter my ticket home. I met Renate and we ate some tapas in a restaurant, but it was a pretty unexciting meal. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l-ri0ktzRjeiR78vP4jH41QimBtNdlUTiWKAie8NS8z3WYlUaCB5VUOAwws-yw9bFOfVbvZcX8L0E1WJpkvdlQ1E9FLADI3ajzjL9WPS3iVBbhkDh-2XeOnoOvRz2knJ_K4mgwurZ2E/s1600-h/05569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l-ri0ktzRjeiR78vP4jH41QimBtNdlUTiWKAie8NS8z3WYlUaCB5VUOAwws-yw9bFOfVbvZcX8L0E1WJpkvdlQ1E9FLADI3ajzjL9WPS3iVBbhkDh-2XeOnoOvRz2knJ_K4mgwurZ2E/s320/05569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142949387048576194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span>Walking in the square later she recognised some tall chap and we went over and it turned out to be Richard Gere the film star! He seemed a nice chap and we met on very even terms, congratulating each other on the walk. I told him of some of the things that had happened on my trip. He seemed to take to me as I did him and we were to meet several times later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIRTfzKmE-tOUTvrrx2mC1wFSOIjUTk17DDVHP8d-I_5RfcKSbiG5Uej2wfxpXnDIMKvFekPLvmXJzY-3ktfztnrkI6U-IgORrUAYaUpj2LfMQ-upTxY6bytFf7XGjxAtmFnjkNW_1cg/s1600-h/CERTIF.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIRTfzKmE-tOUTvrrx2mC1wFSOIjUTk17DDVHP8d-I_5RfcKSbiG5Uej2wfxpXnDIMKvFekPLvmXJzY-3ktfztnrkI6U-IgORrUAYaUpj2LfMQ-upTxY6bytFf7XGjxAtmFnjkNW_1cg/s400/CERTIF.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142947608932115618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 39 = approx. 20.3 km Sub Total = 615.0 km Total = 947.1 km [Total should be 952.9 km so somehow I’ve lost another 5.8 km !!! chuckle,]<br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-46539593889891031732007-12-04T21:23:00.000-08:002007-12-04T21:38:06.177-08:0022/06/07 Arzua to Pedrouzo (Arca)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >22/06/07 </span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Arzua to Pedrouzo (Arca)<br /><br /></span></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I left the Albergue Laxtia and found my way to the square and the café that I have always used for breakfast. As always a great array of scrumptious cakes were on the bar and I selected one full of chocolate and ordered my usual café con leche. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >No one I knew came in so I set off as soon as I had drunk the coffee. I was feeling pretty horrible with running nose and eyes. I have travelled this road many times now and in my mood saw little new. My mind kept turning over what I should do on getting to Santiago. I was hoping I'd meet a friend somewhere to walk into Santiago with. I hated the thought of arriving on my own, but that was to be tomorrow. I had decided to stop at Arca today, as I was definitely not fit enough to do the 34 kilometres to Monte de Gozo and I had stopped there once before and never liked it. I didn't like Arca either but I had some great memories of friends met there so maybe I would meet someone there again or on the way today. It was about 20 kilometres and it became obvious I was very poorly and should perhaps call it quits and go home. Maisie had a new mobile phone and she was doing a lot of text messages to find how it worked while I was walking very slowly. To be honest I really don't remember much. What with the constant sneezing and nose wiping, and from now on I was just very vague, in a dream state and just couldn't remember things, like peoples names where I had met them, or place names! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I do remember I bent and picked two clovers, one a four and one five leaf, </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Uq1IEqmarJ57j-5858-nb0djPemuXyvt7uTnxD6ArExjh13UbuMRXpgHipiNHGwOi0GorC2V9F4STXemec9qFArlChlVfRdctDcqjjOyeGwHlVkpSPVINpb6b6aag5WIIiVZQi_E2M/s1600-h/CLOVER.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Uq1IEqmarJ57j-5858-nb0djPemuXyvt7uTnxD6ArExjh13UbuMRXpgHipiNHGwOi0GorC2V9F4STXemec9qFArlChlVfRdctDcqjjOyeGwHlVkpSPVINpb6b6aag5WIIiVZQi_E2M/s200/CLOVER.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140355916178981874" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >as I stood up again I was hoping my luck would get better. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I was on the last three or four kilometres to Arca and coming down the hill towards the first private albergue, which I had stopped at on my first camino. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Two Canadian peregrina ladies came round the corner so I presented them with the four-leaf clover but kept the five to boost my own spirit and good luck. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >They were thrilled, they had never seen one before and their tiredness seemed to leave them and they soon left me way behind. I passed the albergue, but it wasn't open yet and I went on to the next. That too was not open and I hate sitting with my rucksack waiting, so I continued on down to the bottom and up the hill into the town to the other that I had used several times before. I found this open and crowded with folk booking in. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eh3KHI2wKG00uS-D12FVaU1_BP4OD0oguQ-r2FmRMkLT6Y0p_rMTYGvGpnQw0gyGOfuY-_ROmi12UeUdq4mQwZvZGiST0hGDakR7dYKrcCXKFBz7LjwkoiwLjUspu4le-oakh1Jzw6U/s1600-h/ARCA.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eh3KHI2wKG00uS-D12FVaU1_BP4OD0oguQ-r2FmRMkLT6Y0p_rMTYGvGpnQw0gyGOfuY-_ROmi12UeUdq4mQwZvZGiST0hGDakR7dYKrcCXKFBz7LjwkoiwLjUspu4le-oakh1Jzw6U/s200/ARCA.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140358050777728018" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > I was issued with a bunk and found it upstairs in a window recess. The bed was filthy and stained with blotches of iodine where people had seen to their blisters yuk! I would unpack my sleeping bag and hopefully use that and the sheet bag to insulate me a little from whatever lay, walked or crawled there. I took a shower, well that is to say, I entered turned on the tap, got hit by a jet of freezing cold water, slipped and stubbed the bad toe on the shower base swore, dried and changed and went for a drink! Everything changes I grumbled to myself as I noticed seeing the outside terrace where I had met a particularly good friend Lisa last time. It had now been incorporated into the inside of the bar making that bigger. I continued up the road and wandered round hoping to find someone I knew. I found Horst a German chap I had seen a lot and liked very much, we always gave a rousing high five on meeting! I joined him for a beer but he was with his friends and that meant they all had to speak English while I was there and that was hard for some. Renate another German lady was there too, we also had met several times. I soon left them and found a nice bar to eat in later but could get nothing much now and returned to the albergue to rest. I ate at that bar later and returned for the night feeling quite awful.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Text Maisie:-</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >Thinking hard about how 2 get home as soon as pos. C how 2moro is</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br />Maisie came back with.:- <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">B good u cum home soon </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 38 = approx. 18.8 km Sub Total = 594.7 km Total = 926.8 km</span></span></div> </div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-18938247986903655032007-11-30T21:32:00.000-08:002007-12-03T00:44:03.824-08:0021/06/07 Casa Domingo to Arzua<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTESSCNoPTGmw4NDPwKNC2dU0PyW2bvQ2hFE6RRuK6jVS7tYnSV4umLu3TPxTI6W5Do1On_qSwPdM2Ka8y5PjQXj9jhRlvUQk8J17Hj1gaG49Q_D0noVmUq0NVphA8lspRiBudYjSgXc/s1600-r/02628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyFGoXJ4T2JsWz2q5SFZOKQi20NIttB0QmZtap8dEcD7QZy11ytj0mWHSNbDGTq6vFWu2XVI0dgxLt9t1miwfddQiZJmj5sGaMEXwlIBk6vSh7XHrRwDf5xa4s20uuIn1fkBTnuk2vG0/s200/02628.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138881256337769266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />21/06/07<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Casa Domingo to Arzua</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4uxjADaRL6JqChoOGTnVVK1QKzpecSzPbFPVr7I2in2dmap_fWu7RGCneQAsB5ItzzMiXIEglBrhdSLmxAkYG_XSMA860vroHB0go2jB8Ta69mtMLggQyxT-OhALJSSR5IKhiVTB4hY/s1600-r/05543.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRNcd-1D-wbGya1yBgDoNn0IeUsp5xrvlwSkUQ0dQWVO3_4dsk22bWFiEfDJCmZmp5jHvSl6GQ-J_lX-DJ0xRo7WkTWBnElp3TS2D29t6vLNaisQcfaTtoEGrIaMna9QpBNjhM5BBh8A/s320/05543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138874062267548258" border="0" /></a>I left and the others were still surfacing. I saw the donkey as I came out. I had not seen much of them but had realised the three French ladies were here, in bunks near the door. I hoped we had not made too much noise last night.<br /><br /><br />I had breakfast and a coffee at the bar and took my leave of Ana. You are so limited to what you can say when you only have a small choice of words in Spanish to use.<br />I had been very short of money on arrival as I had not found a bank and had explained that to her. She in turn had gone to great lengths to help me know what I was spending so I wouldn’t be embarrassed by not being able to pay the bill. Shucks! you meet some wonderful people on camino. They give you new faith in the possibility of peace in the world.<br />I set off up the road very slowly feeling quite tired and put it down to the wine last night. The youngsters soon caught me up and were going flat out. I put that down to my conversation with Carla the dark haired young man that I had spent much of my time with. I had said I was without company as I seem to walk faster than most. The competition would to be to outstrip this old peregrino and being young they soon did.<br />He had said they had been travelling from the French border. They may have been, but I doubted it had been all on this one trip. They were too fresh and strong, even the girls, and none wore boots but rather clean sports shoes. Ok I know some do, but most use a tougher boot if they're going all the way. It made no difference to me, but I did try to keep up to be able to enjoy their young enthusiasm but I had a toe that started to blister again. These boots of mine were no doubt one size to small and they had plagued me the entire journey. But even if they hadn't I would not keep up with my 17 kilo of pack and 67 years. I was not feeling too bright and had the occasional sneeze too.<br />I let them go and looked for a bank but never saw one in any of the little villages.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcAYec1oKV2olECPPaY9MjP4spdcKWzFACVwz-E7n9JnZofz6-DX_79zC_BvOdvxmchhrJiazxDhR_3HVcoOEEvug_LVjsq52DJqSauaoWy42rIpT-WO2lGog7y7qypNUJ0Tc_Dx7yGI/s1600-r/05545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige0Iv3nSoBdakesUTaq3jdlITJZQjnnbWwSNxlalShQyzEcxESJwcd74RfYNpImejronTQvO49HYbwGqXd-Sq9u8LN07ZCJZ413R7gnjVGbW9pFOKHryES-GsNQxUQzjzdUv0KcxLv6c/s200/05545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138874500354212466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbDGWkhZ8ZfN4D_a-EHBQQuPKNG3vD_lGw9x5NbgSMlvukion6a5v8NuowTif6ag844lx1VtiYZvz8TjlGKDhp2FMmZaYtcCN2BDKaCHx55PVkC90yV6rDbQ-t8ebxCtdqg7LSL7wKPE/s1600-r/05546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0dp9Pmm2R7ycwqKDaj6wLwmX885t0t3x8S3KgdPnuL7j7RaYKqBaCh9QbW4eGMa51YvH66pie0LHXf6GSTCwqo-LyYk5LwZWSNz8aIoA_AzpX8zDXAcTGqb3f9XbNCbXl80nZBKWKzY/s320/05546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138874813886825090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8XPhTINviT1ljhM00dViT8tFLnHHuu5DEWORk3ybVipRFwAc_8OMT20ezs3pmLD1aoX_ZtnBtv52LWVakRzvlSCSia7PEY3qgDHdUgs3OlMmg3hlVKqTuDFejVi7U0g85hbhfTQVsuE/s1600-r/DSC05547.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vfOvEF5QfkclHN_oTg4OvKnL7xoeMbF3AHWVPFMsVD5abE5MdHPya9NPwbm2QO4Tk3MDbGdywQbVVAmPn62pk7He-b4Rpdu79gjPtEoDNg3FOhU8G6V0H1M2oRF1KLUX5XFDEyTTE8w/s200/DSC05547.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138883051634099010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTopjfRGUEbfCijdf_9XK27h0KXDHDK8qeUfakC-eY_zns6qQpxBYsPu2NTXj8y0ej6d_LoHdANsLrb8xvtWC5k_l5z9vyUnVKrLcAzc_T3UZOL1NwykwftdHDlGGoy_9I24Y_Kr6C-A/s1600-r/05549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gthqRotlVifkUyr3cK6msBNn4zUS_yIyMY1juiG-Y0yVyZmv2XY8xuJCA8xtFJE_8eqdtkSwNh8n9Sm0eP3o1SaI2idP2x1XrRMp-5Vk1XA605xCxsobexrN0ZLCz5I8qDogtDPJtcE/s200/05549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138875410887279266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Just before Melide, in the little village of Furelos, the little church was open. I had been in before but I was not giving up a chance to visit it again. It contains a statue of Christ on the cross and he has one arm free and the priest explained it is one of only three or four like that. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoF2PTa-DlTqTuFcf8EaILtzCYhg1yHgvz70rU3A2Cg6oagqUihyvDsDVT5iqJg-QxyI3CxWodD3AFqWSCloa6xUGiiIsTPb1od214yUrsBK_Ok42tcSHcQBKgwIbpwunaK-WRMs-zWw/s1600-r/05550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtXb8zRB_LA2H-7jCkq8uyQ0D8ZWVdFZDoA5KeZWntHtckHcyQt4B9ikgTVryh_ajG6Su_DIeis9YpbDAStq9Bdm72ubX0peVbIvdhXBolsPUnxAs3zKZSMEJ-zQZ3Ffj2Ou7pdA9f8w/s320/05550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138875741599761074" border="0" /></a>It's a very well carved form too, I got a buzz from seeing how the priest was so proud of it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvJTrF1N4MEITs-7KKVdwWimY4m5wgnbXtyECu8brl1wtGsZlFv5QZTADMfko8rnD-MrQ9YYaMVc-IEt6gqam5cu9FNfwRPt8uv3jzSpj8J9ut8H6pBxq8OGXiEUhMpDIWLDrCr5k54g/s1600-r/05551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfWO8oNemruD1v2EdhjnpJL1zFSB4RQpeEEioSr1-WWISuZKNRXEJJdF9QyOIUzpYT-PpT9m0MCqfZraigJMFU1zxXqTtH0Zw0HKbTDjPeifltvz5JIDcjpx79eagNzdpw-7CD3QQfio/s320/05551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138883695879193426" border="0" /></a> I also noted with interest a small figure of Santiago,<br />dressed as a pilgrim with staff and gourd, accompanied by a dog and a small angel with a light. The main figure is showing you a wound in his leg. A much gentler figure than the one I had seen in Santiago City of El Mato de Moros! I liked this one for I felt this was the man that had accompanied me on that last bit of El Ebro. There had been times when I was walking that I could turn my eyes to my right and see a strange ripple in the air, and could feel him there! I knelt and said my thanks and left. I know I spoke to some friend coming in but am not sure now who it was.<br />Next Melide, a busy town where I know the north Primativo camino meets the French camino for I had come there with Piero and Paco and eaten octopus (pulpo) and got paralytic drunk at our party to say goodbye to Paco as he was leaving us that next morning. Now I passed the same famous pulpo restaurant and could see my young Spanish friends eating there. I passed, found the bank and drew some cash, then returned to join them eating. It got quite noisy with our singing and the girls dancing. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7v6O0dgPR7fV6XzzlEcpSl-hvU1DnwU51mAVHaha-q9IkJHrEOFN6eWI6IgD3h6CefHvxwFDVHMGSMy9dQTIRpLV5_FEGYWGn3-jnhVSmab8FuxNu6m-29Trokm2CeYRI9ZhAj3LBPA/s1600-r/05553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8J33gE5u2MooMzT7C81pnw1ClflHJ7-qKxCLRUp4BmiNUZAx3ZjucbX-zTim9jjVlxjKOPim81kfh3rcJs007s4Vylx3uub8bc0J39TvJiRvTOUG3omQ86Y8RO7KGDQyUOSZ4DzKZjI/s320/05553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138876377254920914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJB08CPEYXjtdm1uXHZc2rkggTKEQHpLdiC6i7MOP9QzQapwGS3vTnlqld6wgSfFOAGkUeIzFIhEX-An2qT8joqK-BBHTUqnHCiaN-fqDpp67pu00mvS7zYUCrdFxhB3Ileq58PkJ4E7Q/s1600-r/05554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTChl9vViS9nttSBvRV4TzKiw915nNFKX0mGSKTvvFFZN03FynwfqT4pZxvU0V720VzOrAs86NOATWPK004Qhsz1GPNOtDdRiE8YEah1rJJ0BydmP1ugDZidEhZxkI5L4EGZ0IMLqCyeY/s200/05554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138876665017729762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR5FLHz2tqTeZcalEC7eG2BbKxuaKx8znAsPU77YPL9bt5bOrg-JJDQwW-fihuxV10R7OE4jR1h8cHyTeRF9iMDFaRXoi3X8sQ-1nqpLVNTUc1QZlSAguljErRy0re4BfEZVl6dnvn0M/s1600-r/05555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-m069wwdyo8MPiiOmCNd3VeAtUKJKT3stBVkeP9GaM_RsPlmHz_q89UZcyFasI-d-zibNg0wD3th7QeQ9RswpgOpSuvGaS6LMYmt-h5tBFWC0BN2ZtuU04awTIpps5c4xDmTwe5sP9E/s200/05555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138884992959316834" border="0" /></a><br />Having eaten, it was time to go and we left and parted company again at the edge of town.<br />It's probably 14 kilometres to Arzua and I found it hard going especially at first, as I kept remembering walking here with Piero. I realised I was getting near my goal now and had to decide what to do next. It troubled me that Maisie wanted me home and I should maybe call it a day on reaching Santiago, but it's hard to change your plans. I had planned so much more! But I was beginning to feel something was wrong too, I didn't feel as fit as I should be at this stage!<br />I had no real friend with me to discuss things with, this on any of my caminos was unusual in itself. But this Ebro camino had been very different.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A-3bv7VKFYJWdVZU40u-AE2TvC3pEv6GmVoHcLbDoHr4PzV-AcuvNKfNFNbPNtbhM3UtkhuxaBzBOfh3pT9SCyNq2yoe3O-XIXC2lP1J1pQyH7QMPwax_BFX_XcIEAaC78b0S28LTZ0/s1600-r/DSC05556.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW1Iy1tkLHgwhxvxkLnV_uWbrr0LDsWoAm3f2qSZBMfqXHVKaebdmuzvD48g2WWHKm6pjteWqCMLcDEL3N698d_ahGqzs5bpKhnlTuNkHwIqXrXQEmevk61UNTsg6BFlG6k4pqWJb9u4/s320/DSC05556.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138878099536806658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL78CBzydKHNpeY3mL5_4enVmcUQHkFG6iDnfpnXfRB_bZdMNaQJZKfQeuGYTstHSXWkL9lwunQlFlFLzIjRyNYZUI58AEtXGI5fsNq2iwhbEBOUKdYip-9xaj9cQxx1qvaKcKYXhWuxo/s1600-r/DSC05557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07xaJqds6KEnQicWwhxgbZhrJ75WyQDhDmYuOydosgyPbfmcOYfBLlZgtn7Hhq1i1rEgWhvUjg-XtwIN8mgVm-dmzQ4fPRhDoUIWfCK6PEynPx9VK845KbWRoLpDOHRnSvgmge8szdKM/s320/DSC05557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138878486083863314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At last I came to the town but didn't recognise the place, at the time I don't know why. It was afterwards that I realised my last time here had been arriving from the true North camino and meeting Cathy and Marie in an older part of town. Now these streets in front of me meant nothing to me as I looked for arrows and an albergue. Everywhere seemed to be full, but at last I met the boys of my group from last night and on their information found a bed in a modern but cold unfeeling sort of place. Going into town after cleaning up, I suddenly found myself in the square where I had met Cathy two years ago. Here I now met some of the Spanish girls. I love this square it buzzes with life, there are peregrinos everywhere. The meeting of caminos is just here too. We had drinks in a bar sitting at a table looking at the street and I couldn't have been much company I'm afraid. I just felt so tired and the waitress had an awful cold, then I too started sneezing. I excused myself and returned to my bunk hoping I had not caught her cold. I text Maisie;<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Arrive Arzua OK. One toe not too happy. Go slow tomorrow – I need a day off!!!!!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Since I put this day on the net I have been informed that the statuette was not Santiago but Saint Rock or Roque in Spanish and you can view the information I got here at <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Saints</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Saint Roch</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pilgram</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Born c. 1295 est., Montpellier, France</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Died 1327</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Feast August 16</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Attributes Wound of thigh, dog offering bread</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Patronage pilgrims, against diseases (especially the plague), gravediggers, second-hand dealers, dogs</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Saints Portal</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Saint Roch (Latin: Rochus; Italian: Rocco; French: Roch; <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Spanish and Portuguese:</span> Roque; c. 1295 – traditionally 16 August 1327[1]) was a Christian saint, a confessor whose death is commemorated on 16 August; he is specially invoked against the plague.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">END DAY 37 = approx. 25.7 km Sub Total = 575.9 km Total = 908.0 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-12269556233439964972007-11-30T03:12:00.000-08:002007-12-03T20:49:53.708-08:0020/06/07 Gonzar to Casa Domingo20/06/07<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Gonzar to Casa Domingo</span><br /></div><br /><div face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I awoke early but went back to sleep and I overslept as most were gone when I next opened my eyes.. My washing had been taken down, as the cord seemed to belong to my neighbour who had left. I had been using something belonging to some one else!!! I dressed, packed and put my boots on out in the stairwell, then came outside. Cloudy but quite bright at the moment could be more rain shower's later, I thought as I set off. Perhaps it was because I was still half-asleep I didn’t look too hard for the markers and took a road I thought must be the right track mentioned in my book.<br />The country lane was pretty and I was happily going along when the road started to bear round to my left and dive down into the valley that was almost in the opposite direction to that which I should be going!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87bkF9NEwCrvwYsK2ZKNwbU-Aa8KPrn6kmsoTc-frdJItMFWexIp8itJzYvb-LjU0uvDT6LjnYGYO55UAx0zKbvVDFDwG5gKZDPc5hiOspcjZtf6eruZAidtBSc_GnAIzGaqGUO_OGhA/s1600-r/05494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpoWcVlEmDlJB1-9Famt-PmeCYhkTAlaeirVjrnqQEJ2fW8s0X46YGcejHCbiV23V1RCsIw35SxGVc-ygsaXhoqiO7iCpqotqWywju0o8EuKXs-nVl4CggINUup_MJtSJ1G4_ZBaqeSU/s320/05494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138592120652715298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBmSFwQ98A71bCWR_QEWFIf2EydjLKXWasUIuUkpQam6v1cUajVFbwbe7d5uBKv3Yt6TFqU0prUMRBAky26_dRdw3pik9IuQhO2tKGFsDZ_cIlJc1YGTLksUeyxtrj6cG8Si3MBsm9Do/s1600-r/05496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVJKhUyLnVVUHCz0LhaSKnHmzwBt036NOhSFlrYM5vaDONP670tKMpa0PVsY1XjgPWMsSHnd_1r0kSVJH-yEvCfg8WNQAjzlbReW3UBkFb1aKUyFAFDZo2Is_l2RUJ3rLiKooYTnU1L0/s320/05496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138592434185327922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><br /><br />Puzzled I started to look for markers and found none, but in my usual pig headed manner I kept on hoping I'd see one soon. Near the bottom of the valley it did turn more to the right and hopefully west. I was not happy when at the bottom I came to a fork with the main road having a bend and going up a hill heading south again and not an arrow in sight. I must have done three or more kilometres from the albergue, possibly four. I stopped and thought hard about it and said to myself as I stood in the middle of the lane.<br />'I've no map and if I go on and find a village I have no idea how to get from it back onto the Camino. I should go back and keep looking for that elusive arrow. I can't remember any turnings, which would mean I took the wrong turning right at the start!' That last thought made me swear but there really was no alternative but to go back! A few spots of rain seemed to rub it in that I had made foolish start to the day!<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfneFEqnho0reXUYdBnbhq5JQgEsloVWqCl4xJi-Ub09ovaByyADmh32KPgDRhYcwqVoexOLkoTrkf-qKVq1pBBmVg5DTzKFvw4v1c62c5ZciH8cem4HgME6xMHlkwOy975-ClrnaftQ/s1600-r/05501b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23K15nPEVVvnfkrIacFcs78BOzZGmUzls1NV8iN2z6P5T5TrUDNk6iXjqdmBDd-bNYW_YoKhKOzYjU0eSvTAfOfo1mOZp3GnnmANla6H5mmqxWyY5EfXCPhfHBWLCATlmtccLFzN7bGk/s200/05501b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138888154055246706" border="0" /></a>Sure enough right back at the start next to the road I had taken, I saw a well warn arrow pointing across some muddy yard and I could see the Camino footpath alongside the main road. I squelched across and started again just as yesterday, following the main road! I stopped for a coffee at 8.30 am in Castromayor having only done only 1.2 kilometres off my journeys total. Next Hospital, then Ventas de Narón less than four kilometres more I stopped for another and a tostada. The weather was still giving lots of showers but I was remembering the track more, the stepping stones alongside the flooded lane in places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-XqoFp_hZI6Unqr-s4KVA4MRJ4e2nH0ToXDKTa9kq2pyVgfJc8t4ZVVXdJr3oahJqe8R83g6bIKKH7fTSSlxbFrCgMdFBszmJUcqo1EdFCjejhcUdu3_XqQGeh4bOtcVpg6Ezcv0VV4/s1600-r/05497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9SMoKo8I-isNZB1AWPnDMifgzCVyNbStL9szX61iwnI_Jfzt5IE0dLfw73yaObadF0U2ajsqqKYfrmDZMJUTMbVvIw0wT3bcDincCVHvVwWWUYnTQNt6NbZ3A-sWf1tUgoSuTi7q0CI/s200/05497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138888789710406546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluDy0zvYPJO7mjYN83OOGdOAognSYAI2BYzaO35NwuVvqtRi2inGihzJ_ESzA5Agfhp4b3638caUi1abCfZQ75QT2-LUeF7XZYLI3-T-xtLsF14R7-7zYxh3lxWlqPaSxLZxUomH5qWs/s1600-r/05498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9PNK-wslNqXMSWNP5Tj4EQNGWdKhhLxops2E4yhZUXweoMnAMRUvXqu1cmZ4i-xNqAMqlnjiYeSLsfbtL5jF11JfIFa9vgiOOOUlou6YH8shv2pnMcUaxiAB4WAs6mZy83YeIt_7ZZM/s200/05498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138889073178248098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I still never saw, so missed the café that had been so helpful to us in a rainstorm in 2003 near Eireche.<br />Pales de Rei I don't remember much of now I'm home, but after this town I was remembering well the lane and looking for the private albergue of Casa Domingo. This is a place where we had had so much fun in 2003. I came round the bend and there it was, just as I remembered it, a beautiful stone farmhouse lovingly restored by the family, and still keeping its real old world charm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNcxhPl15G47tWzonTKsbEmUMP49qa6ubIRwCTVL07W-UN6VEfY74-CMkVf3Zi8D1ymQjXz1mRruLclXybLiEpi_CFy2Kb0p9RAy09Wrxi6DBsqsn9GFngLsh_Fsj_fMiIZW49f2X900/s1600-r/05508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PQ-OeMHTyttrSGSPBWWGcUp2n2XYqb6kXn_Q03wt36KO_cn8aPiyab5fePtDZwW1xgcGcdGp284vBb-ItUZSRyXuCWASqjSLQQc8k1voneq7F87vpyhiJxsD8VTfgDwa9Y44jEfHW88/s320/05508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138591613846574354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrihNF1SYXuHpcS0VhDHAeMbHMST7m3OjqguopKhee8cWUKAgd0rcF3TNSIbrV0FNdR_NuuZ6uW5W31QEeztAkyEi9dQtSQL22XPomf4EIR7o6m_8DkRT-DQ2DJKhKBlxRVU-eC5WtOVQ/s1600-r/05544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HxQ4CUiFBaK98f0nlCBD9t_Jk6zFRvqgv1iM10nINVEpFtuJ4FXG1znaMFlD-JalBkX1mDoyYfDExBozUUk_EBQkCinsprvXJOidph_ZMvsBed-LMWn6yzlAEeVr3ROA1qPHJC7OS3U/s200/05544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139975201687929826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> It was early afternoon but I could not go past without saying hello but as I wandered up to the door I was thinking,<br />'There is no way they will remember me, a single peregino after four years what can I say?'<br />Just at that moment Ana came to the door and stared at me with her eyes wide and a beaming smile, and with hardly a moments hesitation said<br />"Michael!!!!"<br />I was dumbstruck, it was one of those magical camino moments for me, not only had she remembered me, but my name as well!!! Wow! This is the magic of camino<br />I was welcomed in like a long lost relative. It seems Ana had received the photos of her family that I had sent her and she followed my travels on my Internet web site during the winter months.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"Una con leche grande Ana por favor" </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXsidnlshSFXWuuFzEjvZlwpy4Ut6XlRIJmbiqoBMTlYO2tG5UrAKT2TwaTwYI7goKYejfpMdaOl5EU9hArTsUxsF4OyvbKRU8pFiDJ1ZpLNlB0WsEGWN4x3LTl83MkrdrB7XwwJY8Wc/s1600-r/DSC05542.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdro9I6hjEnJwz3DAF59pchHXB1CE2vjPidzOhI7Tq2Ot0GMBd-kK7KePvDZoP7HLqRiEteOI9CvIwiDrK7aTGUL7iwTtoMQud3HqiPjgLzPyLGg_hstNYrxUUC9iKaq_Mfc4MKbk3xI8/s400/DSC05542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138594366920611202" border="0" /></a><br />Her cousin Nieves had also spoken of me. Nieves and her daughter Lara had been travelling with us in 2003 and I had been in contact with Nieves when I called on her and her charming family in 2005.<br />I had to stop here now! I was taken to the spotless and comfortable dormitory where I settled in doing my washing and hanging it out to dry. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuoQdvu42eVIMRAoM1U9vORms2v1MS1UKtRmUqsDj27PHUOkGa9bwGH7rY6PfsFR9spGAGbLLveVFwmuHundsw6IxfwQX1ujd_DncMZxBCc0wP6tnl6q4vzngQEylSe8n12TsfxCCVkU/s1600-r/05502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5npcLuuu2bszg3ytn51s14giOKIfJb59ZxxzT3DbJ2xnViQmSKTELxg3mL_QCbBYos_oI3anOrqXiWZdeb-vRh6DI69GRrGEd9yRYxVpTofhz8kGQGWsmO-13ZjVqai-xSmq47V5CEA/s320/05502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138594951036163506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was suddenly called and given Ana's mobile and to my surprise I was able to talk with Nieves in Vigo. I promised to call her when I arrived in Santiago, a promise I sadly broke. I do hope she forgave me. Ana also gave me Lara's number as she was in Santiago college studying.<br />I had a drink at the bar and met the great young lad who is a relative who normally lives in South America and was here on holiday. A few fellow peregrinos were arriving now, all seemed to be young and Spanish<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Oo_gX1dcqvTToNcy8X9EDLJw7hjkokXIRvLC7S02aDAP6yXQc4PCbq5QYzYjsPKHAlrATg6h8TzmQWI1kwum3DPgjnJvxIRXH2_uC58kKklKOwDPjGYDiG3wo48D1EUz3SK70KrCcAs/s1600-r/05518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44buFZfHNySyprJzAd4WMtn0HS-E3f-5kgNAm76p8E_LcNPH_g2tuAtBQGL6Tr1CrlEUQZLR1HvywumGvpWBSHoLVIgTHjmt8L3n-aJYKc9hwC6GyEBRxChyphenhyphenJZ4BVlz59Bc9PkjnxjCA/s320/05518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138595363353023938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI3TWsABEPsytCg3Uvgkxvtb9DCZ5kesMUVZJz18FjmCTmf8tbLRuuQQ4JslrTIg30rGrh_ZnaE1PNGQbJE5uoyeYcGbqeJdms8s5kyKi2I1ZU-28oFyeZ420cgC8qRV68LZJYR5oBcM/s1600-r/05519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSPpbtN1tyCnEjWXL7x7cDCR4yOYuTsZej6b2Rz4dbIoUiCTeBvJ6adwJ-zc5QYboRhIGrLo83LLTrgra8L6WUpB9NELhHW5jq8mkEHPbQ5FYeMljkoEa2O4W5J-eV0HE1zldIELx2Tc/s320/05519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138595827209491938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Gonzalo the proprietor said to me as I showed interest in the old albergue building<br />"Go see what father is doing in the old water mill."<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5BvKlTfV3i6gfaqGG5XUg3W1MwPG1yxEZjn-ElFf4pIGgWwblnqtzcmAyjBMOyfe65Ld0Xs7ic7Z4-b3ZHt2pQRsJmUplg8eoHcFDof_g1LCKx-CqxLpYP7KsY2ZvlGR880CdDesvmc/s1600-r/05515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekeUS4YzNrCtzNRgstDSAhnM70ahdDaZnhyqwyvqn3Wmnr3LKIrNXfPvStA2c2yYljJDvlrkVVTr93OHDlq1ZRcZupIvREffbTjFI2rKpN9710ywflLyVua1Of7pTO5bAxBeSOgbeo1Y/s320/05515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138596119267268082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span>So I strolled across and introduced myself to Dad and was taken inside the old mill that soon will be another home with bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, but down below the mill will work like it used to when he had been young and worked there with his father! It is an incredible task for a man close to 80 years old. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8KlQt5FBEeV__VyC96k4b2b9iJiY2wc73GNirEzAYQERGlNz5aekq3e2RtlMcPm2gO5GqTZNVX3j8XX6Ir0HhzqE8Drxxou2mDUCag3KFnCITHNJsisJ1Bdo1oalUZ7snHZCQ4UlT_M/s1600-r/05513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oXc4a9GfhnXv2GcCFYrNkXYP-R0bPpxY1eIPU51dF8QdqlHuCemB62HZlplcmSGu6jZ0gZMB6cTAw0aU6dFcA6udXTiHws8kTcNmNowGsICwDRU9QsLqWhfUPOAaWZKF0zT6vk_vo-c/s320/05513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138596471454586370" border="0" /></a><br />"This will be our new house" he assured me and pointing out of the window to the weeds in the weir pool he continued "When it's done I will then clean out the river like it should be" he said. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOseqT21sA9Z75YzmO9RkXWRg_t6WmPYb6idSKCMLx6btwHSr3zlbFOIDedfY79Sewo_uRb2RJqHjuHyBMR94iaeUNcs2ZqyVOtgj2OydNCWJJt4Or_Vqcm3YA-vw1kCOBwUEKG2k8Mk/s1600-r/05514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU7TOoI9Hgkjblu_bhR6coNSthP0j6rg2HfFAQ37Ij3Tu3s1Co2MENxPOfW0rac11ILaFJbmnuTKnzvlCMGwl61uTD1cUQg9WGXa7QavENwxU8D7OOZz-RmaIF3vV9fwL2U2GejxSA7w/s320/05514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138596810757002770" border="0" /></a><br />There seemed to be no stopping this man's enthusiasm. It must be living on the camino fault line!<br /><br />In the evening we had a choice of great food in the beautiful old dining room with its old granite stone walls and ambient atmosphere. The excellent meal was eaten and we drank a lot of good red wine, all the while my new young Spanish companions and I were having a good time chatting, during which I mentioned how we had had a wonderful Queimada here in 2003. My friends then decided to ask Ana for a Queimada too! <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S7SKVDBuHTpdsZRr8imCE-eTwETsqUS8-_FOadfD9pzV5QXN1Y04XTHEJlKsCaamGzEo8XNqqjNcdUgZ1-Y3iLpdEAZHbFq6xpqO-rKeAFV_EAlvEjOEdN7RaOYr1wzfs7tp09gOpAo/s1600-r/05520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB0mLE5SajzQttV5Rg7a9QBEXPLLuldipqAJ3ASViGhWSaX5KfWU0sFgSx33Pj1qd6j0Jy-KHSTi-0uXFUIztudfhAm75pkGjG72zsE-xDnTvokWXLsDek34XKvxvyA5FX7kzxhlRt3I/s320/05520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138597304678241826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span>Ana said she would see to it and arranged the cost per head but stated "Michael doesn't pay he is my guest!"<br />I felt very honoured and accepted her generous offer.<br />Shortly after, all the window shutters were closed, using long poles on the high ones, and the lights turned out. We were in complete darkness when by solitary candle an ugly hunchback witch, with a great hooked nose, a big witches hat and a long dark cloak reaching to the ground entered, carrying a great earthenware bowl which she put on a table. She proceeded to fill the great bowl with a jug of liquid and was chanting a poem in Spanish. She now took a packet from under her cloak and tipped a white powder into the bowl and stirred it. Still chanting she picked up a large knife and cut rind from a lemon and an orange and threw it cackling into the bowl. A handful of evil looking black bug things followed.<br />Still chanting she now stirred the mixture with a big ladle. She lifted and warmed up a ladle full of the mixture over the candle until it exploded with a mysterious blue flame! This she put in the bowl and it too ignited into a blue bonfire. It flamed up enormously as it burned in the great bowl, and now lit the room with an eerie blue light. She was stirring and raising the burning liquid into the air, so making the flames even greater. Laughing and clucking as she stirred, she cast a complete ladle full in the air, everyone shrieked as it struck the wall high up and burned blue as it run down, and there it remained for some minutes burning on the stone, with this ardent blue flame. She cackled and made even greater flames then she leapt forward and grabbed one of the girls by the hand and dragged her back and made her stir the bowl and the lift and stir the flames. Another girl joined her frightened friend while the witch cunningly transferred her hat and cloak to the first girl, and disappeared into the darkness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPss3su7OyLHM4dYUJH_-6wF9bjsK0HllhGHb06t_qq10HzuAtLG8-1LGI57d1fZg7utM2AdWT1uoKhxfa5dd9hWrxhGGWSV-4HZd45uU8Qhx_J_K4g1zqgYDVoYNq8pdSDyrWIKxwTyY/s1600-r/05537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWkK4hyphenhyphenotQ5fNv6awWK4jFQgjInsK22CxxcTBokHv_nKS6Lk95zpWcmv6-XWhxypGvSi5vEpihefNZHjTb166RAn2SyeWMJj4RikuvSTeOaba4JdLeJuB0JtXih49QP991sO6Ap9acUs/s320/05537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138892423252739010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj290h7oeLOJkpX1dfhhk-jXWLSOyFWCNqRAUv7Ya4t-gv40GTrnbPQ2gwbz-hvHEgCb_vD7amZ-z7kDjLi_5UWzfoXFKtSrDq1GUNk1C4i5u1g8Ijpy6nLv5Fau3JFfBFcxUqQAk49o68/s1600-r/05536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9aeW36VMDvWg124phgGga1T4PZ8Ucu9j_IMPSDYTazoBAvUfbPW5P2GsV7sLJ1iElV9VlXwFtpYR-2XGfdIjv823x719uTdgw-ZdQHoPGZwT3bmi7k9tst0UrOOzNML1AaMOX1jv18c/s320/05536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138891173417255858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Moment's later as they stirred and laughed Gonzalo came in snuffed the candle and covered the bowl carefully and the flame went out and with it the only light. We were left in complete darkness. The lights were now turned on and we all applauded the spectacular show. The witch had disappeared by now. The witch was naturally Gonzalo and he, smiling was now ladling out the remaining liquid into earthenware cups and we drank the sweet and enjoyable witches brew!!!!! <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC5oGLB2_w0G2CDsCb59P0ZVZT030YCDm-LVo13AtsVRikErleCTvAIv_DRAbUS5tz1D1DETJtsE_KKwYDWCO8Y0Vvxj63s4BQV_QdtOogByoJ4jezLJgs_gyEnQ4TGbazUPRUEADc1M/s1600-r/05539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KUShvH15zYA5EWhejTRANQGg-A5zx-TGvA7v7I7XShelBwhJtCJsai-w1wwAvQtQQOqdF2cLExs2BjCuSgB6PwLo3jBn_gU89ALnxkrq5vl-EHZAOOtRDlJ0PI74CvlQkvLpq1dkexs/s320/05539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138893973735932882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gudg2RWE1R-ORBKQNfunQVQcJqnvF03Jps1NaL95Nq5WOGALBAVPAc6uBar-8mUOWjUqMVIV-qEMQNZQkNZ_RM2-hghpk7nc8Ktr5WnkqbWyK8WESlk5DvHPqwnDKCOLt6lLFtT0qZM/s1600-r/DSC05540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXwOeHk5rhIpC9Ad-eOoxO_wyeRnHBMhyH74EUc69kRCPP_BxnHMf8-iDjZEKe7vtVW8SAuKKpy0FTwH_5kTsgNuQ4yAU5RhEarS2GUfhevFxLRosiUawfL66_XeXwZK1q4y3xndwF-M/s320/DSC05540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138599258888361570" border="0" /></a><br />The flash on the camera was no good really as it spoiled the atmosphere but good enough for you to get the idea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO8VonJLFfyOMqaYY3kh3CQPWH9wtwwUab3rz_G2ZVN43ZmFid8yDqIANb5vrGzLfCT2G24DhU4qGO36duzfBFgl-h2-l58Va9Ev2hFO34gv1fUSpwvqRswpGyZRvaRQg07NrNyqB3jY/s1600-r/DSC05541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilidJdJva-_f6zNKEm6M01VoBEcNRAKxFKQE1QpjYbuIy2WpO6Wvy6HbeH_JJxiP9qSE70eDnjBpGlZf9jlqH1fjl5wbDAyZl-Z_70CUEjA9NJMYBORFY94M3D2NQLlW9zDdsxGNiOjMA/s320/DSC05541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138599546651170418" border="0" /></a><br />Come on everyone - a great idea for Christmas!<br />A quemada is basically orujo or agua diente, sugar, orange and lemon rind and coffee beans. If you want to try it the only recipe I have is :-<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Quemada</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">1 lt orujo</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">6 tablespoons sugar</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Rind of half a lemon</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Float on coffee beans</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Just set it alight, the more it burns the less alcohol in the drink</span><br /><br />Tired, inebriated and very happy it was now time for bed, if we were to get up early in the morning and we all said goodnight and retired to the bunkhouse.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7JqTginnkOk7pkc9JiKrrNnOxdhaxOb9rpKpAK5dOowrpmZDjBXdvI0k1aAuFP8iqSgUQp1VhIgzXDVajSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Press to play the sounds of the Witch<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 36 = approx 19.8 km Sub Total = 550.2 km Total = 882.3 km<br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-87729401500684429002007-11-24T19:02:00.000-08:002007-11-24T20:40:22.986-08:0019/06/07 Sarria to Gonzar<div align="justify"><div align="left">19/06/07<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136612027100174162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm2dpDQawIkFm5E5opEFb6rcp6JNAZfHhRd4CVfGzWdW7TefgnJ1P0btYH7tLX3StW0rWG5ETDR9xrvqvO1ygfnzjIyifaSEVXSMxzgkLEsarJtxBzIjT7juCO4LdbzepYVap1ZhjgoA/s320/05487.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Sarria to Gonzar</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><p align="justify"></strong></span>It was raining as I left and kept on raining. I met a Spanish chap and he was taking a photo of a road name signpost. He explained Margarita was his sister's name and he wanted to show her the notice with her name on it. We chatted and I found he came from Altea, a village not far from where I used to live in Spain. </p><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNz5O9vWxg-Htek4lD4tWjRshzZm4ZdEr6ZRf3A8B-LeffyAfsH2jL2BdXF78CBuw9DrLbWXM_aJaNjEzeP8UQkXx4f_VHE2afJFeJtSXPI3DtnRzwowt_DcW4Il2KznLzLlC5BAQa_Y/s1600-h/05481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136611348495341378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNz5O9vWxg-Htek4lD4tWjRshzZm4ZdEr6ZRf3A8B-LeffyAfsH2jL2BdXF78CBuw9DrLbWXM_aJaNjEzeP8UQkXx4f_VHE2afJFeJtSXPI3DtnRzwowt_DcW4Il2KznLzLlC5BAQa_Y/s320/05481.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV7aDelmR0sJhdxYeiIaamUkd9YgSfCrxrgC-FTZqniMJLSVibY82SsdqUn1L6LMEqt3iS6MT4RdLl8D-DatDYjrmMUJPQ-hlKQAuUmdugZV0aDwyFeK-4tHXTLmr3jG_2jG25innYQ4/s1600-h/05481.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify">It was a nice walk but I got wetter and wetter, 5.2 kilometres brought me to Barbadelo and I stopped for a coffee and cognac to keep the germs away. </p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_U4QMH7jAzTYxMJx-lrJhLWnliatRtb3eb1TwnovCJSuYmDzMT4WjmWxgnkMvRhWPC5GK7LVE04uRPfXpvSgVOkLbe78YBQcGp46huRF3pvWEzPMaz8iZnJly0GUgElj2Fo-Xad_0VHw/s1600-h/05483.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136613165266507634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_U4QMH7jAzTYxMJx-lrJhLWnliatRtb3eb1TwnovCJSuYmDzMT4WjmWxgnkMvRhWPC5GK7LVE04uRPfXpvSgVOkLbe78YBQcGp46huRF3pvWEzPMaz8iZnJly0GUgElj2Fo-Xad_0VHw/s320/05483.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD31cSWFQA94zMvwfNVh74tDnNsLAdaGslDUcpaeOLwWZjzUftyoZ9nkFGTmZpGYBqPljit_IU7CQ_vGGcjLoxn9nuNWah-AgrABJDP_K54pXAp_M4Wefnt8wG0FM4fqckZwwjzzvtxeM/s1600-h/05482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136612546791216994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD31cSWFQA94zMvwfNVh74tDnNsLAdaGslDUcpaeOLwWZjzUftyoZ9nkFGTmZpGYBqPljit_IU7CQ_vGGcjLoxn9nuNWah-AgrABJDP_K54pXAp_M4Wefnt8wG0FM4fqckZwwjzzvtxeM/s320/05482.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="justify"></p><br /><br /><br />The little bar was packed out with Peregrinos and cyclists all soaked and with the same idea. Now lanes and paths over some pretty country but still it rained. I put a towel round my neck to help soak it up and eventually after 6 kilometres I found another bar in Brea. As soon as I entered the packed bar I remembered the place. Then, it was our Spanish group that came in out of the rain and filled the place and we had eaten well. Now every nationality was here and I had a job to find a space to hang my waterproof cape and a chair to sit on.<br />I joined two German ladies at a tiny table and noticed one was in tears! I managed to order and got my coffee and pañada, (a savoury pastry) and gathered the lady was crying because she was so wet and tired and she wanted to stop walking, but her friend was very unsympathetic. I was told they had walked from the French border. I tried to calm her and mediate, by saying<br />"You could possible stop here and walk tomorrow, or perhaps we could try to get you a taxi to Portomarin. Your friend can walk, and you meet up there later."<br />She wiped her eyes and cheered up at the last comment. I now asked the bar lady if she could ring for a taxi to take her to Portomarin and she said she could and my new friend cheered up. The phone call was made and I managed to get it all arranged for her.<br />"The taxi will arrive shortly, the bar lady will call you and you are to tell the taxi driver to take you to the municipal albergue."<br />The rain was easing and bar was beginning to thin out. I made sure they both knew what was happening.<br />"The taxi will be here soon so don't worry" I assured her, then I too left.<br />Now it was my turn to get lost.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">I was not to meet this poor lady and her friend again till I arrived in Santiago where I had a coffee with them and I said, as we sat down<br />"Congratulations on your arrival."<br />"OH! but she never walked it" cut in the friend!<br />"Oh never mind you can walk the last bit another year perhaps," I said looking at her poor companion who suddenly looked utterly miserable and liable to burst into tiers again<br />The first continued firmly,<br />"I'm not going to walk with her next year!"<br />Maybe it's a good time for her to change friends I thought! </span></em><br /><em><br /></em>Back to Brea.<br />The sun came out I was in heaven looking for four leaf clovers and missed the sharp right turn at the bottom of a hill!<br />Completely unaware of the mistake I continued across the bottom of the valley and up the other side, cutting diagonally up the valley wall and came to a Y junction.<br />Imagine I am walking the top arm towards the stem and the stem is up hill. On my left the other arm went again up hill again too, but in the opposite direction. A big car was waiting in the middle of the country road junction and its occupants were looking at their maps.<br />"Does that road go to Ferreiros?" said the guy, pointing to the road I had come up.<br />"I have no idea!" I said, "I'm on Camino, I'm just looking for yellow arrows." I said laughing.<br />Just then a yellow car came down the hill towards us.<br />"I'll ask him" I said and I stopped it and turning round faced the way he was going pointed at the fork where I had come from and asked<br />"Does that road go to Ferreiros?"<br />The young man answered,<br />"Si arriba" he said with a casual wave of the hand.<br />He put it in gear and drove round the stationary car and disappeared down the road I had just come up. I walked back to the first car and said to them what I had been told<br />"Si arriba" but I pointed up the hill of the right fork, after all (arriba) means up in Spanish! The couple thanked me and told me the Camino was also supposed to pass Ferreiros!<br />Now that may be, but I was not going to change my way till I saw a yellow arrow or was told by a local! So as they drove off I continued straight on up the hill and came to a row of cottages. Here I was soon joking with an elderly man and his wife and I gave them both a four-leaf clover that I had just found. They in turn told me I had missed the turning! I must now must go back all the way to the bottom, cross the valley again and at the bottom of that hill look for the yellow arrow and take the sharp left that I had missed.<br />"Goes to Ferreiros!!!!!! he said.<br />On the way back I passed the fork in the road where I had sent the pleasant couple in the car, in the wrong direction! I felt a bit guilty and wondered how long it would be before they found out their mistake!<br />A while later, after I had completed all the moves the old man had told me to make, I heard a car coming from behind and waved as they tooted and waved back as they went by. I noted they were laughing. A bit later the road came to an end and there was the same couple in their car. Laughing she wound down the window and we chuckled as I told her how I thought (arriba) was up, not straight on. Then I gave her a four-leaf clover that I had just found! She looked at it in disbelief and went on to explain that they had just started a help group for mentally disabled children and had called it (Trébol de cuatro hojas!) The Four leaf clover!<br />I don't know for sure but I had the feeling that they were looking for property for this venture and if so, a prettier spot would be hard to find.<br />'I do hope everything goes well for them' I thought as I set off again following the faded yellow arrow pointing down a narrow track.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtC_uChkAAV4WZWmRmYh94vRXVMZAp8awQLtTw59noiLsseGiKA28bcGK4v_LnEx-j_hy_mRlZNc9iwIIbELGQenOsryqi65vZ4LXuGfZooG6kQHzNbOQ00s_NcwEGHpEL7lgWmhyphenhyphenlcw/s1600-h/05484.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtC_uChkAAV4WZWmRmYh94vRXVMZAp8awQLtTw59noiLsseGiKA28bcGK4v_LnEx-j_hy_mRlZNc9iwIIbELGQenOsryqi65vZ4LXuGfZooG6kQHzNbOQ00s_NcwEGHpEL7lgWmhyphenhyphenlcw/s1600-h/05484.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamdTiA5UEDlfLM7j-lV2LTk6shyC6QUvc-S_mh27JMAgogIBnZctpD3RlWSmYqNGbMt8IG9CDjaSYcU6RgnD8GQr40bnLv7nMxd810HrGukupI0BSkNCfe64tvxBUhrYdze-3Hp8RBlc/s1600-h/05484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136622313546848146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamdTiA5UEDlfLM7j-lV2LTk6shyC6QUvc-S_mh27JMAgogIBnZctpD3RlWSmYqNGbMt8IG9CDjaSYcU6RgnD8GQr40bnLv7nMxd810HrGukupI0BSkNCfe64tvxBUhrYdze-3Hp8RBlc/s320/05484.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlWVjdwyJN6kVTkoKD0xq_iLuFICGNFMiRK9DUKL6mAd8_fucx_oc9dWfy9uvuObpG4u5Si_zx0Fbdx3IrpF0y6DHhlOVmmIs9Dkcr7vX5zja93AYxKudhZ0N5m79ixTkcaODNScnNZ4/s1600-h/05485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136622609899591586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlWVjdwyJN6kVTkoKD0xq_iLuFICGNFMiRK9DUKL6mAd8_fucx_oc9dWfy9uvuObpG4u5Si_zx0Fbdx3IrpF0y6DHhlOVmmIs9Dkcr7vX5zja93AYxKudhZ0N5m79ixTkcaODNScnNZ4/s320/05485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify"></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QKUNF9Y4-B0ESa0uwT70FF1tiHAPsIeYidVVlE3064WRqV8qezVn5qu9JI2eIXyvUQJxECPCC581bBTi9hkkCUfgPbTiL8x1I87-VO6RIcN4s-Cq99ivWetOb2y-IO2d_OqMBLM69sU/s1600-h/05487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136623541907494850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QKUNF9Y4-B0ESa0uwT70FF1tiHAPsIeYidVVlE3064WRqV8qezVn5qu9JI2eIXyvUQJxECPCC581bBTi9hkkCUfgPbTiL8x1I87-VO6RIcN4s-Cq99ivWetOb2y-IO2d_OqMBLM69sU/s200/05487.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClo3ycTVyAD-3dSG6yCjUmiA0hraKFupsjJnWbeBchDoxnXpnKs_c-fk4_gV_MzlNxEAWYf5vMKgc0N1DipK8wVvLcjzb1rEOM2yWLGz7IK1vZYQUgB6QEmi2ymd2k6-BDQjGJDrCeZo/s1600-h/05486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136623013626517426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClo3ycTVyAD-3dSG6yCjUmiA0hraKFupsjJnWbeBchDoxnXpnKs_c-fk4_gV_MzlNxEAWYf5vMKgc0N1DipK8wVvLcjzb1rEOM2yWLGz7IK1vZYQUgB6QEmi2ymd2k6-BDQjGJDrCeZo/s320/05486.JPG" border="0" /></a>Soon I was asking a local farmhand about his beautiful cow that he was looking at. I learnt,<br />"Yes lots of green grass for the cows to eat this year, all the rain you know!"<br />Now on past the tiny hamlet of Rozas and downhill as the sun came out again but there was lots of mud! I had to climb the stone wall and take the top then into the field to pass one particular patch of thick mud and foul smelling cow dung!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6p4xpWNZBRUC4Tx2aqFe7S5NHqcSgaf-VANwXTIbTyUGSFoEiQi5RgcmXDc2VUSr1xzIOlFcnTTWdjZEAClVrIMCYtrrUhyooJ43Hxmb1N1wLgf_dy4i8-8TUIpq-I6l9LnZZBhyREw/s1600-h/05489.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136625925614344210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6p4xpWNZBRUC4Tx2aqFe7S5NHqcSgaf-VANwXTIbTyUGSFoEiQi5RgcmXDc2VUSr1xzIOlFcnTTWdjZEAClVrIMCYtrrUhyooJ43Hxmb1N1wLgf_dy4i8-8TUIpq-I6l9LnZZBhyREw/s320/05489.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHO5l8UtTwulWJ32bBEGO3Vp8-1oVHaKze7Vvm2UCKHjcEfKN3MPW946hH3fiTGWXJpt1qbXty7WEl6PXSlbayo8YAv8h5VABdxPOC2lqOm8NWIJYabVYQ838vlQrYkfEp96EsnOo6p8/s1600-h/05490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136626217672120354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHO5l8UtTwulWJ32bBEGO3Vp8-1oVHaKze7Vvm2UCKHjcEfKN3MPW946hH3fiTGWXJpt1qbXty7WEl6PXSlbayo8YAv8h5VABdxPOC2lqOm8NWIJYabVYQ838vlQrYkfEp96EsnOo6p8/s320/05490.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span>There must have been a fiesta in Vilachá by all the flags out but there was not a person to be seen as I wandered through the narrow streets of houses with puzzling slits and gun enclosures facing each and every street. I wondered why this seemingly placid little village had been so fortified. How much bloodshed had in fact gone on here? Was it in General Franco's time with the civil war that tore families apart, brother against brother or was it earlier in the Napoleonic wars, or even earlier still, for I find it hard to date these sleepy little stone village houses? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdLg06GW57w9eVuRDCknh_ONfuI6GXpliSpCwgsVrzXoB4GcaCbICLiYfhr3gujuBvmfyTgIVMz0aAbSLvDJLSobAPcRC_FvAg7fhQsafXbZNJ8DyE9KIpDmoGkTS0kDlqHQ_Xe5LXZw/s1600-h/05491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136624456735528930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdLg06GW57w9eVuRDCknh_ONfuI6GXpliSpCwgsVrzXoB4GcaCbICLiYfhr3gujuBvmfyTgIVMz0aAbSLvDJLSobAPcRC_FvAg7fhQsafXbZNJ8DyE9KIpDmoGkTS0kDlqHQ_Xe5LXZw/s320/05491.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify"></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUeD4eZfwYTfRA4c5NmXNkF4vPl744Sq8Q68FPVLBlmKG9GbNZTnrDQ8foX0EQGLkTwO4pQJ2Ehf34ytnNW_Pgx9NItwGRqtCSE8PFyGiM_6lq7H5_Aym3MYwBp0-pdqX78fYOTK_ygM/s1600-h/05492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136624821807749106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUeD4eZfwYTfRA4c5NmXNkF4vPl744Sq8Q68FPVLBlmKG9GbNZTnrDQ8foX0EQGLkTwO4pQJ2Ehf34ytnNW_Pgx9NItwGRqtCSE8PFyGiM_6lq7H5_Aym3MYwBp0-pdqX78fYOTK_ygM/s320/05492.JPG" border="0" /></a> At last in bright sunshine, I crossed the bridge and climbed the huge flight of stone steps up into town.<br />I chuckled to myself remembering the howling gale and horizontal rain that had met us here last time and how we had been packed into the albergue with dripping coats hanging from all the bunk beds and only a cold shower! I walked to the same albergue but the door was closed and when it didn't open I presumed they were full. Wandering back down the street I felt glad really, I now found I wanted a different place this time. I tried two more but they were a bit expensive, and for some reason that feeling grew, I just wanted to go on.<br /><p align="justify"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136625096685656066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIilLe7kxsTYWPTphihv02IXb-ifNZvlKaYB1W-Cn7hXBb4k8gOnQ4ZJ0R0hqy_VsRmknLZlFD82jACdjYN2hTGdCzwxrd0Rp-RAYhCxQQPO7ER_QpjO0TAD7Ayh5Vl6N74BRUOKdnQw0/s320/05493ROSE.JPG" border="0" /><br />On the far side of town I found the footbridge where you cross the water again and I set off at a good pace up the hill. It was hard going, hot and uninteresting and I found I now had little drinking water! Most was a tarmac road too. I tired quickly on the 8 kilometres between Portomarin and the tiny village of Gonzar. Just before arriving I found a water fountain and filled my bottle and took a big swig Yuk!!! It was the most horrible water ever tasted reminding me of the mud and cow dung mixture I'd passed earlier! I tipped it away and I couldn't get rid of the taste for ages. At last I came to Gonzar where I went in the café next to the albergue to have a coffee.<br />"You want a bed?" asked the old man behind the bar<br />"Better book in quick and come back for that coffee" he said<br />I took his advice and got my bunk and put my boots to dry on the draughty staircase then washed my shirt and socks and hung them on a line between my bunk bed and the next in front of the open window as the rain was returning. Then I went for my coffee.<br />Returning later I found Yollanda and Spanish John in the lounge and I cooked a simple stew and shared it with them. Later I was annoyed to find, my cooking pots were being used by two men, who had not even gone to the trouble to find and ask me! I had already found out I had lost a wooden spoon last night when the English couple had used it and not put it back.<br />My things are in a lightweight plastic box and I always put them together to show they don't belong to the albergue. Now I had no wooden spoon that I always use when using the soft aluminium cooking pot to keep it unmarked. Aluminium is bad for you I believe, now these guys were eating straight from my pot with a steel spoon!<br />I carry cooking gear and suffer blisters because of the weight, which is my choice, I sure don’t carry it to make sure these big hefty guys can eat and not get blisters! I went to bed in a bit of huff, forgetting to ask Yollanda what time she would leave tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>END DAY 35 = approx. 28.3 km Sub Total = 530.4 km Total = 862.5 km</strong></span></p></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-33819666886880438842007-11-15T23:15:00.000-08:002007-11-16T00:25:43.192-08:0018/06/07 Biduedo to Sarria<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">18/06/07<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Biduedo to Sarria</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH5lHyTZCzP3jgNN2IgF_MsXi2JI68jdynjdvbYeWHOkp-cz3ut_NrUvRAOkPDkakL-7QYwMXTjTO_CtfRk9FtzDMEiNrljukAmfnypqYTcaUgcW37UPl7p2dZWcX_Ifu3NpVw_RaZKw/s1600-h/05459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH5lHyTZCzP3jgNN2IgF_MsXi2JI68jdynjdvbYeWHOkp-cz3ut_NrUvRAOkPDkakL-7QYwMXTjTO_CtfRk9FtzDMEiNrljukAmfnypqYTcaUgcW37UPl7p2dZWcX_Ifu3NpVw_RaZKw/s400/05459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133334533261628818" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">WEEK 6<br /><br /></span>I took down my washing, two of my new shirts were dry enough to wear but the rest were still soaking wet. I took the liberty of rolling them in toilet roll and would try to dry them later today. We had breakfast at seven as arranged and we chatted with Celia the dueña, put a few words in her book and paid the bills as we left.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLAEJn5dTlJfATX6WrwNhkpJqwLn7xVoJnMvsrsgmBn9uR25Dgdxf9c2Z8yppjeFTCdLDod9kKFleTQeE8hR858SMaV_2jb7r6jyVSPaZxXhnios-J0jRTXhbzlAu53wsYB9M69ToFvs/s1600-h/05460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLAEJn5dTlJfATX6WrwNhkpJqwLn7xVoJnMvsrsgmBn9uR25Dgdxf9c2Z8yppjeFTCdLDod9kKFleTQeE8hR858SMaV_2jb7r6jyVSPaZxXhnios-J0jRTXhbzlAu53wsYB9M69ToFvs/s320/05460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133334936988554658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1ke98Bs2dXfDm_306OKxMSOLaeQf5bPM1pKsSBTdM8l5yntyb0J6JcpXwGURDuDw9RPB1Zq-IaFfuKOqH_Bbzk0dl1A18PuYA5tA-Zf_TIfCzdEuwmSWP2Uf4_5_naqiOUCAbGflldg/s1600-h/05461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1ke98Bs2dXfDm_306OKxMSOLaeQf5bPM1pKsSBTdM8l5yntyb0J6JcpXwGURDuDw9RPB1Zq-IaFfuKOqH_Bbzk0dl1A18PuYA5tA-Zf_TIfCzdEuwmSWP2Uf4_5_naqiOUCAbGflldg/s320/05461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133335254816134578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br />Today was puffy clouds but fine and I took some good photos of the green valley to our right and in the direction we were going and could see we were to be leaving this beautiful high country. I looked forward to walking in some of the sunlight that now seemed to be mostly lighting up the lower slopes. We walked down 600 meters in altitude, passing the big old chestnut tree in Pasantes to reach Trascastela. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9YhdNGN0vcz1CLPDKeb-pGHErgyelxPovNA45A25EViT8RnD91iP-L7wolUsYUX3y-6BCqX-I6Eu5BiBidccj6TcKcp5HO9eKRwwUECt-JvEEA_WRbFp4Gwpa6n9f1cFvjBoje_v784/s1600-h/05462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9YhdNGN0vcz1CLPDKeb-pGHErgyelxPovNA45A25EViT8RnD91iP-L7wolUsYUX3y-6BCqX-I6Eu5BiBidccj6TcKcp5HO9eKRwwUECt-JvEEA_WRbFp4Gwpa6n9f1cFvjBoje_v784/s200/05462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133338042249909730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wmfhwNwbNZ8xS85kAzndQlDXhvmANjS1JvOOS5FFJrtIAMzbB-Js3HOmzug71KLRXphAWMIQ0eVC7OvuKVbyYzcHzkN2mCw_XDcmAQstQm41OyQoeOAxTt95SQkqt0oj4kxf7hrhX7U/s1600-h/05463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wmfhwNwbNZ8xS85kAzndQlDXhvmANjS1JvOOS5FFJrtIAMzbB-Js3HOmzug71KLRXphAWMIQ0eVC7OvuKVbyYzcHzkN2mCw_XDcmAQstQm41OyQoeOAxTt95SQkqt0oj4kxf7hrhX7U/s200/05463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133346043773982450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5juMqE36Qe19-Ev-l1rOzBXdF8KJiuODn5OI-kZeRgfHA9ZSpGISJuUVadLrV91a2x4wVOZhBTU7AkZ4B1cstaFWvFqBCso-8nr6mEioj_b4v2LOFF0bk8IUqvcw1qHViUfP8Z3JItU/s1600-h/05464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5juMqE36Qe19-Ev-l1rOzBXdF8KJiuODn5OI-kZeRgfHA9ZSpGISJuUVadLrV91a2x4wVOZhBTU7AkZ4B1cstaFWvFqBCso-8nr6mEioj_b4v2LOFF0bk8IUqvcw1qHViUfP8Z3JItU/s400/05464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133338579120821762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span> Here, as we left this busy little town, we had a choice of ways. Francesca said she would take the shortest route while I wanted to take the prettiest way but the longer so we agreed to split company. I really thought we were sure to meet up again before Santiago but sadly it was not to be.<br />The weather looked better so there was no reason she could not cope on her own now if she wanted to. I wish now I had made sure I had her email address but I hadn't.<br /><br /><br />We waved to each other and I turned right and she left. I had to start looking for the arrows and found them soon enough as the road followed the valley and river. I knew I would miss her company but the camino is like that, you leave a friend and make another soon after normally. I'd lost touch with Yollanda, Roser and others and now found the solitude a little too quiet for my liking.<br /><br />For a small road it was quite busy with traffic and I was glad when it left and followed the country paths.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX55M9vgSNlIEXKh2piQ1XdR8K4e_MtOt9GuWpVmLwfExz2LTy3t3Jw8pI-rTEsEUNMFZTFDPMgNBe3aYYfHaJbnYJxrJYUBDchl90YgmvRVjceIcvKGD3VD6MlQtpNqGIXFQxjorGPE/s1600-h/05466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX55M9vgSNlIEXKh2piQ1XdR8K4e_MtOt9GuWpVmLwfExz2LTy3t3Jw8pI-rTEsEUNMFZTFDPMgNBe3aYYfHaJbnYJxrJYUBDchl90YgmvRVjceIcvKGD3VD6MlQtpNqGIXFQxjorGPE/s320/05466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133339051567224338" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibil_RzhXEFA7XPi1T4nmaQUBvy9Wfr-TH0MyjG5DorOs1PsITRqwmWwjQSgOkpWfzGQjY8DAJkXxfEV1KyB8otshvdTIFPeRFWCxAvkexdqawIiUEeZzBSlSxTfYpavlBSvrrxwJOUIM/s1600-h/05468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibil_RzhXEFA7XPi1T4nmaQUBvy9Wfr-TH0MyjG5DorOs1PsITRqwmWwjQSgOkpWfzGQjY8DAJkXxfEV1KyB8otshvdTIFPeRFWCxAvkexdqawIiUEeZzBSlSxTfYpavlBSvrrxwJOUIM/s320/05468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133339579848201762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp3k4Z_uhpky9XOXFPeAgCkTN8AAy0FRsiAZkmfQ4qYuOVTRO1vnHU22Uw5EoI_U_nEoNXyw5qVdpYmbcZlovfwPHLtiHt5JaZkvVLSoCMPqPcyez_fwhgT4RYwvTPG0FbxUGTHmCaQg/s1600-h/05469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp3k4Z_uhpky9XOXFPeAgCkTN8AAy0FRsiAZkmfQ4qYuOVTRO1vnHU22Uw5EoI_U_nEoNXyw5qVdpYmbcZlovfwPHLtiHt5JaZkvVLSoCMPqPcyez_fwhgT4RYwvTPG0FbxUGTHmCaQg/s320/05469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133339914855650866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLY2QmFCmIm9kUPfHuVOxEWNfR_Tol5jPZeff2CKe6LE-thuRKJUlYa_-uY75RYThWFfmw0qFV1LPpWBhjEQwzGw_0VzR7lXp-AgZ7vfZuPFZtExPAKMmkfNj8ir02haDG686sT9XfXU/s1600-h/05472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLY2QmFCmIm9kUPfHuVOxEWNfR_Tol5jPZeff2CKe6LE-thuRKJUlYa_-uY75RYThWFfmw0qFV1LPpWBhjEQwzGw_0VzR7lXp-AgZ7vfZuPFZtExPAKMmkfNj8ir02haDG686sT9XfXU/s320/05472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133340937057867346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soon I was walking shady country paths between chestnut trees, this is a beautiful walk although the weather clouded over again. In 9 kilometres my map book said I would reach Somos, but I felt sure I had done a lot more as I rounded a bend and saw the monastery in the bottom of the valley looking just beautiful. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCbbZqCy77-g8ortZ2odXhZqykIZr94yyOczvY9KXm6FZbeK5xeySXIRcyp1Zd9_1jynPcMYP6sZRZ348uZMWdMp6nB80klSvJ_iS8WLM5Xm-RHXYbooKRh8geR1j7kvxoD2OB2lv42I/s1600-h/05473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCbbZqCy77-g8ortZ2odXhZqykIZr94yyOczvY9KXm6FZbeK5xeySXIRcyp1Zd9_1jynPcMYP6sZRZ348uZMWdMp6nB80klSvJ_iS8WLM5Xm-RHXYbooKRh8geR1j7kvxoD2OB2lv42I/s400/05473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133341366554596962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I took photos from here and never realised you could stay there. It was only later that I realised it had an albergue. I came down into the town and crossed the bridge, where the geese and cows came to see me making a real medieval setting so I took a few more photos. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-704lae4zSs7DyVFh5qLJSrHdqV52iwYm3BIxpvDRWtv9tu5V1_hhxQK6TK7JaUCuNJ8lszrRKZ3LV-TFwFlV_I2OQbXwoLkULN0_mrWA9e_AGJcttWMlk_6PDyIcAA4EMOXFeiELEe8/s1600-h/05475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-704lae4zSs7DyVFh5qLJSrHdqV52iwYm3BIxpvDRWtv9tu5V1_hhxQK6TK7JaUCuNJ8lszrRKZ3LV-TFwFlV_I2OQbXwoLkULN0_mrWA9e_AGJcttWMlk_6PDyIcAA4EMOXFeiELEe8/s400/05475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133341942080214642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was wondering where I had stopped before. My old records only said we had stopped in a hostel and I could not remember it, or this town. I strolled on passing a statue, and saw the donkey and the French ladies again near the river but I went on alone and soon took a road up a hill to the left. It was marked with the yellow arrow but the few peregrinos that I had seen before the junction, never came this way because I stopped and waited a while. It didn't matter so I continued. I now passed an old tumble down farm shed and could see the pieces of one of the really old farm carts and took more photos using the flash as the rain had started again. It was pretty country that I now wondered through <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMieoNDP-GZH-DZzPIxhC0dvmAxnUCOuRDH539NqpwGC2G4hTp4At72rfYUar4D80PByNSv-aubpU-GOWxIVLX1MOcQWfAdkMBlfwT7SpLe9aMSK9Aad9Osmm0fYHGzKWYWe1OL0JIx4Q/s1600-h/05476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMieoNDP-GZH-DZzPIxhC0dvmAxnUCOuRDH539NqpwGC2G4hTp4At72rfYUar4D80PByNSv-aubpU-GOWxIVLX1MOcQWfAdkMBlfwT7SpLe9aMSK9Aad9Osmm0fYHGzKWYWe1OL0JIx4Q/s200/05476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133342745239099026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2PgcTtMMzk_t-gwpNG1YiskRCUv_4XH9f83qluTPD-AdKrSOUyq_qo6PLig1f_pWXHjOPCCtCCRUKfcKZ7951YqOQr7hkp-GsJOs5meCc1pW5ySXBeklSz4orfpBDrvKvnrcTrkfZNI/s1600-h/05477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2PgcTtMMzk_t-gwpNG1YiskRCUv_4XH9f83qluTPD-AdKrSOUyq_qo6PLig1f_pWXHjOPCCtCCRUKfcKZ7951YqOQr7hkp-GsJOs5meCc1pW5ySXBeklSz4orfpBDrvKvnrcTrkfZNI/s320/05477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133342998642169506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gc191KYZxpZqaJ3ONj0urQo0wdYQVAy0vHt0mjb3x9T_bzJ_M6CTKndL6uHUxCslD4lsOYII93-HEPXfZE35WzvxHxOa-3ld4upegN5slZJX88ZenkkhSoe0Nbf5BxvPX_hdhaXOdAg/s1600-h/05478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gc191KYZxpZqaJ3ONj0urQo0wdYQVAy0vHt0mjb3x9T_bzJ_M6CTKndL6uHUxCslD4lsOYII93-HEPXfZE35WzvxHxOa-3ld4upegN5slZJX88ZenkkhSoe0Nbf5BxvPX_hdhaXOdAg/s320/05478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133343359419422386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHplgcdmmK5yvIIyzh0yEajKPFzKU1FG8xE7qacBe1_EG1gex7s2GfCcy8Z2TRN_rMrUeCxDdPQyyNzPGEyj51YDnrwjk4e0MN82zi1Ut8BFWvRkZ3kUC1BHcaYDvIPmbWKtFAyvjttZ8/s1600-h/05479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHplgcdmmK5yvIIyzh0yEajKPFzKU1FG8xE7qacBe1_EG1gex7s2GfCcy8Z2TRN_rMrUeCxDdPQyyNzPGEyj51YDnrwjk4e0MN82zi1Ut8BFWvRkZ3kUC1BHcaYDvIPmbWKtFAyvjttZ8/s320/05479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133343651477198530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidywa-hL9AZKyzLH14rjTV0bxrwSJzZghq1O4viL5rbMl5U8aTgFk8-6pAohJYGDXVeay78JQYLG6y9aOxMN6bKd0ZyH_ishp9sKZFy5qkHz9vmsilignyAuSj8wVtx9JaDYTs1At9pmM/s1600-h/05480B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidywa-hL9AZKyzLH14rjTV0bxrwSJzZghq1O4viL5rbMl5U8aTgFk8-6pAohJYGDXVeay78JQYLG6y9aOxMN6bKd0ZyH_ishp9sKZFy5qkHz9vmsilignyAuSj8wVtx9JaDYTs1At9pmM/s320/05480B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133344068089026258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhv6174F2jB5dKIDKMKRfOnthjZ49mItGZZT4cTbiTa1tBduUaVQinGRpTWt5DurGZXbfYrrdKAmN1T0J3Noz_v7lBzXHgzKNYG1U8ejdhBc4mt03wL2nsttQ1fCgYpVapakaQO0-W6g/s1600-h/05480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhv6174F2jB5dKIDKMKRfOnthjZ49mItGZZT4cTbiTa1tBduUaVQinGRpTWt5DurGZXbfYrrdKAmN1T0J3Noz_v7lBzXHgzKNYG1U8ejdhBc4mt03wL2nsttQ1fCgYpVapakaQO0-W6g/s320/05480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133344342966933218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>My next recollection was meeting a Hungarian girl. The sun was out and quite warm. It was probable just before Ayan. On seeing her in the distance I speeded up my pace, I still had a job to catch up with her but managed in the end. She was a heavy built lass with very broad square shoulders, a big pack, shorts and strong tanned muscled legs and woollen socks protruding from tough looking boots. She was pacing along with big determined strides. I found she spoke good English and was in a hurry to find an albergue before they got full she said. I said I thought there would be enough room, as Sarria was a fairly large town.<br />I kept pace chatting for about four and a half kilometres and we came into the town, stopped at a hostel and asked the price. Then we saw a tourist office and now with a town map we entered the town. I was having a job to keep up and after crossing the river and finally up hill into the old town, I saw an albergue on the left and dived in to ask the price. I got in but it was very busy. I caught the man behind the desk's attention but I thought the price too expensive so quickly left again. I could see my new companion some way ahead but soon lost sight of her, I knew she was heading for the cheap municipal one anyway! On my right I saw another albergue sign so I went in.<br />It was an old stone building, cool and dark inside. A friendly young woman gave me a glass of water, took me to see the dorm, then when I agreed the price took my details. The dorm was as big as a small ballroom and had windows only at the far end and heavy curtains so that it was cool and dark. It had beds only down the sides and then they were placed lengthways, I took an end one near the door. There was a kitchen, so I could cook dinner tonight, a small patio to wash clothes, and a covered line area to dry them. A weak sun did the job and I was able to take them in as it started to rain later. I cooked my meal but had to use my own pots as there was only one pot to boil water in, nothing else much. I ate with an English couple I had met before a long way back, then went to bed, where I slept very well.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 34 = approx. 27.9 km Sub Total = 502.1 km Total = 834.2 km</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-76100906619794110012007-11-08T01:51:00.000-08:002007-11-08T03:08:28.834-08:0017/06/07 Faba to Biduedo<div style="text-align: justify;">17/06/07<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Faba to Biduedo</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />On went the lights!!!b It was that damn man again everyone was to suffer a 6 am get up call because he and his entourage wanted to get away early. I pulled the sleeping bag up and over my head but it was impossible to get back to sleep as they treated their feet and the ladies massaged the old sod and generally wasted time till 7am before leaving! I was mad but managed to keep my cool till in the end I rose too and prepared to leave and Francesca and I left about quarter past. No coffee was available in the village so we set off up the hard climb in cold wet weather. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bPeA4_09KxjqIa_v9B1MDlCi5pL_CbNNSImN_XL3QTPZELM6O1XOiqWqCq2ulKl2veQqKYRIfOFfo_n8J_KhiU_5qsidWqcw2Y5GpVaHRnBacAWnSL4PHOOsyg-Iko760OFvxX-1-Ec/s1600-h/05446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bPeA4_09KxjqIa_v9B1MDlCi5pL_CbNNSImN_XL3QTPZELM6O1XOiqWqCq2ulKl2veQqKYRIfOFfo_n8J_KhiU_5qsidWqcw2Y5GpVaHRnBacAWnSL4PHOOsyg-Iko760OFvxX-1-Ec/s320/05446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130406486373488402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHh0htDwXub03IcomVzHaY90qeEow_hPYBrlefaaDKKmajsA8Bw0SmVOMMDfB75Rd1q9AZ_1bHKvsX9j43WJXGsEfjZ5YbC3K9j-B359UHeALFMDGNdIsx9bjJ-cwPhwh3-aNIS0tkw8/s1600-h/05445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHh0htDwXub03IcomVzHaY90qeEow_hPYBrlefaaDKKmajsA8Bw0SmVOMMDfB75Rd1q9AZ_1bHKvsX9j43WJXGsEfjZ5YbC3K9j-B359UHeALFMDGNdIsx9bjJ-cwPhwh3-aNIS0tkw8/s320/05445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130406245855319810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Breathtaking scenery but not the best day to see it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0jJYI_FUej1uJ4tz06iRV9dTCy5DIiZraEJ66pgdYIzQCHQuZV-zRJMAaNLESLXfX5aWGiMhA84zPgakaCq-Uh1OX-a4GPtIW3WWi7_tRI8KsT2PzzOjKtdQD_latIMqp6aZjM3yFJc/s1600-h/05447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0jJYI_FUej1uJ4tz06iRV9dTCy5DIiZraEJ66pgdYIzQCHQuZV-zRJMAaNLESLXfX5aWGiMhA84zPgakaCq-Uh1OX-a4GPtIW3WWi7_tRI8KsT2PzzOjKtdQD_latIMqp6aZjM3yFJc/s320/05447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130406769841329954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> Francesca was very subdued and I walked in front most of the time. We stopped several times too for her to rest. Then as we came across an old farmhouse Francesca suggested we each go on at our own pace now. I was a bit worried as I thought she was just very tired, after days of cold and wet with having little sleep and no breakfast this morning. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vMlJoBTeSQDi5yrPFt4lRqn9cHqNHWTo9wqgb9p9UPysgG5u56mL1GulLeU_Cc1pRse3TqY5TlEqgk1jPqtU7K-9aXmSiGyzqIAePvv_SDafYCsMa2dW0eO1XtIQnZa_j5N8pYM4ZuI/s1600-h/05448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vMlJoBTeSQDi5yrPFt4lRqn9cHqNHWTo9wqgb9p9UPysgG5u56mL1GulLeU_Cc1pRse3TqY5TlEqgk1jPqtU7K-9aXmSiGyzqIAePvv_SDafYCsMa2dW0eO1XtIQnZa_j5N8pYM4ZuI/s320/05448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130413766343055154" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2LXr-OkVHiwPBsuh8hL2XnBLV3ejABMu1TOUppHORyi3Thc4ynnC_HkYYotkl8hgIBvo-TA6GR-bL3bz-ktnvb6t2py7oE0h2IXJds9JhQlKqdDeJpK3-SL0yd9aDR1zkzz6TT4u5qQ/s1600-h/05449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2LXr-OkVHiwPBsuh8hL2XnBLV3ejABMu1TOUppHORyi3Thc4ynnC_HkYYotkl8hgIBvo-TA6GR-bL3bz-ktnvb6t2py7oE0h2IXJds9JhQlKqdDeJpK3-SL0yd9aDR1zkzz6TT4u5qQ/s320/05449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130416832949704626" border="0" /></a><br />"Ok, then I'll go on, but I will stop in the next café if you want to meet up again OK?"<br />I left her leaning against the stone wall under a tree and continued up hill in pouring rain. The very next village Laguna was less than a kilometre further and here was the first cafe of the day. There was a bit of shelter from the rain to put rucksacks outside and I unloaded mine and put it with the two others there. Two young ladies were trying to run the bar but as far as I could make out it was their first day of being open, although they said it was the first week. They had to get bread from the house across the road so I could have toast and jam, a tostada! They eventually managed the coffee and cognac as Francesca came in and sat down with me chuckling how hard it was to get rid of me!<br />Meanwhile I sent the bar-girl off to get more bread for another tostada! Francesca seemed in much better spirits after a warm drink and tostada. We waited for the rain to ease then continued on together. The terrain was getting easier now too but still climbing. We arrived at the top of this mythical climb of O Cebreiro and had a little look around the little village but from here the weather started to turn bad again. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7rbeMJ3_84-Qf9qAjaeth2ejTKVTR8Ev8WhFGcUEGorCQEhUiwxbKYGtrHpBPaGevbdtJSoinL-dE1ICVKiCZIMGh8hi_8y7WhqDzShDMXbeM-oAerV593sEtDjxsoFdpjLqW3hw0QI/s1600-h/05450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7rbeMJ3_84-Qf9qAjaeth2ejTKVTR8Ev8WhFGcUEGorCQEhUiwxbKYGtrHpBPaGevbdtJSoinL-dE1ICVKiCZIMGh8hi_8y7WhqDzShDMXbeM-oAerV593sEtDjxsoFdpjLqW3hw0QI/s320/05450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130414281739130706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjVWO1SkvurH7hyNzbctznHa4c3A71gP8Zbu1vTK5il8C-exjQU3QcjVlFC_A95i4JgLfm5CK5pnDYA7lhino1jWyGq3v4cPMN34zNcqpMyGGQganRcXcW5XXq51dcv_nHziwcEIvaSI/s1600-h/05451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjVWO1SkvurH7hyNzbctznHa4c3A71gP8Zbu1vTK5il8C-exjQU3QcjVlFC_A95i4JgLfm5CK5pnDYA7lhino1jWyGq3v4cPMN34zNcqpMyGGQganRcXcW5XXq51dcv_nHziwcEIvaSI/s200/05451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130416042675722130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z2Due_pHq_4UBUCp_Zw86oAmeqQBBtuqkBCx8e4wKpPRH9Tmc2yaq7aW9Yl_EBUWFFueNH2tCs07m-jmWA2BYd3mJUDSg-EN5UU0EJPxlCpMUw-sCNhArh1d6yh8p5FM6IWitLGDBZI/s1600-h/05453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z2Due_pHq_4UBUCp_Zw86oAmeqQBBtuqkBCx8e4wKpPRH9Tmc2yaq7aW9Yl_EBUWFFueNH2tCs07m-jmWA2BYd3mJUDSg-EN5UU0EJPxlCpMUw-sCNhArh1d6yh8p5FM6IWitLGDBZI/s200/05453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130416287488858018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7gD3YQYJ052lGkFO7I9Lr4xOaGRwIdvvbIXR0gIGkmZGkPy6EG_CCb5rePfwJqfwAE12dIKzmiJuofpkyWOMIXzman2Xib5cjEyvWzU9r510IoMliUn42OQEESmrj-pz5o3HUCyenxQ/s1600-h/05452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7gD3YQYJ052lGkFO7I9Lr4xOaGRwIdvvbIXR0gIGkmZGkPy6EG_CCb5rePfwJqfwAE12dIKzmiJuofpkyWOMIXzman2Xib5cjEyvWzU9r510IoMliUn42OQEESmrj-pz5o3HUCyenxQ/s320/05452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130414784250304370" border="0" /></a>In conversation with Francesca a little further on I said<br />"Somewhere just back there while on my first French camino, I talked my lady companion into following an unmarked path to the left, when she said her map book said a right turn. We climbed to the very top of that mountain that's towered above us on the left. We lost the path completely at the top, it had just fizzled out. From there we spotted a tiny bit of this road below us and then had to scramble downhill over stonewalls, through high-bracken, prickly holly bushes and gorse, down that ten-foot drop over there and onto this very road we were walking on." I chuckled. "So you see so far we're doing better than last time"<br />I pointed to the yellow arrow marked on the road in front, telling us to turn to the right, down a county lane. I turned to Francesca and continued,<br />"I remember last time, we followed that arrow from here. The Camino soon turns left and cuts out across the fields over there. I said pointing<br />Francesca frowned and replied<br />"I've had enough of muddy paths and mountains" and then stated firmly,<br />"I'm not leaving the road!"<br />I nodded<br />"True' with today's weather being so horrible we could be walking in deep mud."<br />I debated the thought, that the main road would probably get us there but it could be a lot further!'<br />Anyway we ignored the arrow and the lane and followed the main road, just as Francesca wanted, with me seriously hoping it was the right decision!<br />Fortunately for us it never made much difference to the kilometres as most of the way the real camino could be seen running close by, just muddier. Fighting horrible rain and wind we climbed the San Roque pass with its superb bronze statue at the top. A larger than life peregrino bracing himself against the weather. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX3QSAoYNg3xTLw_QnBz1uQ8r5EtwDrATHhjnLeeX4LrCDe3NxXU33VfhXbWKYh9GxYYtiTETsnFjF7yNUuAkalLv02v-5NzjR7BYLRXIrMB6cBC1ENkoJkzEcMN7YG91ZNoOV6vbfgI/s1600-h/05454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX3QSAoYNg3xTLw_QnBz1uQ8r5EtwDrATHhjnLeeX4LrCDe3NxXU33VfhXbWKYh9GxYYtiTETsnFjF7yNUuAkalLv02v-5NzjR7BYLRXIrMB6cBC1ENkoJkzEcMN7YG91ZNoOV6vbfgI/s400/05454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130424645495216130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46X2g5NZeernKe3sPWXKJY7hqy30Lx4vbo_GXZ4K6N3sQr7_eMHVGKKWpQWlxh54YrnDPUqHmO2ShSloHGGRG_0rAXldS5_C713MI2zBz8tTqpqIK6SCArnjHWJWMFILFjZ8Rd0t1GUw/s1600-h/05455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46X2g5NZeernKe3sPWXKJY7hqy30Lx4vbo_GXZ4K6N3sQr7_eMHVGKKWpQWlxh54YrnDPUqHmO2ShSloHGGRG_0rAXldS5_C713MI2zBz8tTqpqIK6SCArnjHWJWMFILFjZ8Rd0t1GUw/s320/05455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130417498669635538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>I noted he looked just as natural today in cold wind and rain as that day four years ago in the heat. Standing there I could almost see my companion fooling about copying the statue's pose while I sat and lanced my huge painful blisters! It might be cold and wet today but I was very glad my feet were not giving me the same problem today!<br />Pressing on, first along the windy ridge. Then the road went down a little and on into the village of Hospital. Here we stopped for hot soup in a nice rural bar come restaurant. It was a charming place all grey stone and beams. We hung up our waterproofs and went through to the bar and selected a table. Over coffee, while chatting to Francesca, I suggested<br />"We should try to get a better night's sleep tonight, in a Casa Rural. That's if you're agreeable? I'm not sure how far it is but I remember I stopped in one a bit further on."<br />"Ok" She agreed<br />"Ok I'll ask the girl behind the bar if she knows the place and get her to phone."<br />I rose and went up to the bar and asked her<br />"Sí señor, the man that just left the bar, is the proprietor! You missed him by just a few moments!" She exclaimed<br />She now kindly agreed to phone the Casa Rural and we booked two rooms there. All we had to do now was walk there!<br />Daft as it may seem I had no idea how far it was, only that the village name in my map book was Viduedo! If I had looked, I would have seen it was about 9 kms!<br />This turned out to be a real test of our stamina! We walked clad in our flapping waterproof capes through cold rain, wind, and mist, cloud and sun one after the other, then it would do it all over again. The weather got a little better as we were passing a sign post Francesca spotted, the village spelt with a B, Biduedo and tired we turned towards, hoping it was the same village.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMmgFNpbuKt-O3UM7b_ScgMTw9zrm5yUJOPA3xq8xUb5UIRQe8RqDmQPHZlqnSw67e62v48j1A0qla9NQ2Cie2rXoTOgwQ98W9xt7p3d6fPiTsYzYIs3HwBi768KNvhBQUMWsXMWRy_k/s1600-h/05456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMmgFNpbuKt-O3UM7b_ScgMTw9zrm5yUJOPA3xq8xUb5UIRQe8RqDmQPHZlqnSw67e62v48j1A0qla9NQ2Cie2rXoTOgwQ98W9xt7p3d6fPiTsYzYIs3HwBi768KNvhBQUMWsXMWRy_k/s400/05456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130417855151921122" border="0" /></a><br />"Do you know where it is" asked Francesca<br />I was hoping I would remember the little farm cottage that was a working farm, all I remembered it was as you left the village. As we arrived at the village, we were greeted with notices declaring a new albergue and we passed it's white painted walls wondering if we were doing the right thing. Then I saw it just as I remembered it in 2003.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKilyYnNk_MyqUlXoMQCcmnJxCeUkojruRAzol6TDgx1eAFiRZfd0fQzBlNEV60laeuIXKIiOtpnAxyzIbsTrr0P2QWlMaxEyHFwtdG6MYXArwm_5je1BtAj-mZSWjYQ5An1gvVs7RpU/s1600-h/OXATO.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKilyYnNk_MyqUlXoMQCcmnJxCeUkojruRAzol6TDgx1eAFiRZfd0fQzBlNEV60laeuIXKIiOtpnAxyzIbsTrr0P2QWlMaxEyHFwtdG6MYXArwm_5je1BtAj-mZSWjYQ5An1gvVs7RpU/s320/OXATO.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130421230996215794" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>The road covered with a thin layer of dusty cow dung, was sloping towards it as it curved round past the little door that led down steps into the bar. The door was ajar and we stepped over and down into the dark and cosy little bar. I had loved my stop here last time but now realised it might not have been quite what Francesca had thought a Casa Rural should be!<br />Entering the bar I called out, no one came so I tried again louder. Still no one came. Francesca looking around went down steps into a dark room and I followed. We found the light switch, it was the dining room laid with red table cloths. This room only has two tiny barred windows high up that seem never to open and the acid smell from animals being kept for centuries at the rear was very strong!<br />I knew you get used to it after a while chuckle! Francesca never said anything about it but as we came back out she was looking at the dust on the row of unlabeled bottles at the rear of the bar. Being tall she lent over the bar and made a mental note of the cracked sink!<br />"We had better get back to the albergue while we can still get a bed" she said turning and climbing the steps out.<br />I followed saying<br />"Wait a moment, you've got to see the rooms." I was protesting. Then saw the dueña and her family dressed in rough farm clothes and rubber boots coming up the unmade farm track that we would have to leave by tomorrow. She waved to us and called out and welcomed us with a beaming smile. I followed her in again and looked round to see if Francesca had followed, she had so I said to our host in my poor Spanish that we had phoned and asked if we could look at the rooms.<br />"Two?" she inquired and I had to explain we were not married<br />"Solo amigos del camino" I said smiling.<br />"No problema" and she took keys from the wall and we were taken up a flight of wooden stairs and along the passage and shown the two rooms, each had a modern bathroom. Francesca felt the beds and said<br />"I'll take this one" she said "if that is ok?"<br />So we were stopping.<br />"OK I'll take the end one, when do you want to eat"<br />About seven we decided and we arranged to have our washing done by the dueña who advised us she was sorry but she had no dryer. We would at least have clean clothes if we could get them dry by hanging them in our rooms. I had enough clean for one more day except socks. We both showered and I took down the dirty clothes and gave them to the dueña. We would be able to collect them later when we met up in the bar. Francesca joined us and our host took down two small glasses and rinsed them and then got one of the dusty bottles and poured a couple of stiff measures of orujo for us.<br />"On the house to keep out the cold" she smiled.<br />Dinner was served at seven as promised and was good with a choice of meats or fish and the bread home baked. I knew, not only because it tasted good but because I had seen her cook it in the wood oven to the side of the house last time here. Ok not the same bread!!!!<br />I told her I had stopped here before with a crowd of Spaniards and seen her making her bread.<br />"Your chorizo wrapped and cooked inside a roll of bread was fantastic I remember."<br />"I only bake three times a week" she said, "sadly you've arrived on the wrong day."<br />"Never mind I can assure you today's bread is still very good."<br />About half way through our meal we were joined in the restaurant by a nice young couple of peregrinos. We drank a bottle of red, chatted with them and ate a flan for postre then retired, arranging to meet at seven for breakfast.<br />I pinned my washing to the curtains as best I could then went to bed and slept really well.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 33 = approx. 19.0 km Sub Total = 479.1 km Total = 806.0 km well.</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-14416771099078025072007-11-04T19:39:00.000-08:002007-11-04T20:47:53.661-08:0016/06/07 Villafranca del Bierzo to Faba<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdLYxdLwyGh1YnxE3QguUTXDznsilSQIC8aMMXAHJp1sfdNFUeKRznbNO97a-9GBD2g3tBuxKi1poc6eK44Qxfpk_0BWvZbKfzSrq7YamjTluQ_wQZRjfA3mg8J_6BECJzLDy6q-6OFE/s1600-h/05427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdLYxdLwyGh1YnxE3QguUTXDznsilSQIC8aMMXAHJp1sfdNFUeKRznbNO97a-9GBD2g3tBuxKi1poc6eK44Qxfpk_0BWvZbKfzSrq7YamjTluQ_wQZRjfA3mg8J_6BECJzLDy6q-6OFE/s320/05427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129198835095007794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />16/06/07<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Villafranca del Bierzo to Faba<br /><br /></span></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We got unimpressive coffee from a machine in the patio of the albergue. Here in conversation with two young ladies I advised them to take the valley road as I had such vivid memories of pretty gardens, wild flowers, the scent of wild mint and such great scenery before. Francesca and I set off and as we left I took a photo of Villafranca castle but none of the town till we found our way to the bridge over the river. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaduzf74IQT38aU4uMKrF7v6cJzxs_eXu_zCGx2B7iKt-l5YM4VhPEcMTTJklUYAssTgnLcGDUxolQwD_7-NkUOSkQq-F-C0aroBwbXLqjrra88wNJCECvYk4FAqUZk1AEozlu7VVP_U/s1600-h/05428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaduzf74IQT38aU4uMKrF7v6cJzxs_eXu_zCGx2B7iKt-l5YM4VhPEcMTTJklUYAssTgnLcGDUxolQwD_7-NkUOSkQq-F-C0aroBwbXLqjrra88wNJCECvYk4FAqUZk1AEozlu7VVP_U/s320/05428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129199621074023010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOJHM2Gau9lL7ENk3V4VyN699Qw4ocmFMV99VWcgiHLiQi5Tng7xg055LkxcHvw8tuJp2dfPAcoYM_-IvcNDmnSay-axRsRfdgWcVdxvWAiy29gohKsvDMsBuO6eG7GLfIuNZK6sjH3I/s1600-h/05429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOJHM2Gau9lL7ENk3V4VyN699Qw4ocmFMV99VWcgiHLiQi5Tng7xg055LkxcHvw8tuJp2dfPAcoYM_-IvcNDmnSay-axRsRfdgWcVdxvWAiy29gohKsvDMsBuO6eG7GLfIuNZK6sjH3I/s320/05429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129199393440756306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />We soon entered the valley and I had forgotten this first part, it is not so good. The motorway cuts across and with huge bridges and the lush hedgerows yielded fewer wild flowers this year. On a rather dismal morning like today the green was not translucent with sunlight, as it had been before. The high valley walls seemed overpowering and rather oppressive. Francesca too seemed a little subdued. The two girls reminded me of what I had said each time we came across them in one or other of the bars in the little villages as we climbed! Always I replied </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"It will get better" and eventually it does. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The little villages are now sporting albergues and cafes so I was able to drink plenty of coffee as we climbed higher. Lunch was found in two café's!! We found one and they had little food so I had a coffee then as Francesca wouldn't cross with me to the other that had trucks outside I went alone and got a good bocadillo and more coffee and a little dash of cognac for my feet. I returned to Francesca and we left the two girls still sitting waiting to be served at the first café. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"It gets better now" I chided. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It does, the gardens are better from now on but not quite as bright with flowers this year. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkpAhOIs0auywCpaXBZ7t0xhvt5LWgLdJCz0ZaL1GD7aQzCdpaevw3SczRwr2D_Y7U0cv5qxeWmSBG5AU-OoR95JLdV8nnQliWItX_gxTwIvcWQoMcuN_Utl9Xl5BiwjwHyf0kYGbfB4/s1600-h/05430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkpAhOIs0auywCpaXBZ7t0xhvt5LWgLdJCz0ZaL1GD7aQzCdpaevw3SczRwr2D_Y7U0cv5qxeWmSBG5AU-OoR95JLdV8nnQliWItX_gxTwIvcWQoMcuN_Utl9Xl5BiwjwHyf0kYGbfB4/s320/05430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129199964671406706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4KDcbERJU5JLN-y0ro6gmygexJ9TVZLQbC-iIjXkxYfxL61QTzNxW7hwdpdoUgDD4hNuQj5d6OdXuoNnDhGI_LRzkt4etRnVwRJ205V-FKFaO7AstZqTuhDbjJqGt-Vj_q0ecab0nrg/s1600-h/05431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4KDcbERJU5JLN-y0ro6gmygexJ9TVZLQbC-iIjXkxYfxL61QTzNxW7hwdpdoUgDD4hNuQj5d6OdXuoNnDhGI_LRzkt4etRnVwRJ205V-FKFaO7AstZqTuhDbjJqGt-Vj_q0ecab0nrg/s320/05431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129200196599640706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Later we found a little new bakers shop and bought coffee and cake</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and sat outside. It was a pity the wind was so cool but it was nice here in a little sun and the roses lovely where we sat and I text Maisie saying 'All ok so far. Climb valley now. Pos Ruitelan tonight.'</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was missing her.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dWHK1BB2jUy67X3-hHRtZ0JQPseszguzcHD5CVoeTXQdiOE2KYlhwklFITAw7jOY8xjjroAoGyAhm0-rHoqaAo8ibCmfnJRYQmChTzA7cuI_Q0x2uH6PZkjcmWhSjMl9BRJ9bulS8zk/s1600-h/05432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dWHK1BB2jUy67X3-hHRtZ0JQPseszguzcHD5CVoeTXQdiOE2KYlhwklFITAw7jOY8xjjroAoGyAhm0-rHoqaAo8ibCmfnJRYQmChTzA7cuI_Q0x2uH6PZkjcmWhSjMl9BRJ9bulS8zk/s320/05432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129200574556762770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgQZg2EJ3ttNaophkK91ez-5Np4exSVrzOa4McmLpa2epWQR0eE1AurhW7J4ZUfqXHGmzX2BuNf6GjAKjNqHe4KvoD8CK-zF8iVRhb80XoMVcxanTqjGdbzm1CcxqE0PHHuL-LBdJC-Y/s1600-h/05433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgQZg2EJ3ttNaophkK91ez-5Np4exSVrzOa4McmLpa2epWQR0eE1AurhW7J4ZUfqXHGmzX2BuNf6GjAKjNqHe4KvoD8CK-zF8iVRhb80XoMVcxanTqjGdbzm1CcxqE0PHHuL-LBdJC-Y/s320/05433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129200789305127586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAZcCSiOF-SqcWlng6Q1XqtsaYopkvIC1GWRRWYb0E43LwCAvbw_-_N76FtTBvkyYmzEtOS4UhggSYPa7SB9n7VgWoj-iZWy2ufP3XbAc5yqqYpGeGJ20GC3Q-76e0b021b5aKXRRWUs/s1600-h/05436.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAZcCSiOF-SqcWlng6Q1XqtsaYopkvIC1GWRRWYb0E43LwCAvbw_-_N76FtTBvkyYmzEtOS4UhggSYPa7SB9n7VgWoj-iZWy2ufP3XbAc5yqqYpGeGJ20GC3Q-76e0b021b5aKXRRWUs/s320/05436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129201480794862274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIqFeUCDSI3O6GIvhWjxcpMrljKXLmYSojH-Iqjon52AEqkI6sysbc88oyFfjVkCxBfRbd07g83-MGjGNHWN9JTgpRetUw8ieOMqNiSiRPyuMPLCab3FFjOBMK031RJ_6-bgb6rsl2Nw/s1600-h/05434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIqFeUCDSI3O6GIvhWjxcpMrljKXLmYSojH-Iqjon52AEqkI6sysbc88oyFfjVkCxBfRbd07g83-MGjGNHWN9JTgpRetUw8ieOMqNiSiRPyuMPLCab3FFjOBMK031RJ_6-bgb6rsl2Nw/s320/05434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129201227391791794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oNS32Z5cVZhrFYlmHAPIGztItYCA_CkawZ7AIcGVCVcFxVmEI_tbSX1vwt0m-5PkqQRaYEaggNub2uMYRz4RyK6G3S-cHDMwM3ogwesOQBIfX33tsXNGN8iKNraF7Vx3xqZ-d8lR3cI/s1600-h/05435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oNS32Z5cVZhrFYlmHAPIGztItYCA_CkawZ7AIcGVCVcFxVmEI_tbSX1vwt0m-5PkqQRaYEaggNub2uMYRz4RyK6G3S-cHDMwM3ogwesOQBIfX33tsXNGN8iKNraF7Vx3xqZ-d8lR3cI/s200/05435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129201824392245970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwxx_KURpB3IqG9ccsdglT4_K6mOM1H1qUHBj0LJpgetn3v2GixLLGr6GdXvI9vDgDcL6c7RdcyPB0u07MgMjnfro85_9faIEX_BAR1i193IhB-8rVXxYaRp7yA9LSo30ZYfoyJ8MJVk/s1600-h/05437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwxx_KURpB3IqG9ccsdglT4_K6mOM1H1qUHBj0LJpgetn3v2GixLLGr6GdXvI9vDgDcL6c7RdcyPB0u07MgMjnfro85_9faIEX_BAR1i193IhB-8rVXxYaRp7yA9LSo30ZYfoyJ8MJVk/s320/05437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129202129334924002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There were many nice spots as we went on but I missed seeing the one that I will always remember. Back then it was baking hot and we had stopped to rest and have our lunch in a meadow of wild mint under the shade of a grove of plane trees then later stopped for the night in a small albergue in Ruitelán. Now there was hardly a sign of wild m</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">int and I never saw that medow.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Francesca and I passed through Ruitelán and Francesca said she was still fresh enough to keep going, so we carried on to Herrerías. Now the camino started to climb very steeply by a farm track. I remembered this well from before too. That time, very tired, we had met a Spanish man who gave us poems and while translating them from English to Spanish and others from Spanish to English we had hardly noticed the hard climb. This time it was cold and wet with horrible drizzly rain and we were very tired. The mountain path is beautiful but steep, and it felt like 45 degrees as we made our legs move forward.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXOOSWBqaI_nqQv_lKIC8vL_iwC_hN-auNzhOinQfrpCuVGDGm9nP67NgT01q0dqs-7IjNoSiBjdd0RFnKjwDUtfRQX6mSKhfhUiA6V67lUXfLxg5YHneJXl0rfBFUqL76yg8lCtbM6c/s1600-h/05440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXOOSWBqaI_nqQv_lKIC8vL_iwC_hN-auNzhOinQfrpCuVGDGm9nP67NgT01q0dqs-7IjNoSiBjdd0RFnKjwDUtfRQX6mSKhfhUiA6V67lUXfLxg5YHneJXl0rfBFUqL76yg8lCtbM6c/s320/05440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129202644730999538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvetlxylPq39Azx35uVKJMwptR9V1hLrPxxaaDZ2kfPkUKw8MkyJ4myeNIVdQd4e5LcQjfPM4ebosYKk_6a-n8EjEBempux6Qlb6aUiOdfGzZH_Eia2e_Q0oIo-2mGWkscFSkjSTMkeM/s1600-h/05441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvetlxylPq39Azx35uVKJMwptR9V1hLrPxxaaDZ2kfPkUKw8MkyJ4myeNIVdQd4e5LcQjfPM4ebosYKk_6a-n8EjEBempux6Qlb6aUiOdfGzZH_Eia2e_Q0oIo-2mGWkscFSkjSTMkeM/s320/05441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129202902429037314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtdBsTf2o3YQgsohGMvt0mioUBeYbL1jZJ6I3U89FTpfy7IdZMp7pZM8iGtxDmOv-M1JBXeTEWm9gImABEBFcRx-7FYX_rOxG85nRByyrbGiaRFoYW7NkIPbB7wamnNkDcHLj8IC2BrA/s1600-h/05442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtdBsTf2o3YQgsohGMvt0mioUBeYbL1jZJ6I3U89FTpfy7IdZMp7pZM8iGtxDmOv-M1JBXeTEWm9gImABEBFcRx-7FYX_rOxG85nRByyrbGiaRFoYW7NkIPbB7wamnNkDcHLj8IC2BrA/s320/05442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129203387760341778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To tired to chat we each entered a world of our own till at last a track sign said albergue and we took it and came to the edge of a flatter bit where the village is. We sat on a wall and rested while a farmer put his cow in a field. A peregrino came from the village carrying a bottle of wine and said we had to get food for ourselves, as there was no restaurant in the village or in the albergue. We went on to the albergue and were given bunks and Francesca said she would walk back to the village to buy food if I would cook it.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7U2aheZTh-6Kg3yNR5mJma9YeU9wM8XOR2r6EIOnb4i3dtC-tAO6od7oDik9mrOpK5aWUDmzNe4Tt7_EA_4JxF8rRN01PinXFpW7q4Y_TmL5qdzoWqbdPh-0_AKra6LpHidc14N3I7I/s1600-h/05443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7U2aheZTh-6Kg3yNR5mJma9YeU9wM8XOR2r6EIOnb4i3dtC-tAO6od7oDik9mrOpK5aWUDmzNe4Tt7_EA_4JxF8rRN01PinXFpW7q4Y_TmL5qdzoWqbdPh-0_AKra6LpHidc14N3I7I/s320/05443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129203903156417314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6qygOpDnO26COelUOpEzRraHX3izFjs3gs0gmjVLs14PGRDSElZ9hJaY44YPz8l52ADKrcrbEhd9huIKVokhW53rOyZQg6v871DpFv7Mw-D3uHZTBXGePJvgp03ug1_f6vvK3MKb7Kc/s1600-h/05444.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6qygOpDnO26COelUOpEzRraHX3izFjs3gs0gmjVLs14PGRDSElZ9hJaY44YPz8l52ADKrcrbEhd9huIKVokhW53rOyZQg6v871DpFv7Mw-D3uHZTBXGePJvgp03ug1_f6vvK3MKb7Kc/s320/05444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129204203804128050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />The French ladies with the donkey arrived and they took accommodation too. Their old donkey had to stand outside but there was plenty of grass for it to eat. Francesca could only get a tin of sardine's, a bottle of wine, bread and a few other bits but it would have to do. In the meantime we tried to dry boots and socks and our rain gear. The boots fared the best because we stuffed them with newspapers. We did no washing, as it would never dry here. Francesca slept while I cooked soup and made some pimientas de Pidón and passed them around. It's like playing Russian roulette - every now and again there is a hot one. A Chilean lady got the only one this time, chuckle. Francesca joined us and we passed around the wine. The chap that I had told off for making a noise in Villafranca was there and I noted he took a big glass!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 32 = approx. 25.6 km Sub Total = 455.2 km Total = 787.3 km</span> </div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-25288027532305113632007-10-31T02:59:00.000-07:002007-11-04T20:56:16.825-08:0015/06/07 Molinaseca to Villafranca del Bierzo<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">15/06/07</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Molinaseca to Villafranca del Bierzo</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Francesca and I set off together along the road and I never saw the old albergue that I had stopped at before, maybe it's there but if so I never recognised it. I remember there was rows of tents for overflow in the grounds alongside. Perhaps that is now built on and was the reason I never saw it. It was cold but we could see the sun now and again. </span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggh0Ml7eEkaIMnyjqdxVDJceumAlB8pqr7vUI7YzLcbpgL5SKn5Z1QBpmlri5bKsHMz5uZhrPofc-MvXw4lvmUUh9nGrJbFFkwERTy-xdyMctCJsHlHos5olbc4XLlliYSNCNnCuN-ho/s1600-h/05412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggh0Ml7eEkaIMnyjqdxVDJceumAlB8pqr7vUI7YzLcbpgL5SKn5Z1QBpmlri5bKsHMz5uZhrPofc-MvXw4lvmUUh9nGrJbFFkwERTy-xdyMctCJsHlHos5olbc4XLlliYSNCNnCuN-ho/s200/05412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127759162057388194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We passed the small village of Campo and I think we had a coffee here but the first highlight of today was about 8 k from our starting point when we came into Ponferrada and this town has a wonderful Templas castle. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw9Pl0U2yBShLXUJXzv-MeUvCP-r-as0zGZ2CZkq7YTT1_FCkAZrS45epuAYhPcGYT0t-S1KrsbOyVcRAOH4CRu-qe_JhRQC3zpDL0xbzFf-Luzg607FYNRYmitC6KXKX5DYBHE6M3ss/s1600-h/05413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw9Pl0U2yBShLXUJXzv-MeUvCP-r-as0zGZ2CZkq7YTT1_FCkAZrS45epuAYhPcGYT0t-S1KrsbOyVcRAOH4CRu-qe_JhRQC3zpDL0xbzFf-Luzg607FYNRYmitC6KXKX5DYBHE6M3ss/s320/05413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127759587259150514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was shocked at the work that was going on but had to admit it still is the most incredible building. As far as I could understand they are building inside the castle itself, we tried to look inside but were turned away.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHyuZp0xcAEiDBMxwpfk04nNDeZ4xUp4uXq_BdX9TYiT5D9H2iZGQTeFu9eoqVK4D0j4iTPXhvFLjq2_qfbl_BpLjl_hwced2VPvRkJzFNj5w1osIHkCnJH9sZh4yujawR0dfJjNyKl0/s1600-h/05414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHyuZp0xcAEiDBMxwpfk04nNDeZ4xUp4uXq_BdX9TYiT5D9H2iZGQTeFu9eoqVK4D0j4iTPXhvFLjq2_qfbl_BpLjl_hwced2VPvRkJzFNj5w1osIHkCnJH9sZh4yujawR0dfJjNyKl0/s400/05414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127759844957188290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFWy6wawMl494YtBd8UPb3sVbuPKBLlvZnIWMGtkCh6YwkVnRTKTmmVGnmsQNOcF0ICzPx_iVbYJy3UymG9wtwLeRsWcRjhHj0xnht4hzT6uc4Ro2OvsBLg9791MeQpNUL8TDaIlgfJ4/s1600-h/05415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFWy6wawMl494YtBd8UPb3sVbuPKBLlvZnIWMGtkCh6YwkVnRTKTmmVGnmsQNOcF0ICzPx_iVbYJy3UymG9wtwLeRsWcRjhHj0xnht4hzT6uc4Ro2OvsBLg9791MeQpNUL8TDaIlgfJ4/s400/05415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127760600871432418" border="0" /></a><br />After taking some great photos we skirted the walls to the other side of town. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQBXR-k7EiuHbJ3ASA1VXH0H2T-tCRb5oMfuc_L-bKPxsM3XcKbm-kvqX7W5ia4EyFgjYjl_VNrjLUPBghIeugUtX5VWIW5dtNovKZ-FFJayCy8cg3F73o9RwLBTjF4VPElQhsbfpsA/s1600-h/05416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQBXR-k7EiuHbJ3ASA1VXH0H2T-tCRb5oMfuc_L-bKPxsM3XcKbm-kvqX7W5ia4EyFgjYjl_VNrjLUPBghIeugUtX5VWIW5dtNovKZ-FFJayCy8cg3F73o9RwLBTjF4VPElQhsbfpsA/s320/05416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127760875749339378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We had a job to find our way and would have got really lost had not a kind workman over the opposite side of the busy intersection called out to us to cross over and take another road where we found the arrows again. Next I remember a small village on the top of a hill and here we had to go through a tunnel in the building and then old nunnery gardens. Huertas de Sacramento I believe it's called. We stopped and had a drink and rested and massaged and treated my ankle here, then went on. My ankle was giving me a lot of trouble and I had to keep stopping and massaging it and I was worried if it was going to keep this up as we still had a long way to go. The next stop would have been Columbrianos, here we turned from the track into the square. I took a photo <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFULRVaidv5ECZ2CtVKqoOvFOpu8LHmxWPPSDwgFSD9ObnctXHqwIS6HrWAnbCK-Vc0voWcYyAwZc9C8y9geASCO260PD6zOdmuqV8_q5V1IzHjSdA9v4KSIyZS6IceiPNpiPCPEZPz3M/s1600-h/05417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFULRVaidv5ECZ2CtVKqoOvFOpu8LHmxWPPSDwgFSD9ObnctXHqwIS6HrWAnbCK-Vc0voWcYyAwZc9C8y9geASCO260PD6zOdmuqV8_q5V1IzHjSdA9v4KSIyZS6IceiPNpiPCPEZPz3M/s320/05417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127761425505153282" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">of the superb wood carved statue of a typical peasant lady and child there then we went to find a bakers shop for bread and cakes. Francesca was waiting while I was being served.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was in the shop window she saw it, a huge great big pink Willie complete with liberal cream decoration!!! Was it a birthday cake, errr wedding cake or to celebrate the honeymoon, I have no idea. Francesca had to grab the nearest person and make them look and we were all laughing fit to burst as we came out and even then Francesca had to grab a fellow peregrino from the street and made him go with her to take a look. I have never seen such an unusual cake to say the least. Unfortunately I never thought about taking a photo till we were some way out of town and it was too late!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVm2ZEMzpspcVnERCeRs44kyYVBGWpiVlVgS7jalazf3W-O3AYY-79Hpy6dzD6lwGq5HRhV2OnjpZtFTSRn2npyGzqw0suqrPWr0xMA3yg0xj-K9ZfkTDP7FrvI2_d8twwnScqslkXu4/s1600-h/05418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVm2ZEMzpspcVnERCeRs44kyYVBGWpiVlVgS7jalazf3W-O3AYY-79Hpy6dzD6lwGq5HRhV2OnjpZtFTSRn2npyGzqw0suqrPWr0xMA3yg0xj-K9ZfkTDP7FrvI2_d8twwnScqslkXu4/s320/05418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127766721199829442" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr1D9wOJJJRpnCf90sOPTYk2RXpuEcpC4IVgXHhxD7pFB55GFt2BuEJyeMy4ivMMnnVCTjn78hiJE2kmjFDTK44UOvTFChiVs8Va-VrvMgxDCEKPTIOxg72dF-NThHi17axH9tDmCGEw/s1600-h/05419B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr1D9wOJJJRpnCf90sOPTYk2RXpuEcpC4IVgXHhxD7pFB55GFt2BuEJyeMy4ivMMnnVCTjn78hiJE2kmjFDTK44UOvTFChiVs8Va-VrvMgxDCEKPTIOxg72dF-NThHi17axH9tDmCGEw/s320/05419B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127767034732442066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My ankle still hurt like hell but would soon feel better each time when we rested. I had a 103 brandy at one café for 'medicinal purposes' and after that it let me go on till the end of the day with no pain!<br /><br />Francesca said in disgust on tasting the 103,</span><br />"Yuk! That’s not Brandy!" .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfo7vO8-bS9lWz1l_iZObVxskSg4FzElJi-zUtDzqm10fEN008rTtdfuuFHCALa6VH5gR1bVLVpcRaB-Q9PpqHWzIQq7Vyw0n-gL5b5b-jO03mQOrrp4gWzOfyWJjFGpjGfVZ06EW_Qc/s1600-h/05419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfo7vO8-bS9lWz1l_iZObVxskSg4FzElJi-zUtDzqm10fEN008rTtdfuuFHCALa6VH5gR1bVLVpcRaB-Q9PpqHWzIQq7Vyw0n-gL5b5b-jO03mQOrrp4gWzOfyWJjFGpjGfVZ06EW_Qc/s200/05419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127772708384240114" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't care it worked for me. At one point we were walking on a tarmac road, that went to Villafranca but on my insistence we followed the arrows and they took us way out through the vineyards and over some lovely country <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegVMtrzR1V4SaZjUvkQQhaWFGtscUUksE2mEHNnE5zDyh8SPHDiUezt02FauKLNVXE9STnNNVhR1s4RDanoynNfRn0DYjmvIuvJLX8YsFzm-biIOLXYRaheAqZt2gPVi5y7MeMLLYPG8/s1600-h/05420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegVMtrzR1V4SaZjUvkQQhaWFGtscUUksE2mEHNnE5zDyh8SPHDiUezt02FauKLNVXE9STnNNVhR1s4RDanoynNfRn0DYjmvIuvJLX8YsFzm-biIOLXYRaheAqZt2gPVi5y7MeMLLYPG8/s320/05420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127763164966908226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and on to a tiny village, one I certainty had never seen before. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Vi3Y-0UB6TGEgsZesW3-N7BHJAqEJYR26HArZqiUv3uG6plo13BsY0RD2ljJkFKtfKupq0lN-0bmZDGMnJGFSQFNrdlluAymEpI3AlNAmbKreo1j-h88A3P3aXDXMK21IDEmOikyvg/s1600-h/05422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Vi3Y-0UB6TGEgsZesW3-N7BHJAqEJYR26HArZqiUv3uG6plo13BsY0RD2ljJkFKtfKupq0lN-0bmZDGMnJGFSQFNrdlluAymEpI3AlNAmbKreo1j-h88A3P3aXDXMK21IDEmOikyvg/s200/05422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127763955240890722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi5vVzS-fn0MnKcFAdO14UsQtxgojM1wjETCHEUxXTl5vZTOaPef7qEo_s1q4Qgx0FkUetCTePuPZFgZ4670Okx4EZtno5_JT8sujFBDERtbrnuyIFSdaTX_ZsyUXMNFM_FvBk9MerN4/s1600-h/05421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi5vVzS-fn0MnKcFAdO14UsQtxgojM1wjETCHEUxXTl5vZTOaPef7qEo_s1q4Qgx0FkUetCTePuPZFgZ4670Okx4EZtno5_JT8sujFBDERtbrnuyIFSdaTX_ZsyUXMNFM_FvBk9MerN4/s400/05421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127763551513964882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKko6Zyj3ks-r7HGM24zS2shX3ApTFf-RA3UwVdzBR4HdHy9nzDpf8PTjiB-qRxIwKZjQ77NUBl4rzV9p3qPTCzkWMrJP-PPFD_80dQHmAOMMS_2t0Mv-0hFHs8-eySzVHpODMyfRVc_g/s1600-h/05424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKko6Zyj3ks-r7HGM24zS2shX3ApTFf-RA3UwVdzBR4HdHy9nzDpf8PTjiB-qRxIwKZjQ77NUBl4rzV9p3qPTCzkWMrJP-PPFD_80dQHmAOMMS_2t0Mv-0hFHs8-eySzVHpODMyfRVc_g/s320/05424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127770874433204706" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was enchanting and unspoilt. We were not too sure we were on the right track as the arrows had been few and far between. As you know Francesca had wanted to keep on the main road, it had been my idea to keep following arrows and we were both tired now and had no idea how much further we had to go.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePRqok9lftdR4PXRP6iSZg15pd74_zHJQNCIYSDyR9kEuPW13AqiLdJBG58xi9zn2iPu_S8vjteyUbePPRv4h_ghF5e_yxcmEYb5ECFS2f_uM_IhIoGVwCeGQ_DOf45udCKB33tA2kVs/s1600-h/05423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePRqok9lftdR4PXRP6iSZg15pd74_zHJQNCIYSDyR9kEuPW13AqiLdJBG58xi9zn2iPu_S8vjteyUbePPRv4h_ghF5e_yxcmEYb5ECFS2f_uM_IhIoGVwCeGQ_DOf45udCKB33tA2kVs/s320/05423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127765037572649362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAe3ZjUlXb1TYqxdkCH0Gz40fz_Y8WdnYPuHpKZQD54lamtPC0AJ0mpMLEk8bRCbAdQEj_DyH77ZonRde3q8en8VgNU7J0iGwu7wU77REecqxNXvLmZ-8WzG0QxwU4gLMI3aPn1d6gq4/s1600-h/05426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAe3ZjUlXb1TYqxdkCH0Gz40fz_Y8WdnYPuHpKZQD54lamtPC0AJ0mpMLEk8bRCbAdQEj_DyH77ZonRde3q8en8VgNU7J0iGwu7wU77REecqxNXvLmZ-8WzG0QxwU4gLMI3aPn1d6gq4/s320/05426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127765406939836834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She, like me, did love the chance to see this old village though and the weather was good to us today and we enjoyed it immensely, although it must have been 35 km's we had walked by the time we strolled into Villafranca.<br /><br />I had stopped in the first albergue last time so now we went a little further and found the very old one by a little church near the top of the hill, most of the town being down from here and in the bottom of the valley near the river.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Everyone was told by Francesca how we had come the long way!! It was crowded and bustling with peregrinos but we got issued bunks and had a shower, it was quite primitive and we decided to eat in town. Clean and refreshed we walked down there and hunted for a restaurant. As always we couldn't find much open at this time of day. It's a lovely old town.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleaz1ntVi2DdrElB2UOamZXfnXaZdE9RG-5MhhNdEfF3PKjzSOj0r2Wm8cOQFHEAAE6xRHbNow-BhjP4rBNOUkI1cPDD66CYlGlCScyJVPGFZi5uHjEyq_XJRflcvgUICOlu5q5oiPME/s1600-h/05427B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleaz1ntVi2DdrElB2UOamZXfnXaZdE9RG-5MhhNdEfF3PKjzSOj0r2Wm8cOQFHEAAE6xRHbNow-BhjP4rBNOUkI1cPDD66CYlGlCScyJVPGFZi5uHjEyq_XJRflcvgUICOlu5q5oiPME/s320/05427B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129215375014064962" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We got a good look round as I got some cash from a 'hole in the wall'</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and we finished up walking back into the main square. We found a table and had a couple of beers sitting outside in the sun. Laughing and chatting we ordered a nice meal and a bottle of wine right here in the plaza. We were both quite inebriated when we set out to return and we took one of my short cuts! It had been four years since I had last walked the narrow streets of this old town, they can be quite confusing! We now found ourselves at the top of a hill and could see across the wide gully (barranco) to the albergue. Not far as the crow flies! Remember we had already walked 35 km today, with legs like jelly we took the steep road down and at the bottom we decided (Francesca will say I decided) the shortest way was to climb the steep grassy bank up to the road at the top. Well it probably wasn't all that far, but it was very, very steep and with stinging nettles in places. Not only that, we both had a fit of the giggles as we climbed and slipped then climbed again. Francesca was quite sure now she would never follow an Australian again! At last we reached the top and walked the last few yards on the road back to the albergue. Having brushed our teeth we retired to our bunks in the packed little dorm with the creaky and dangerous wooden staircase, I might add, down which you have to go to get out to the toilets, God help them if ever there's a fire.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was probably the wine - I of course had to risk them twice in the night! When returning the last time I must have fallen asleep on my back, because I now awoke wondering why my pillow was bouncing up and down like a mad thing! We were so packed in, the next bunk with a young lady peregrina in it was head to head with mine and I must have been snoring like a train and this was her way to make me turn over, chuckle! Well I had wanted to do that so many times to others, how could I complain!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 31 = approx. 30.5 km Sub Total = 429.6 km Total = 761.7 km</span></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-70903510717213273482007-10-26T23:50:00.000-07:002007-10-28T03:25:43.877-07:0014/06/07 Fuencebadón to Molinaseca<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14/06/07<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Fuencebadón to Molinaseca</span><br /></div><br />Yes, first things first we walked back downhill to get that breakfast and we were not disappointed. But it was pouring with rain as we left to climb back up and onto the camino. The drizzling rain and cold got worse as we climbed higher, but the view was superb. It then brightened up a bit and we stopped and sat on the bank to rest a while and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC4LXR-bsuZ7m_Je6RG9HNBpD8SZtjZ-Uga_7iN-vUrf1wdA9vXHy4yzoHV-xOkMd0lw3IYHhzEooSEmv9xWJ5RxMGmvJ2PEs7Dy2buKwcRUy4mducM51jVg-Oa3TaGjgrnktRoF2fYc/s1600-h/05389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC4LXR-bsuZ7m_Je6RG9HNBpD8SZtjZ-Uga_7iN-vUrf1wdA9vXHy4yzoHV-xOkMd0lw3IYHhzEooSEmv9xWJ5RxMGmvJ2PEs7Dy2buKwcRUy4mducM51jVg-Oa3TaGjgrnktRoF2fYc/s200/05389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125907571591311154" border="0" /></a>to absorb the view. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fhjZMudILUK2DfWm6p_PctquRgyPTuRmLt5jLty2da_RxsJkY1p5f07dmMHVpInInBobENDVu78tXNmwZedez70YmctmaDUbhzcM2uKGCotbwSHAJZYfaQawp8IGLY-thckttRrcqEA/s1600-h/05388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fhjZMudILUK2DfWm6p_PctquRgyPTuRmLt5jLty2da_RxsJkY1p5f07dmMHVpInInBobENDVu78tXNmwZedez70YmctmaDUbhzcM2uKGCotbwSHAJZYfaQawp8IGLY-thckttRrcqEA/s200/05388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125907279533535010" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe-d03-uWRh7kuP7H_Zr7ECtBf1CYppzX3EUPEbpzp_vQD8mbd2YQ-Emt1lfIMHIaDFDtV7LuRrA1-J0-eDRhB32drsOSIyInCRod-Ra0bW5D_iuS_gpYJ1cS3WP57t_sjMqY28cJ7I4/s1600-h/05390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe-d03-uWRh7kuP7H_Zr7ECtBf1CYppzX3EUPEbpzp_vQD8mbd2YQ-Emt1lfIMHIaDFDtV7LuRrA1-J0-eDRhB32drsOSIyInCRod-Ra0bW5D_iuS_gpYJ1cS3WP57t_sjMqY28cJ7I4/s320/05390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125907855059152706" border="0" /></a><br />The heather and wild flowers were so pretty, although the path had been widened in many places scarring the edges. It would take many years for nature to repair them but it would succeed I am sure. I preferred to remember it as I saw it just four years ago, but at least this time my camera was working and it was kept in use for most of today. I had picked up a small smooth pebble some days ago and today I would leave it at the iron cross that we knew was at the top of this mountain.<br />It is said that this might have been the site of an altar dedicated to the Roman God, Mercury (God of caminos), hence the iron cross! A hermit is said to have spent his whole life giving protection and shelter to travellers here. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3NW0yCfsW8JEuR1dygZ-sLeWmHwELfF38ikZIhq5KSgcH75YDJiI-mBqq47BxMR2gq3VU2XYuWZX5oW4X35H8D4kU32a1TyBLqFj-nFp5ZNfQiUQRgbDWh-kNRzkWdwoEC0mGrU6UeQ/s1600-h/05391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3NW0yCfsW8JEuR1dygZ-sLeWmHwELfF38ikZIhq5KSgcH75YDJiI-mBqq47BxMR2gq3VU2XYuWZX5oW4X35H8D4kU32a1TyBLqFj-nFp5ZNfQiUQRgbDWh-kNRzkWdwoEC0mGrU6UeQ/s200/05391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125908177181699922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO-9lxNPXL6NOM2eHr1bYn8oKeuq5gRA7y3nzNK01Lb9MFfuSBWJ8-MT-QhG9VTSg7kpzo284KfFU9L-SszAXfKWJfYqp8gkTW9Vv_fhbl5FcIWpOSItLKH97cjlmWcZrlY6ifEUVaVk/s1600-h/05393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO-9lxNPXL6NOM2eHr1bYn8oKeuq5gRA7y3nzNK01Lb9MFfuSBWJ8-MT-QhG9VTSg7kpzo284KfFU9L-SszAXfKWJfYqp8gkTW9Vv_fhbl5FcIWpOSItLKH97cjlmWcZrlY6ifEUVaVk/s200/05393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125908413404901218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span>It was cold and wet today - what must it be like in the winter, I thought as we arrived. I left my pebble at the base of the pole as I had done with a large white piece of alabaster last time, and hopefully leaving my problems with it as well as I have been told that is what is supposed to happen! I stood in thought for a moment and requested protection for the rest my trip too. This has been a hard trip at times. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVdb_bxAn-0mwygfs9bkbo9a-LXCGY2eA9VmlZb8eixkJUtFcR6b0evKS7AnlO8wsUyVUpQJilFZ9jW6IP0rBVH6i0r33N9EUOt-xInJKdsEr8jy-EG6sBYzJmPM8rvalVBTX1NKsTj4/s1600-h/05395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVdb_bxAn-0mwygfs9bkbo9a-LXCGY2eA9VmlZb8eixkJUtFcR6b0evKS7AnlO8wsUyVUpQJilFZ9jW6IP0rBVH6i0r33N9EUOt-xInJKdsEr8jy-EG6sBYzJmPM8rvalVBTX1NKsTj4/s200/05395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125909293873196930" border="0" /></a> I now left <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9t-nhn68Wot25B0PtbkvGs-Ph7DKdHxjRUISotE8h5u0que6POgYelfPOZyKhyphenhyphenggw8tnKxOz42m9Jdl5m2lcjhXUzAM1jetPwfLGSmRYj57IG9yJ0nyidGmotFIrXS1uIl82GtLWzhE/s1600-h/05396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9t-nhn68Wot25B0PtbkvGs-Ph7DKdHxjRUISotE8h5u0que6POgYelfPOZyKhyphenhyphenggw8tnKxOz42m9Jdl5m2lcjhXUzAM1jetPwfLGSmRYj57IG9yJ0nyidGmotFIrXS1uIl82GtLWzhE/s200/05396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125909577341038482" border="0" /></a>Francesca to do the same, and saw she was very moved by the experience for there were tears in her eyes when she came over to the porch where we were standing for shelter at the small ermita afterwards, and stood apart from us. I had discovered Roser here and she seemed to know nothing of the placing of stones but on hearing of it from me picked up a stone and she too left the pile just that little bit higher. I noticed how everyone stepped carefully over the stones and wood left in front of the ermita in the shape of a big heart!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78gzs3hVtemexG53XCQdtwwMzOMGNeiwq6SxEQ8bfXrTlPlIO2UOpUvAXP2eKJC1Vm5Ibj2jfbDJ5zhwq9hDRCAeIR2Pu94T_nnZ4qDDCFxuluu6Ct8UURAFflIGQwMrt3JBJWmpbqh0/s1600-h/05392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78gzs3hVtemexG53XCQdtwwMzOMGNeiwq6SxEQ8bfXrTlPlIO2UOpUvAXP2eKJC1Vm5Ibj2jfbDJ5zhwq9hDRCAeIR2Pu94T_nnZ4qDDCFxuluu6Ct8UURAFflIGQwMrt3JBJWmpbqh0/s400/05392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125909955298160546" border="0" /></a><br />The wet mist and cold continued as Francesca and I set off again across this beautiful high country, now following the telegraph wires.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNZz4V5NFLF3w_W_16vMljoP38ijlR9drtxBkdXEwNvBm3h8VJ8bm5B6kwjsQbQNqWx8iaxXzm6YV5bBIq5L-ZOlzJzj_7n3iLpUcz_nHmJ2aA3cCBrElMNHbd4s0KmGnmCQ9X2rn3CM/s1600-h/05397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNZz4V5NFLF3w_W_16vMljoP38ijlR9drtxBkdXEwNvBm3h8VJ8bm5B6kwjsQbQNqWx8iaxXzm6YV5bBIq5L-ZOlzJzj_7n3iLpUcz_nHmJ2aA3cCBrElMNHbd4s0KmGnmCQ9X2rn3CM/s400/05397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125910582363385778" border="0" /></a><br />We descended a little to the road and in two kilometres we found the crude shelter of Tomas in the deserted village of Manjarín, he is today's modern hermit! He gives shelter and coffee for a donation and the place was packed as we went in to see and risk a cup of his strong black brew. Last time my Spanish companion would not look in, as she had insisted it was filthy, this time to my surprise my new companion Francesca never even mentioned it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5lAHVjDSahOA1Cm5U0E81WfVwI6b3cUn4X2D8XM_imGHaZzdJuwFBQ1d1Ox5hqWoJCAqglgNlyzonqWvQpek8hfhcTNeDw2I7wZcAWOBZpc0LbLY6-DR8YE6aVt2xYhyKrc_YIL9Zcc/s1600-h/05399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5lAHVjDSahOA1Cm5U0E81WfVwI6b3cUn4X2D8XM_imGHaZzdJuwFBQ1d1Ox5hqWoJCAqglgNlyzonqWvQpek8hfhcTNeDw2I7wZcAWOBZpc0LbLY6-DR8YE6aVt2xYhyKrc_YIL9Zcc/s400/05399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125910921665802178" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />Tomas's coffee was indeed very black but I survived it and it warmed me well. What a tough existence for him sat up here all the time, sun, rain, and snow with no amenities, a real Knight Templa.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6QnWd1p0IQr8xPCN4lMWnCk_GCZWlhRMOYXVUmBrVptRqwlz-H-009oO8XpFZyaIMJQx1oCa_SyDM2cD-Eyl4xcIWQGVRNgQ4isvLOikGZ2rnj_eaQMkNaQbHsYyctAYzt5_6ioGr4E/s1600-h/05400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6QnWd1p0IQr8xPCN4lMWnCk_GCZWlhRMOYXVUmBrVptRqwlz-H-009oO8XpFZyaIMJQx1oCa_SyDM2cD-Eyl4xcIWQGVRNgQ4isvLOikGZ2rnj_eaQMkNaQbHsYyctAYzt5_6ioGr4E/s400/05400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125911664695144402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Francesca bought a metal hat badge from Tomas depicting the iron cross on it and as we set off again she kindly gave it to me!<br />"So I can now honestly say I have been given the iron cross!" I joked<br />She also confided in me that she had visited a clairvoyant before she came on Camino and had been told by her,<br />"I can see a man with flowers round his hat standing behind you."<br />Francesca went on to say<br />"As you are always with a wildflower stuck in your hat and spend so much time looking at them, that would have been you I suppose!"<br />I liked Francesca very much, we seemed to have a common bond of friendship but nothing more, I just liked her company.<br /><br />The road went downhill a bit but soon we could see that we would shortly climb to reach the highest point of the Camino at 1520 meters. The track skirts a telecommunication base of the defence ministry. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi5Jtx3Gc8LRnHKeARbRlGbB7J8X5E9-Ki7-0To_fG9LMWrfG4UXCv8ncBlq9I0YamsSoFe9tF9QOWOJmMAKhaMgjDkNwYb1yUtO6G0fiXRliqpdTKvwGzVHw9tfEjqp4Ed19A_XEBBk/s1600-h/05403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi5Jtx3Gc8LRnHKeARbRlGbB7J8X5E9-Ki7-0To_fG9LMWrfG4UXCv8ncBlq9I0YamsSoFe9tF9QOWOJmMAKhaMgjDkNwYb1yUtO6G0fiXRliqpdTKvwGzVHw9tfEjqp4Ed19A_XEBBk/s200/05403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125912386249650146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDd92AwIZLP5Lv0jT0qaCKJEXzFo9iXdCgUCE2FwFi7RLC0pajr5kBCFX4SdHWVurnm2BERgZbZxrQA1JQiqb-RACG08IKR9OkLh9A0NVn3Fudi7x4d_nc76a3EVRXi85QhknbWOK4eQ/s1600-h/05404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDd92AwIZLP5Lv0jT0qaCKJEXzFo9iXdCgUCE2FwFi7RLC0pajr5kBCFX4SdHWVurnm2BERgZbZxrQA1JQiqb-RACG08IKR9OkLh9A0NVn3Fudi7x4d_nc76a3EVRXi85QhknbWOK4eQ/s200/05404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125912635357753330" border="0" /></a><br />"It's all down hill from here" I joked, with the cold wind flapping and the damp still penetrating our clothes. The rain eased in a while and it was nice for a time and we sat on some rocks in a valley with an incredible view and ate bananas that somehow had survived today's journey. Here came a glorious rainbow I remember that gave even more splendour to the view.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19GqbKkI6lH78uF0hFKL_Y93zMgkQdTBw7-rN90IFU1xfWJK5zN4tbXbGPjpC7DTI3CEBXtJWD7TUGsnAM7nLJReCYdD3uFbLk0s8FpFSj8nTnsz9wazFzMN5mH-Y0KOohR6CfqYqedk/s1600-h/05405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19GqbKkI6lH78uF0hFKL_Y93zMgkQdTBw7-rN90IFU1xfWJK5zN4tbXbGPjpC7DTI3CEBXtJWD7TUGsnAM7nLJReCYdD3uFbLk0s8FpFSj8nTnsz9wazFzMN5mH-Y0KOohR6CfqYqedk/s400/05405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125913313962586130" border="0" /></a>We had cake and another hot coffee and cognac in a crowded bar in the tiny village of El Acbo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZQDXy3ZTqC42xTOE48amtvKPzHewjk1HJAdYpxGqNQ7wfa2NtlDNyu5qXiXflz8KKRGAbYsSVih61YpwelFSF9nEDcjnhM_B9E6TyVxcIJgukfaM4dWDX2Q6n43pClMBUb-af2n6kgE/s1600-h/05408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZQDXy3ZTqC42xTOE48amtvKPzHewjk1HJAdYpxGqNQ7wfa2NtlDNyu5qXiXflz8KKRGAbYsSVih61YpwelFSF9nEDcjnhM_B9E6TyVxcIJgukfaM4dWDX2Q6n43pClMBUb-af2n6kgE/s200/05408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125914039812059186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNrJI-TkKOvnV3xgMh6wKst8qajlsxsy8sGGtTkvuThzNjt5w0iIl6GA3rsgzbWmmBnYLcJtc3oRF1VNSXEsXe4loGFtvHTRMtcS8mrQo6I3ytpQl8u5m3_DpoNxJ1jdv8yHo5lYLP1c/s1600-h/05407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNrJI-TkKOvnV3xgMh6wKst8qajlsxsy8sGGtTkvuThzNjt5w0iIl6GA3rsgzbWmmBnYLcJtc3oRF1VNSXEsXe4loGFtvHTRMtcS8mrQo6I3ytpQl8u5m3_DpoNxJ1jdv8yHo5lYLP1c/s200/05407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125913816473759778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESApUNwHrZTkA0K_dxxJnI2B1tqkShdINep80UVlaVGDZPVMkqsBD12qT6ijsphrWlxjzYQwGQ7VrqYzWrsAZYQgSL92k4Ry6V0-3Y3btsBqlSYnqt-y6BSiGsKtttMeBSsXGmUqmeSg/s1600-h/05406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESApUNwHrZTkA0K_dxxJnI2B1tqkShdINep80UVlaVGDZPVMkqsBD12qT6ijsphrWlxjzYQwGQ7VrqYzWrsAZYQgSL92k4Ry6V0-3Y3btsBqlSYnqt-y6BSiGsKtttMeBSsXGmUqmeSg/s400/05406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125914529438330962" border="0" /></a><br />Leaving here, next came Riego de Ambrós. This is an even smaller hamlet and as you leave the village the path descends into a steep and slippery gully (baranco). The narrow path was muddy with smooth rocky patches and water running over them and on down into the stream at the bottom of the gully. That’s right at the bottom is, naturally, a stream, but no bridge! We have to cross it. The water is filthy from the cattle and maybe human effluence that comes from the village above, and is today increased by rain run off. The plants seem to like this of course and it's all very overgrown with tall weeds, shrubs and trees.<br />It was raining and water was dripping from every branch we touched as we got near the stream. Owing to the rain the stream was running deep, I was in front leading the way and it was hard to find a crossing place. I did see a stone just under the surface to put one foot on and jumped the rest and landed on the opposite muddy bank. My boots were damp before, now they were muddy too as I took a pace or two up the path on the other side. Francesca didn't like the look of my choice of crossing place and worked her way down stream a bit and decided to cross there. There were a few more trees to hold onto to start with but she didn't quite get her foot on the muddy bank but instead found a fallen branch just under the surface of the stream. Realising she's getting a wet foot she quickly attempted to get the other foot onto the opposite bank, and catch her balance but the first foot slipped off into the water and she went forward down in the horrible smelly mud!<br />I'd tried to grab her but with my big pack on and my hands holding my sticks that had helped me balance, I had been unable to do much, other than to offer her a helping hand to pull her up afterwards. Luckily her big long grey waterproof cape had protected her main clothes. Francesca, grimacing, splashed water up onto the cape to wash the worst off, while I never helped much by chuckling. I think she forgave me!<br />In 2003 I had loved this part of my journey and have many fond memories. I was looking forward to see again the ancient giant chestnut tree (castaña) that five of us had held hands around and hugged. It is the biggest in a ring of five or more massive trees, but when we arrived today the rain was falling, the grass was all wet where we had sat and rested. The trees themselves looked sorry and sad this year, maybe fire had ravaged them, I don't know. The hedge that I had passed through on my way to find scrumptious cherries for my companions while they still slept out the heat of the day, was now dilapidated and there were no cherries! Sometimes you should never go back to a place, I patted the tree and hurried after my companion. Life moves on.<br /><br />As we came lower the air warmed up and the sun came out, and there was but little breeze. We could see Molinaseca at the bottom of the valley and the winding road leading to it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-APsb_XzEhZtZy0rjED6UiRWgmuSQh2s77j-rxbFHiZkrQK5lNoBc7B91ApGr9_LaR8X0aOU6V-WTp_07q5yOxVvfWGBfukoKHdd1d7b7QWMxRDI6bU-F19qmrScZxvG3ko5aKlH8H8/s1600-h/05409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-APsb_XzEhZtZy0rjED6UiRWgmuSQh2s77j-rxbFHiZkrQK5lNoBc7B91ApGr9_LaR8X0aOU6V-WTp_07q5yOxVvfWGBfukoKHdd1d7b7QWMxRDI6bU-F19qmrScZxvG3ko5aKlH8H8/s320/05409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125914911690420322" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAPxrMHAJZdFeBE-EaSUAScRjto-LPINSaRJaPSzdOFi2fDrZ3QWM1Iv6NF97_2ILOvlv8a3r170pOOFH2UnBZZhnWZ5_A1o1lqIPgXpzVxMwH5xa5smwa-S9RCTkhvAv2x0K6SdHQYI/s1600-h/05410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAPxrMHAJZdFeBE-EaSUAScRjto-LPINSaRJaPSzdOFi2fDrZ3QWM1Iv6NF97_2ILOvlv8a3r170pOOFH2UnBZZhnWZ5_A1o1lqIPgXpzVxMwH5xa5smwa-S9RCTkhvAv2x0K6SdHQYI/s320/05410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125915126438785138" border="0" /></a>We seemed to come down a slightly different track this time but we came onto the tarmac road and followed it to the village. The last time I was here lots of children had been swimming by the old Roman bridge that we had to cross but not this time it was far to cold today I think. The little town had altered quite a bit. Many more of the houses are restored now. We asked about lodging in a couple of Casa Rurales but they were a bit expensive for me so we walked on and at the far side of town we found a new albergue open. This was great with new beds with a meter and a half between them!!!!!!! and spotlessly clean. It had only been open about a week. Unfortunately the restaurant was not finished yet.<br />Roser arrived here too and took a bunk near mine. The albergue wanted 3 Euro each to wash and dry our clothes, so to save cost we all dumped our dirty clothes in one lot and I boldly took them to the basement to get them washed in the washing machine. The lady of the house would not let me do it she insisted only she could fill the machines! She told me to put the washing on the top of the washer. She said she would do it and I could collect it later. Well it sat there for ages and when at last I saw the washer empty I dumped our stuff in before anyone else did and went up and told the lady it was ready for powder and to be switched on. Well she wasn't very happy but it got washed after a while but now sat for ages more in the machine waiting to be put in the dryer. I worried her several times and in the end she came down to do it. Her eyes popped open wide when a black pair of frilly panties and a bra fell on to the floor!<br />"Are those all yours!" she exclaimed<br />"Yes" I said smilingly and waltzed my way up the stairs.<br />Now I walked into town looking for the others and to have a look at this nice little town I found a bar and had a drink but there seemed no one about. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-pcAFFxID9LDfaRi0VI1wiw7YhyphenhyphenZuW-J0KuGEYnycnAYHR-uNIXC3TlIKO-___pkE8F0J9Z2PnSIjDVlDnjtoYaO99URZESfVe03D5C3i0zpYZM4ck7VdWFW-UqByRa_On9OPqMTp-8/s1600-h/05411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-pcAFFxID9LDfaRi0VI1wiw7YhyphenhyphenZuW-J0KuGEYnycnAYHR-uNIXC3TlIKO-___pkE8F0J9Z2PnSIjDVlDnjtoYaO99URZESfVe03D5C3i0zpYZM4ck7VdWFW-UqByRa_On9OPqMTp-8/s320/05411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125915409906626690" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span> I wandered around again and came across Francesca in another bar and we had a beer together but she said she had eaten, tapas and was not hungry. I went off again back to the entrance of the town to find an open restaurant. I went into the first one you come to, as you arrive at the town, it looked very warm and cosy now.<br />The waiter was showing me to a table when a voice called out,<br />"Michael" and I turn to see Roser, Barbara and an Italian girl I vaguely knew too, but sadly I never managed to remember her name.<br />"Come join us" cried out Roser as another chair was pulled up, "do you mind?" she added as I came over and sat down.<br />"When I'm asked to join a table with not one, but three very attractive young ladies I am always happy to oblige" I chuckled "I've never been known to refuse such a generous offer!"<br />The meal was great for the price, I started with fish soup, then the main course, a ham and cheese dish with chips and finished with a home made flan. A bottle of good red wine and we all liked the Orujo! We had great fun and giggled away till quite late. We all walked back to the albergue then Roser and I said goodnight to the Italian girl and Barbara. They, still laughing went on up the road a bit further to the municipal albergue, where they were stopping I think, whilst we tried to be quiet as we collected our washing from the downstairs basement.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 30 = approx. 19.4 km Sub Total = 398.9 km Total = 731.2 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-76674088838302429602007-10-25T00:57:00.000-07:002007-10-27T01:53:12.846-07:0013/06/07 Murias de Rechivaldo to Fuencebadón<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2WeZkgTPTUaqp2NnKIAXDRHPYv-liNFAKx3fIk1k507wupldYLkwnmibziFd_wuUFJ_ziEengB8_d9jxWIm7EAOH-ETvfEZSDqn5VigpZLd38CkF5p8Uu9iuIqZCg_-ggTjPMOK6zaE/s1600-h/05387.JPG"></a><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >13/06/07 </span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><div><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Murias de Rechivaldo to Fuencebadón</span><br /><br /></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I found Francesca just as I left and we walked to the next village. The country road had a level track along side for walkers. The wild flowers were lovely and the hills could be seen in the distance but it was quite cold. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfeAAIdEr_q4iR1sVg3cvrXAf-q8yEnbTD9Gp5cDCDKG_uXNBxo2fv8GwQpfX-y7JweobvBUI6pPlYYxFwvwdLcQwRit8Zw_Q3QZ0S7eHZ5XcyYTyEsGK3IIxUseOyShIOEhlSvgrmkg/s1600-h/05380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfeAAIdEr_q4iR1sVg3cvrXAf-q8yEnbTD9Gp5cDCDKG_uXNBxo2fv8GwQpfX-y7JweobvBUI6pPlYYxFwvwdLcQwRit8Zw_Q3QZ0S7eHZ5XcyYTyEsGK3IIxUseOyShIOEhlSvgrmkg/s400/05380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125930253313601682" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd04jzlVAF3TfSFkv123ToaQz5VXo3D-YFIYJ71LQnSJNVrY-ner2pZPo6aIIm-3UF0Pgn0X2GvGLmymhDo0auejRF_8NvqUuFfEyjLHbK0kcUENLbltBM67I9nS2icpAKf3GcSrcfIMk/s1600-h/05377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125186876079042162" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 206px; height: 146px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd04jzlVAF3TfSFkv123ToaQz5VXo3D-YFIYJ71LQnSJNVrY-ner2pZPo6aIIm-3UF0Pgn0X2GvGLmymhDo0auejRF_8NvqUuFfEyjLHbK0kcUENLbltBM67I9nS2icpAKf3GcSrcfIMk/s200/05377.JPG" border="0" height="166" width="218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3vnPgimLz0X0x8M9m_aeoy2-aTWjDt2Rfq7ITiPiBhvbI2QgcLU96kH-q3zrS_4jGazBNPa0EdS6Drgv9Mq092x7hEGz8kfwkHt5PZVd9kDMHZRGdxXXxFKVIHqA-bI53Esl8ttdU04/s1600-h/05378.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125187279805968002" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 204px; height: 156px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3vnPgimLz0X0x8M9m_aeoy2-aTWjDt2Rfq7ITiPiBhvbI2QgcLU96kH-q3zrS_4jGazBNPa0EdS6Drgv9Mq092x7hEGz8kfwkHt5PZVd9kDMHZRGdxXXxFKVIHqA-bI53Esl8ttdU04/s200/05378.JPG" border="0" height="170" width="217" /></a></div></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Just as we came into the village an elderly man was selling staffs and had a nice collection of them. I chatted to him and he told me to try the second café for my breakfast as it belonged to his son and he needed the custom. There were several peregrinos sitting at the tables, some I knew. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJzMrhzof-Zs6jdKtnZmsmA738wi_Lkpomadz9l3VlNPNtGvVDmNKKHWYP0uuVq4vr3PdWXS66O_9xAgpqRw-JrOkGVgVQ5m9Mj1Yf5gQHt9opTmXOgOy-a2T13bthJDFWaW6DH5FSOg/s1600-h/05376.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125184264738926114" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJzMrhzof-Zs6jdKtnZmsmA738wi_Lkpomadz9l3VlNPNtGvVDmNKKHWYP0uuVq4vr3PdWXS66O_9xAgpqRw-JrOkGVgVQ5m9Mj1Yf5gQHt9opTmXOgOy-a2T13bthJDFWaW6DH5FSOg/s320/05376.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">One was John the chap about my age that had sung old English songs on the way back from the bar to the Ermita of San Nicolás. He got me to have our photo taken together by three ladies he was travelling with at the moment. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I excused myself and joined Francesca and ordered our cake and coffee and it was nice sitting here in the weak morning sun.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Leaving here it was a steady climb with great scenery and wild flowers, holm oaks and oak trees now. </span><br /></strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While cold it was a lovely walk and we both enjoyed it. We arrived at the hundred-year-old oak just before Rabanal and here we stopped and rested. We came to a little ermita, </span><br /></div></span></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QJavR7e-edksTLWcqJXHb7eg03bhu3BG0dwojx1HtP22q-GgrqVd1GFhvS80WGeF4MQ615u6J3pAKG21sGpcXcCrTMNc634Gg1QuQJVQaxSY12JH6WQJ6lDfOmJ-hpy9Ndj4EbQ7dPI/s1600-h/05381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125187799497010834" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QJavR7e-edksTLWcqJXHb7eg03bhu3BG0dwojx1HtP22q-GgrqVd1GFhvS80WGeF4MQ615u6J3pAKG21sGpcXcCrTMNc634Gg1QuQJVQaxSY12JH6WQJ6lDfOmJ-hpy9Ndj4EbQ7dPI/s200/05381.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44xGUktoNKHIjg-aQOmQTtT_wivG1mziB95Szu3eydBFeEtZMlSGSaJ3dRzKgtCbpmWTub5k3OufzdwuK0imdGEWBo-12u5lAmCExcFvrnwJUqMIBQ7SaD1aObxLSr3jcd9RS_vtWhM8/s1600-h/05382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125188310598119074" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44xGUktoNKHIjg-aQOmQTtT_wivG1mziB95Szu3eydBFeEtZMlSGSaJ3dRzKgtCbpmWTub5k3OufzdwuK0imdGEWBo-12u5lAmCExcFvrnwJUqMIBQ7SaD1aObxLSr3jcd9RS_vtWhM8/s200/05382.JPG" border="0" height="151" width="208" /></a></div></span></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong></strong></span></span></div></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="font-weight: normal;">we looked around and found the entrance was not on the roadside where you would expect it to be, but we could still not see inside. Next came Rabanal and I had wonderful memories of this place. I had stopped in the municipal albergue and later gone to the Gregorio service in the tiny church. Entering the town we looked in the church and I was shocked at the change. The floor was ripped up and there was what looked like an archaeological dig going on. The altar was now at the opposite end and roped off to allow a few people to use it. We headed for the same albergue that I had previously stayed in and here we had a couple of beers and food in a rather nice but crowded patio. It is a jolly place and well run and they were doing a roaring trade at the bar. Francesca and I decided to move on though, my excuse being I didn't fancy going to the service that had been such a highlight last time and anyway I had stopped here before and we could easily put a few more kms under the belt. Finding a small supermarket we decided to cook our own dinner tonight. We both fancied potatoes as we hadn't had any for days and after last nights frugal meal it seemed a good idea. In the shop we found a loaf of bread, 2 pork chops, 4 potatoes, a large onion, a tin of peas, French beans, bananas for afters and yoghurt for breakfast. What we had not foreseen was the weight of it all. Francesca insisted she pay if I was to cook it. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Outside the shop we went to pack it away. My bag is big and very full, Francesca had hers off first and was packing it in as she had the room.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Hey let me carry it, that’s heavy!" </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">"No I've got most of it in now, you carry a couple of those bananas" she replied.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">We set off and soon the track started to seriously climb the mountain! I did offer several times to carry some if she would stop and unload it! Always the same reply "No!" </span></span></strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o7PIaFb2ZZ02NrH8iNCuV429b7WsttPCQunl5JR8QNikSradpkYpZiSxmUG5Q6fywfPSI0UsmRQRC73NQRryLEmi8Tk5tgMMbwAx-qJVx6ISstmfXDWTexw4EF79yFOELKge-GvHnqI/s1600-h/05384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125190183203860162" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o7PIaFb2ZZ02NrH8iNCuV429b7WsttPCQunl5JR8QNikSradpkYpZiSxmUG5Q6fywfPSI0UsmRQRC73NQRryLEmi8Tk5tgMMbwAx-qJVx6ISstmfXDWTexw4EF79yFOELKge-GvHnqI/s200/05384.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div></span></strong></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhP3rGjSW3aOKl8hBI_WSIxV1fSv9qap0y7bIfkzJBnMH3dWuV8WjTq-QVMDvqbfutdU1qvBZlD9XQ_wuBHFB4f-zjJsonUJa6x_mGcfZ3EOvz26iChNmU5CwT4sqyNvS1z3G-V0g0aQ/s1600-h/05383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125189251195956914" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhP3rGjSW3aOKl8hBI_WSIxV1fSv9qap0y7bIfkzJBnMH3dWuV8WjTq-QVMDvqbfutdU1qvBZlD9XQ_wuBHFB4f-zjJsonUJa6x_mGcfZ3EOvz26iChNmU5CwT4sqyNvS1z3G-V0g0aQ/s320/05383.JPG" border="0" /></a></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCvvt-XCg-TjirJaHeAaixblMVnnKowC7JtEsBQUeMJucsXn8IoHciLj1nOkMhBDerep-g3PkjvOply7Ttwxg1jvR0CypWcCIxtiFpbGUsQ3zNcKpIIr4D1LKaHgsgkKxQlyVmgr_6WQ/s1600-h/05386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125191209701043938" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCvvt-XCg-TjirJaHeAaixblMVnnKowC7JtEsBQUeMJucsXn8IoHciLj1nOkMhBDerep-g3PkjvOply7Ttwxg1jvR0CypWcCIxtiFpbGUsQ3zNcKpIIr4D1LKaHgsgkKxQlyVmgr_6WQ/s200/05386.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF1opZt-iXqa7wts6NW3gZ6WDKEy1d9Onec4_o0YA7C4Wm7MBe_hIrJlDuGG5lqThkDSNZuLjnLKReowF8JOjRd2Hcu7u3mSsL_V9nNW3puVWPMA8Ackj9cPy8nXCPd7Q6jbAzBip1Yo/s1600-h/05385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125190771614379730" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF1opZt-iXqa7wts6NW3gZ6WDKEy1d9Onec4_o0YA7C4Wm7MBe_hIrJlDuGG5lqThkDSNZuLjnLKReowF8JOjRd2Hcu7u3mSsL_V9nNW3puVWPMA8Ackj9cPy8nXCPd7Q6jbAzBip1Yo/s200/05385.JPG" border="0" /></a></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span></div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong></strong></div></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong></strong><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="justify"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">The tiny little village of Fuencebadón was 5.6kms, all up hill in drizzling rain and cold too. By the time we arrived Francesca was convinced it had been my idea to buy potatoes and that she should carry them up the mountain!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">"You're cooking tonight" she insisted. </span><br /></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span> </strong></span></span></div><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125192141708947202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x-0YKwxceuf5CADLYeYbMncbOAcek1JOzJ6Zl_Q0DePN6FatThCuk8XJSVlLDqlMcUvvyW7BI3qbN5jDgtryyARz2Kls5UaYBEK0UA0VqU2RlsbOyBZpjcu9W9rjNXDvk-e_Zogjm_w/s400/05387.JPG" border="0" /></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong></strong></span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The little village had been completely deserted last time I walked here but now it has three albergues of various qualities. The first looked ok but no kitchen could be used till after the rest had eaten! Thinking she would kill me if we had to eat their dinner and carry the potatoes tomorrow as well I said thanks we'd try the next place. More or less the same reply from them, each place looking humbler than the last. We arrived at the last one, the municipal donation one! Here it looked rough but I could use the two-burner stove next to the sink in the passageway that served as a kitchen! Poor Francesca agreed and went into the dorm that had hardly a window, here she took a lower bunk and I took the top one. All washing had to be done outside in the cold mountain mist in a plastic bowl and hung on a railing, of course none of it dried. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">That done we headed back down to the village bar for a warm coffee and cognac. To our amazement the bar was a hostel and incredible comfortable and the restaurant looked great! </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">"We come here for breakfast" my companion said firmly!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's only fair to say Francesca I believe lives a very comfortable life in Holland and I should think was reasonably well off. Albergues of the municipal variety must have been quite a shock for her on her first camino. I take my hat off to her for not making more of a fuss really.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">We had a few wines and went back to cook dinner. It started ok till the rest of the albergue started to cook as well and I had commandeered the stove! Still at last, with the aide of my little spirit stove, the potatoes were cooked, eggs hard boiled, meat frizzled and French beans steamed. We asked Roser to join us but she had been already asked to join another crowd. We gave her potatoes anyway as we had too much food for two.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now off to bed to get some well-needed sleep! </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I was unable to get to sleep, probably the coffee, anyway I was still awake in the freezing and gloomy dormitory when Francesca awoke and needed the rest room. She started to stand up in the dark beside the bunk, but my eyes, being already used to the darkness saw there was a good chance she would bang her head on my upper bunk, so I gently touched her! But before I could say careful, her shriek disturbed the rest of the sleepers while an embarrassed me tried to explain without making more noise, chuckle!!</span><br /></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong></span><br /><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 29 = approx. 26.3 km Sub Total = 378.5 km Total = 711.8 km</span></strong></strong><div align="center"><strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span></strong></strong></div><div align="center"></div></div></span></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-88733304544697630322007-10-23T04:35:00.000-07:002007-10-23T05:17:53.453-07:0012/06/07 Hospital de Órbigo to Murias de Rechivaldo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilukS7A02xMYv3R-PXcPlwviA4ouNQqg2gmK40BIixO2TSPms23GueMNhv4FMgmf89yctWDnV8PNiPoqmcInY1x9GdlKuhj0fCiidMWL5yli3gewg5LrTatKTTmzUakyg9DQlTqDEJRE8/s1600-h/05362A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilukS7A02xMYv3R-PXcPlwviA4ouNQqg2gmK40BIixO2TSPms23GueMNhv4FMgmf89yctWDnV8PNiPoqmcInY1x9GdlKuhj0fCiidMWL5yli3gewg5LrTatKTTmzUakyg9DQlTqDEJRE8/s200/05362A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124496089812069426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />Hospital de Órbigo to Murias de Rechivaldo</span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />Next morning I awoke late and I realised I had not arranged to meet anyone to walk with. The other two had stopped in the other albergue and Roser had stopped in the female dorm here and I could not very well barge in to see if she had gone. I filled my water bottle and ate some breakfast cake, and chatted a while with other peregrinos but thought she must have left early. Waving goodbye to some I set off alone. I walked very fast, my feet were feeling good today. I was hoping to catch her up, but never did, she must have still been in the dorm. I soon came to Villares de Órbigo and took another look at their superb notice to Peregrinos written in several languages. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjI7GWi5JgbuCs5cHpTnuYPiwLXjKblPqA4PEcVjbh4LAVtGttFo-gU7unJPRG2fUJyXmroOFSg9W5_zFqQIEm2Q9sYoLvIZIruq-8ccdLC_HydkOb3MNC-tdYy_6eHyp9rhuHXol4Ls/s1600-h/05362b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjI7GWi5JgbuCs5cHpTnuYPiwLXjKblPqA4PEcVjbh4LAVtGttFo-gU7unJPRG2fUJyXmroOFSg9W5_zFqQIEm2Q9sYoLvIZIruq-8ccdLC_HydkOb3MNC-tdYy_6eHyp9rhuHXol4Ls/s200/05362b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124500208685706306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIoeYxOXJ4EkppECdWJlgB48hsYskdGzwq7bYuJ3NKxXdjG1laXsedoOBEENeOwNUV6UubGfv1BaCtjMsbybuI8UZNpW8iGoaxFoTM5zJL6rCsZgAWZHxghm9Zj_58Wa-RwTx8rktRaY/s1600-h/05365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIoeYxOXJ4EkppECdWJlgB48hsYskdGzwq7bYuJ3NKxXdjG1laXsedoOBEENeOwNUV6UubGfv1BaCtjMsbybuI8UZNpW8iGoaxFoTM5zJL6rCsZgAWZHxghm9Zj_58Wa-RwTx8rktRaY/s200/05365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124500629592501330" border="0" /></a>I left the village behind and travelled over some hilly country covered with Holm oaks. I remembered sleeping in the shade of some about mid day last time but there was no need today. It was quite a nice day, and now my spirits were high as I strode along passing a few walkers. Just about 10kms out of Villares I came to the stone cross and again looked out across the valley to Astorga. This is quite an impressive view and I first got a young lady to take my photo near the cross, then found a picnic table and ate some lunch looking at the valley. Many other peregrinos arrived and either did the same, or continued on down hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc7OjjwLISqEuZdL7hOdlXMAhakhy2EQ3xSrJOKyKvBv55-pN2TBrqBe6neoyMxcQHKjX54_dDuBz_r2_DzGyl7z_6SnuBG9UaZX8douCz1IqCV0A-vZdueBP3i41JQ1uJcVYYnPUTWY/s1600-h/05366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc7OjjwLISqEuZdL7hOdlXMAhakhy2EQ3xSrJOKyKvBv55-pN2TBrqBe6neoyMxcQHKjX54_dDuBz_r2_DzGyl7z_6SnuBG9UaZX8douCz1IqCV0A-vZdueBP3i41JQ1uJcVYYnPUTWY/s320/05366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124501192233217122" border="0" /></a><br />I packed my things and left and some way down the hill I chatted to an old local man sitting on a bench. A very pretty tall young Canadian girl soon joined us. She, like me, had a long staff, but attached to hers was a large eagle feather. The old man wanted to know all about us and we eventually shook his hand and left him waiting for the next peregrina. We had hardly turned the next bend when it happened again, only this time the man was standing on the pavement. He stopped us and wished us a safe journey and shook hands with me. He had a crushing grip but let go and turned to my companion. The only thing was once he had got hold of her elegant hand he had no intention of letting go!! I could see her winch as he crushed it in his powerful grip! There was little I could do! He held on to her while telling us how strong and fit he was for a 85 year old man who had spent his life on the land. At last she managed to pull her hand free and we cheerily waved him goodbye. We turned back down hill and she, rubbing her poor hand exclaimed,<br />"God he got a strong grip!! He's nearly crushed my hand! I thought he'd never let go!"<br />We both laughed and hoped we would not meet his brother on the next corner! This meeting and greeting by elderly gents often happens on camino and they politely kiss the girls given the slightest chance. But I have never heard anyone say they felt threatened at all. This old man had never walked to Santiago and now someone might just hug the Santo and think of him.<br />I came into Astorga alone and climbed up to the centre of the town.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiTHSQWJyF8sZ79T-oGmFAdpD_uUjwN_wesOCQosENDM5kEUWYOef4WYl96VM5hTCc9T8ZW_pfoIU1sWid_OcJJiY8ZAjl3sdO6XFVeDR6NZfTMrzmEIcNBIq8YeNrL_Wuz4JB5YlTys/s1600-h/05367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiTHSQWJyF8sZ79T-oGmFAdpD_uUjwN_wesOCQosENDM5kEUWYOef4WYl96VM5hTCc9T8ZW_pfoIU1sWid_OcJJiY8ZAjl3sdO6XFVeDR6NZfTMrzmEIcNBIq8YeNrL_Wuz4JB5YlTys/s200/05367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124502261680073874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo0NFLB6tIrKtANKiI-H5SHiIv-tXq-YFxwdNHwZFKgEUvzLrf9zFXjZN3LYJLQMDDnu_-sqH7rqYQYUjxbfja-9GJmhsnorn8q30IyARtI4_x_Ux7aTbHuLxVgDM640P6qj1f5WSNk0/s1600-h/05373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo0NFLB6tIrKtANKiI-H5SHiIv-tXq-YFxwdNHwZFKgEUvzLrf9zFXjZN3LYJLQMDDnu_-sqH7rqYQYUjxbfja-9GJmhsnorn8q30IyARtI4_x_Ux7aTbHuLxVgDM640P6qj1f5WSNk0/s200/05373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124502901630201010" border="0" /></a><br />Here there is the albergue that I used before but I wanted to go on. First I must get my photos off the camera and onto a disc and buy some food and get a coffee. There was a market on and the square was packed but no food stalls. I found a bar where I rested, then a photo shop where I waited a while for them to make the disc and a copy. I normally send the copy home but this time somehow that never happened. I carried both till I got back! I remembered the fun we'd had here getting a meal last time. The Spanish ladies I was with complained to the waiter that the meat soup had no meat in it and it had got funnier and funnier as the waiter had complained back that this was how it was made here! He had acted just like Manuel from Faulty Towers. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFUaCI3z2t0I1QZCIF2Ev_QLcGs-tHMUBTkZy4XA6QvhNqPu4RKnSh7tT5M8YN01bsFSBdYRP35ktEirVoRFvUD2g3Fkuq-_BRRmvG11eJnVWvBnyBontVzMv4Q1H60n-5aqjuwognmk/s1600-h/05369B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFUaCI3z2t0I1QZCIF2Ev_QLcGs-tHMUBTkZy4XA6QvhNqPu4RKnSh7tT5M8YN01bsFSBdYRP35ktEirVoRFvUD2g3Fkuq-_BRRmvG11eJnVWvBnyBontVzMv4Q1H60n-5aqjuwognmk/s320/05369B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124502454953602210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bkXCkVCb5OBAdIdU9MHn5M9ReVJoVItEi_olHCk8Q_wdLL-L6d_VM7QuMHZNwZzD9eDU1Q0R2TyhQvTf34ANXgcAhEkUSCteTR3k6z9yad-IAYX58Nmiuw15AJMbqq9saeKx_1eeaCI/s1600-h/05369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bkXCkVCb5OBAdIdU9MHn5M9ReVJoVItEi_olHCk8Q_wdLL-L6d_VM7QuMHZNwZzD9eDU1Q0R2TyhQvTf34ANXgcAhEkUSCteTR3k6z9yad-IAYX58Nmiuw15AJMbqq9saeKx_1eeaCI/s320/05369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124503335421897922" border="0" /></a>I would not have any idea where that restaurant had been now. I set off out of town looking for the familiar arrows. It was still quite early when I came to Murias de Rechivldo. Another 5 k would take me to the next village but I decided to look at the albergue here. It looked a charming place with superb courtyard patio and the young couple friendly enough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6ZCkQUBMbe2Fo2OdTy0dKYzngGeMXVu7FV0NZmMhGG7HvR6-exIVFsSAZWaRIKhfkObBnnd0Tp5YThsgU_Wh1CmnEg_0nfU016T47zpc70rSMdH3_1q_LqWhWSmaa46nBZQS-oMZk28/s1600-h/05374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6ZCkQUBMbe2Fo2OdTy0dKYzngGeMXVu7FV0NZmMhGG7HvR6-exIVFsSAZWaRIKhfkObBnnd0Tp5YThsgU_Wh1CmnEg_0nfU016T47zpc70rSMdH3_1q_LqWhWSmaa46nBZQS-oMZk28/s200/05374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124501587370208370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr3nuCRs-qBy_8vl5cOKB3j3VKQpVgSY5wRSDqkr-3OOIDS5-S9knpipP_n-BFRW__HbUASQxtaGzKkpIHs0A7FVb2QdWV7kW3vTzf8x_V5kgFCfP1WP2elk9ERjxM3oMo4TzOvzTYi4/s1600-h/05375.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr3nuCRs-qBy_8vl5cOKB3j3VKQpVgSY5wRSDqkr-3OOIDS5-S9knpipP_n-BFRW__HbUASQxtaGzKkpIHs0A7FVb2QdWV7kW3vTzf8x_V5kgFCfP1WP2elk9ERjxM3oMo4TzOvzTYi4/s200/05375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124501724809161858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I bought a beer and sat around deciding if I should go on. Francesca arrived and later Roser and Yolanda so I decided to book in. I took a lower bunk and paid but was not able to cook in the kitchen so said I would share their meal and gave them the mince I had bought in Astorga. We all had a glass of sangria together from the bar.<br />I then spent a pleasant hour sitting in the sun outside the front entrance with Francesca. I whittled away at my stick, carving the four-leaf clover on it and the shell. The call for dinner arrived and the dining room was full. They were a jolly crowd and we swapped stories. Most people were French who spoke English. The meal turned out to be spaghetti but I think they forgot the sauce and they must have used the meat I gave them for themselves. I was in the middle of telling one of my experiences and I was starving and when someone passed a plate with bits of meat and cheese, I automatically flipped several chunks into my dish. Francesca grabbed it away saying it was Roser's and was for all the table!!<br />I was very embarrassed. Especially as I realised Roser had not had the spaghetti and this was her dinner but like a true Spaniard that she is, she had generously passed what she had around!!!<br />We laughed and chatted for a long while, then retired thinking we would get some sleep. The bunk bed looked new and I had not bothered to try laying on it before. No one slept that night! Every time you moved, even a finger the bed creaked loudly and every bed was the same!!!! Then the French moved out early. I think I slept then because I was late waking up next morning!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 28 = approx. 16.5 km Sub Total = 353.2 km Total = 691.1 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-60743019805658559062007-10-02T01:05:00.000-07:002007-10-03T00:57:46.017-07:0011/06/07 Virgen del Camino to Hospital de Órbigo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSuGfot7f1Rk47IAm711xtJ1gpP6y5fgQzVjCJnMUmvrkNuYlMqY63RTJZSjHc0mACgAOV0w2unKOtxDdrDJn2hLeEkmkVs6IKjjMeofnH1167jHyPOqCNra7u8aMV2lD0xFKkDxuDfI/s1600-h/05351B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSuGfot7f1Rk47IAm711xtJ1gpP6y5fgQzVjCJnMUmvrkNuYlMqY63RTJZSjHc0mACgAOV0w2unKOtxDdrDJn2hLeEkmkVs6IKjjMeofnH1167jHyPOqCNra7u8aMV2lD0xFKkDxuDfI/s200/05351B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648785130318626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">WEEK 5</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />11/06/07 Monday </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Virgen del Camino to Hospital de Órbigo </span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />I set off on my own but soon found Roser a Spanish lady that I had chatted to on my return to the albergue last night. I am small but this lady is smaller than I with a warm and charming smile. I was informed by her that she walked slowly, and I must go on if it was too slow for me. I welcomed her company and let her set the pace as we chatted and sauntered along this rather barren way.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTOY6B4iHfS-egnp4i3VonL60NxVcshhSH8bA9N39CNAYeWAoZFRG2yNdXA7J62VODPd_KVmBRQlGk5WmlZOKYX_IFxjBFfr6ijq_YZOmqL9C3PhbUfxMQmoZao908poF7_58z78mo5k/s1600-h/05346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTOY6B4iHfS-egnp4i3VonL60NxVcshhSH8bA9N39CNAYeWAoZFRG2yNdXA7J62VODPd_KVmBRQlGk5WmlZOKYX_IFxjBFfr6ijq_YZOmqL9C3PhbUfxMQmoZao908poF7_58z78mo5k/s200/05346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116649111547833138" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu4h0aOBMnGUqyQeZNNkLCGtNV6Rp_TXPNYLU7WK5rzk4AA7UMUVs_RAv_I9lXtGqUQVE9ktX3i_wTSa-hOQpoeickDf66s9P35SD3ysSfQcDUuwMKVQ7VrQnQCC7ibUsch6J7OA-wKE/s1600-h/05347.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu4h0aOBMnGUqyQeZNNkLCGtNV6Rp_TXPNYLU7WK5rzk4AA7UMUVs_RAv_I9lXtGqUQVE9ktX3i_wTSa-hOQpoeickDf66s9P35SD3ysSfQcDUuwMKVQ7VrQnQCC7ibUsch6J7OA-wKE/s200/05347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116649364950903618" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> There had been a choice of caminos as we left the town. We had taken the left track as the other was following the motorway. I was told afterwards it was a good choice as the other camino was pretty horrible with traffic all the time. </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Roser told me she came from near Barcelona and I must have come very near her village on my Ebro Camino She had started from Juan Pied de Port I think, the French border anyway. Her pack was light I could see and very basic. I discovered later her main waterproof was a plastic bag! Quiet and shy nothing ever fazed her. My guidebook was no good on this route and we just followed the arrows. There was little chance to get lost. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8FVaSzx-bIg5qvz_5YKdsZtItAOBlvM_GjbmmQHkRnqPQ_CjZcIM9xOPe8VtJi-Gi1zMEaTlBiid526vf9yIqxC1yuupLF3sWO3fMYg9zgaLWAvJVknuhp97vbnDA0K7mb5L_ymUgNc/s1600-h/STORKSB.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8FVaSzx-bIg5qvz_5YKdsZtItAOBlvM_GjbmmQHkRnqPQ_CjZcIM9xOPe8VtJi-Gi1zMEaTlBiid526vf9yIqxC1yuupLF3sWO3fMYg9zgaLWAvJVknuhp97vbnDA0K7mb5L_ymUgNc/s200/STORKSB.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117016073553603618" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We came to Villa Mazarife, a small farming community, and there is a nice tile mosaic as you come in. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOR5FHcxVIjoy89rFGE48FouOOgbm0anq2ng1y_UGm2bqHchUzm7motzDuU9oUbn9Uc_G5QKS0HyfsEjpDnOF5foP7QFPe-iBJ8Zz97AQgObNS8mMMSMjlEr2oTw16PrE8FjYH4PtO_I/s1600-h/05349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOR5FHcxVIjoy89rFGE48FouOOgbm0anq2ng1y_UGm2bqHchUzm7motzDuU9oUbn9Uc_G5QKS0HyfsEjpDnOF5foP7QFPe-iBJ8Zz97AQgObNS8mMMSMjlEr2oTw16PrE8FjYH4PtO_I/s200/05349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116649644123777874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaOcZHOAoyVsQbi4V-m0ado-Q3ovF431azNJlhIBypab3s-KkS2MZxH8HpRws1tBhnqaQh1pVv2yd3gGv8BWinnTteItg3ZhyphenhyphenaxSk7nU4qXwDbNW9F0kVH6-c35wvIvieL7XvUny8Wyo/s1600-h/05350.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaOcZHOAoyVsQbi4V-m0ado-Q3ovF431azNJlhIBypab3s-KkS2MZxH8HpRws1tBhnqaQh1pVv2yd3gGv8BWinnTteItg3ZhyphenhyphenaxSk7nU4qXwDbNW9F0kVH6-c35wvIvieL7XvUny8Wyo/s200/05350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116649785857698658" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> Roser said she wanted to see inside the albergue because a friend had stopped there and enjoyed it so much. We would not stay as it was much too early. We arrived and the dueña was cleaning but chatted a while and then let us wander around. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOSHrs9N8HLSzUeT5CjV_tI5FQQHr3aJQhg9ay-MtZl_rIWSxh_aOCcMY4PW1QyBKL6pbz675rb1XviIWqLd2PSYxH-66lWQf4JVev7nrHfLkWIjf2iWYtr1Pvb9DM64qmlZOkkeAZw4/s1600-h/05351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOSHrs9N8HLSzUeT5CjV_tI5FQQHr3aJQhg9ay-MtZl_rIWSxh_aOCcMY4PW1QyBKL6pbz675rb1XviIWqLd2PSYxH-66lWQf4JVev7nrHfLkWIjf2iWYtr1Pvb9DM64qmlZOkkeAZw4/s200/05351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116650090800376690" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This albergue is an amazing place with drawings and sketches on the walls everywhere. The garden was interesting too with a wooden Viking ship, for children to play on I presume. I found a few four-leaf clovers in the lawn then we left. </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We met a Spanish man, Juan, and he and Roser were chatting so I went on as I was finding the pace very slow. I met Roser again later outside a bar. My feet had blisters again, I wonder if I will ever learn. I am still carrying the full pack - nothing has been posted on. Roser said casually </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">"You will arrive in Santiago with it too."</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We walked together again and stayed that way till eventually we came to Hospital de Órbigo. I love this place, it has one of the finest old bridges I have seen and with it goes a wonderful tale of a knight that held the bridge to defend the honour of his lady. I must try to find out more about this story someday, but had I heard and read of it in Spanish and got the idea. I sang my song 'Gallant knight' as I walked over the bridge's cobblestones with Roser.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUbWdjNI_Kzw5D__T9b0REf8JeGIpM_yjco4vRSslXUP2i0v3LroW3YrGc6KMfuNEggEXiosV2zdh-sYtg-yY9NmieXknlSYKiVETOwlXCNvGwRIoL8y_IckfcJt5ILCX0NYdXU89ksk/s1600-h/05353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUbWdjNI_Kzw5D__T9b0REf8JeGIpM_yjco4vRSslXUP2i0v3LroW3YrGc6KMfuNEggEXiosV2zdh-sYtg-yY9NmieXknlSYKiVETOwlXCNvGwRIoL8y_IckfcJt5ILCX0NYdXU89ksk/s320/05353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116650576131681170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gallant Knight</span></span><br /><br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />I am a Gallant Knight,<br />with my sword held high.<br />I'll snatch you from the dragon's mouth.<br />and ride off, you and I<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><br />Gallant Knight, Oh Templer Knight.<br />Fear not, my dear lady,<br />You know, it is I<br />riding on this great white steed.<br />This mighty steed can fly.<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><br />Jump up here beside me<br />let your robe it flow behind.<br />Troubles, they will leave your face<br />Cares gone. You will find<br />when you ride with me my lady<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGp4ePZxCtBNu2S_jEc_qIe0n67D2OJbbXlNHGbWbQKkjnF1RTWEMQwJnkS8-JEKEzK0fUYY6klHYlbZzxBL1z99Hwd0j13GgtTef9BvUjQ9_h4mbYuVE0C7B1SifDiwJz9-IQ3vULIc/s1600-h/05355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGp4ePZxCtBNu2S_jEc_qIe0n67D2OJbbXlNHGbWbQKkjnF1RTWEMQwJnkS8-JEKEzK0fUYY6klHYlbZzxBL1z99Hwd0j13GgtTef9BvUjQ9_h4mbYuVE0C7B1SifDiwJz9-IQ3vULIc/s320/05355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116659075871960082" border="0" /></a><br />We'll smite down the strongest foe<br />as we ride the sunset sky<br />Saving all sweet maidens,<br />and making dragons die<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><br />They'll tremble in his shadow<br />and we'll make those dragons fly.<br />On this gallant steed of mine,<br />we'll travel, you and I.<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><br />Come ride with me my lady,<br />come ride away with me<br />We'll ride away together,<br />to the sunset you will see.<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br />In the deep dark forest of my mind<br /><br />as we ride into the sunset,<br />as we ride across the sky<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© Michael Davey 2006-05-06</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />This is roughly the story as I translated it from the towns web site.</span></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYNVcPax8AGzWtK1jzSsLg5agagYLWDeIfMNzosWCGLpq6GRa2p_-j3J2QRPmzUcGfujK01zd-L-9KdRSDcPp_DyuoPE2CZzOKCs9yRQiMvMz6hY2xOlDUQOHF9qkrgmHWYbyLvSXSUE/s1600-h/05356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYNVcPax8AGzWtK1jzSsLg5agagYLWDeIfMNzosWCGLpq6GRa2p_-j3J2QRPmzUcGfujK01zd-L-9KdRSDcPp_DyuoPE2CZzOKCs9yRQiMvMz6hY2xOlDUQOHF9qkrgmHWYbyLvSXSUE/s200/05356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116651130182462386" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />The item that has entered Literature with an honourable title was obtained by the gift of Quiñones and achieved with the help of nine horsemen, men like him, from Leon, on the 9th of July and August 1434, a sacred Jacobeo year. He was imprisoned with the love of a lady whom it says, he took an iron collar to his neck, as proof of his slavery to her, from which he hoped to be released, by completing the walk in her honour to Santiago. He defied all the horsemen of Europe, "near the bridge of the Órbigo, fight to obtain the right of way." The true friends were arranged with the true authorisation, the regulation was published, the warehouses, barriers and the fences built and they raised their colours and staged the competition during thirty days. In the end, the ten champions, mangled and repaired, went on to Compostela. Put the serum, gave a necklace of silver and gold to the bust of Santiago the minor, that presides over most of the processions in the Compostela basilica. In memory of this fact of arms that as much applauded, two monoliths were put at each end of the bridge with the history of the deed with the names of the ten champions</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />There are several places to stay but we came to the Parroquial Albergue and it is a picture postcard place and we booked in there.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0C6lcbYAWsbitf7dPPI2PiOnB0l33A4FUcUnAH88jpnW5KQUS2YNd6k6GbgeDS9MQHrazxHtXc0jJ1zv7Ps5H5nG1lQPhH5IFsj4RDT2V7Jnfx23MQkQ1JXldVqdNqHxCLtuXlkL9P4/s1600-h/05359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0C6lcbYAWsbitf7dPPI2PiOnB0l33A4FUcUnAH88jpnW5KQUS2YNd6k6GbgeDS9MQHrazxHtXc0jJ1zv7Ps5H5nG1lQPhH5IFsj4RDT2V7Jnfx23MQkQ1JXldVqdNqHxCLtuXlkL9P4/s200/05359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116652118024940498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kpWkYO2ccRdeOQWWVnxMUOjuM2WrvWBJ8y6PG6qoV4fU2L9zmaut_sXYkOUgZLDVhl_BElzx0_3IDfFX37oY4bPCeijB_AsNpQq8BTTFc3ze7ROODHa1FIQtdgFZPpYdlG8mDD0aIhQ/s1600-h/05358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kpWkYO2ccRdeOQWWVnxMUOjuM2WrvWBJ8y6PG6qoV4fU2L9zmaut_sXYkOUgZLDVhl_BElzx0_3IDfFX37oY4bPCeijB_AsNpQq8BTTFc3ze7ROODHa1FIQtdgFZPpYdlG8mDD0aIhQ/s200/05358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116651800197360578" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarwFYO_NCc8DzZPVe8EZU5i3l9darR13ZJdsVdSg1pE1jtJOARIjRv-CzqaC5T04vmqmharpgcrAb_aBbtHwdEO1zudZc1ccBCN3Ns7ZPpkOO0g_eNy_-byy4LRXu4mTYp9tt3zC47Os/s1600-h/05360B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarwFYO_NCc8DzZPVe8EZU5i3l9darR13ZJdsVdSg1pE1jtJOARIjRv-CzqaC5T04vmqmharpgcrAb_aBbtHwdEO1zudZc1ccBCN3Ns7ZPpkOO0g_eNy_-byy4LRXu4mTYp9tt3zC47Os/s200/05360B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116652281233697762" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">We met Juan and Francesca and decided to look for a place to eat. The local supermarket was pretty hopeless for buying food to cook. </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I remembered eating a nice meal in the village before. All I had to do was remember where. The street was easy enough, the first on the left after crossing the bridge I thought. Well we found the road but there was a choice of restaurants and I was not sure which one it had been. Anyway we chose the most rural look and were shown through to the patio and chose a pleasant table and we ate a nice meal. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIdFh8T8KvyJQZj4w7zLbcr_I7RgWojO22XWrFd6QQkdhjPqxSvsDi-XVJFnum5r-wBVMwUTWIBI895pCKEhtHIpNwO6QR6YIhe_JVEpno_-4PcmfiIa8X8Xm3k_z2DOW4Ehp8FLNM1M/s1600-h/05361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIdFh8T8KvyJQZj4w7zLbcr_I7RgWojO22XWrFd6QQkdhjPqxSvsDi-XVJFnum5r-wBVMwUTWIBI895pCKEhtHIpNwO6QR6YIhe_JVEpno_-4PcmfiIa8X8Xm3k_z2DOW4Ehp8FLNM1M/s320/05361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116653440874867714" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> Conversation was fun being in two languages, Francesca was Dutch but spoke good English, Roser only spoke Spanish. Juan was Spanish, but could speak good English so he or I would translate for the girls and we had a lot of fun and sank a bottle of good red Rioja and finished with coffee and orujo! My only problem that night was getting off my top bunk and finding the door in a pitch-black room, packed with bunks and no room between them without waking everyone. The toilet and showers were out in the patio! Still I did see a beautiful starry night sky!</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 27 = approx. 25.1 km Sub Total = 336.7 km Total = 674.6 km</span><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-3422060041979620822007-10-01T02:43:00.000-07:002007-10-03T00:48:23.543-07:0010/06/07 Villarente to La Virgen del Camino<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMR-I8lcBpvKuFYKMk5Tlj9LLGJkLtC_U9T7JVdiwGgWRKgEn3G8yDPe8ieWRocvbV4QKe4ZtyuEmyByM70fUaWQ1KC79WWLcFHyKjxwjNfdeX4YnAEeMvg7eXOr83atKkWW6w1FpbGg/s1600-h/STORKSB.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMR-I8lcBpvKuFYKMk5Tlj9LLGJkLtC_U9T7JVdiwGgWRKgEn3G8yDPe8ieWRocvbV4QKe4ZtyuEmyByM70fUaWQ1KC79WWLcFHyKjxwjNfdeX4YnAEeMvg7eXOr83atKkWW6w1FpbGg/s400/STORKSB.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116318961706756834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman;">10/06/07 Sunday<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Villarente to La Virgen del Camino</span><br /></div><br />It was absolutely pouring outside the albergue but still the crazy or hardened peregrinos left the comfort of the vestibule. I collected my washing and put it away hanging the socks that had not dried on the outside, my cape would stop them getting wetter if it was raining when I decided to go, not that I had any in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0g9lCESDmMO3miBju6xjMLmsSZUemgorIGAJ-AWKed1mxDdWqHLJfBSn-IZDbT0GeBzpRq3YukMiQPxZxLt9v98Xz9_4GfBD2iSaiZg84ZsmOs34f4_10GSBdc9zMDpkEps58nNXdF8/s1600-h/05335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0g9lCESDmMO3miBju6xjMLmsSZUemgorIGAJ-AWKed1mxDdWqHLJfBSn-IZDbT0GeBzpRq3YukMiQPxZxLt9v98Xz9_4GfBD2iSaiZg84ZsmOs34f4_10GSBdc9zMDpkEps58nNXdF8/s200/05335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116302993018350130" border="0" /></a>tention of leaving in this. I had a text from Maisie to say that an old friend had passed away. Not a good start to the day! The rain eased and we left. Francesca and I had found the track normally passed here but it was muddy so we went back into town and followed the arrows from there. It was a boring walk and a little confusing being the usual industrial entrance into a big town, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span>and at times, with road works and lacking arrows.<br />I passed two named villages, Arcahueja and Valdefuentes.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL8uQ3f2KzexvM-vh0BzxKWJYmLAgVDZtrbFS1tI5Yg6LrL6_RksHeAoYktLbFlbdqbY7WIoPz7ApTUC3otbW4vd8BqAb7s15uwxgs6sSpdTJRsQosBKWAlMO2HNWupC85qPO9cA8Wh8/s1600-h/05336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL8uQ3f2KzexvM-vh0BzxKWJYmLAgVDZtrbFS1tI5Yg6LrL6_RksHeAoYktLbFlbdqbY7WIoPz7ApTUC3otbW4vd8BqAb7s15uwxgs6sSpdTJRsQosBKWAlMO2HNWupC85qPO9cA8Wh8/s200/05336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116303315140897346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzC-B_h19rvDU1f7SlBBrgtWrWb9VRdUmVWJUMePpcegdUwLfuqK0OyqVWNTDOMBzcHh_NOrkcmSfj8vq4qqoGjS1rSd34etP6ILU2_gcZmH5TL9hxyLwoiKfkD-PcB0OMfSxgbJxknA/s1600-h/05338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzC-B_h19rvDU1f7SlBBrgtWrWb9VRdUmVWJUMePpcegdUwLfuqK0OyqVWNTDOMBzcHh_NOrkcmSfj8vq4qqoGjS1rSd34etP6ILU2_gcZmH5TL9hxyLwoiKfkD-PcB0OMfSxgbJxknA/s200/05338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116303615788608082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliWk_g-Yrwuz9MP0uOBUd89Pfja0thCBG9KsJXZ48jN_lDLT7lC-Mo-AcomSEa8WISjMWZMvtrTeNYg3XjJYMTWw6mjRXGl0zp0_Il8BFzabglyhpRpke8OlTZzTLCJQpKDmJ_9hAHC4/s1600-h/05337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliWk_g-Yrwuz9MP0uOBUd89Pfja0thCBG9KsJXZ48jN_lDLT7lC-Mo-AcomSEa8WISjMWZMvtrTeNYg3XjJYMTWw6mjRXGl0zp0_Il8BFzabglyhpRpke8OlTZzTLCJQpKDmJ_9hAHC4/s320/05337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116324347595746066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was then lucky enough to be piped and escorted into León by a group of pipers and traditionally dressed ladies. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>I left them at the bridge to continue into town, while I found a little tourist office and got a map of the town. I stopped for a coffee then as I walked further into the city I joined a crowd of peregrinos talking German. I said "Bueno camino" to them and making a lot of noise they just carried on while I now chatted to a pleasant elderly Spanish lady. Our conversation turned from peregrinos that spoke not one word of Spanish to, of course, where did I come from and of my journey on the Ebro camino. We chatted as if we had known each other for ages and in the town she apologised for having to leave to go to her daughters house to see her grand children.<br />"You may kiss me" she said turning her head and indicating her cheeks with her hand. I did as I was told and felt very honoured to do so. I had received the best welcome a city could give.<br />I found the albergue that we had stayed in before and crowds of peregrinos were waiting for it to open. I looked round the porch of the monastery and then left and looked up at the high windows of the big dorm where I had stayed. Two young nun novices were watching the people in the road and in the square opposite. I smiled up to them and was acknowledged. I thought back that I had seen not one when I stayed here before, but it had been strictly male and female dorms!<br />I could not stay here - too many memories. I walked on and discovered the beautiful <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dLo3krisQWNdyAnndnGQM6hO2ZwwYYOWp9lrFE6UtolKUFM73K_G7lR2ecLRZeSrcAKV7n7fybSt469F6LghSQdzBoQGDP66rFGArb0Ggg17T12zy9r30fSWUpzD_eUQMIOl2BhYh2Y/s1600-h/05340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dLo3krisQWNdyAnndnGQM6hO2ZwwYYOWp9lrFE6UtolKUFM73K_G7lR2ecLRZeSrcAKV7n7fybSt469F6LghSQdzBoQGDP66rFGArb0Ggg17T12zy9r30fSWUpzD_eUQMIOl2BhYh2Y/s200/05340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116305797631994498" border="0" /></a>square <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJOR7AgXCstmUFhIFg4uPegqySTOVUZeM9gYQu5rfeQDqSJtDyEgRoADx5eHeACqDe5iQ98heB10eKAnyi-p6pa5uVeFjjC5CMKdvD5q0BBJwwPDkC843Jvyknp_n1efHPB6KarGHBJU/s1600-h/05339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJOR7AgXCstmUFhIFg4uPegqySTOVUZeM9gYQu5rfeQDqSJtDyEgRoADx5eHeACqDe5iQ98heB10eKAnyi-p6pa5uVeFjjC5CMKdvD5q0BBJwwPDkC843Jvyknp_n1efHPB6KarGHBJU/s200/05339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116323067695491842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span> then on up to the top of the hill to the cathedral.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtSRSo3HCSQ-BNkr-kLCR88gVQd1ac2vWn-N6oOXL58elrcec8VYdhulL5vofpmang_Yy5jh_HSHzySJg7TP-Iz8K-J1pQqf2vjUaUwRh1uywO49VGP96zethixnTmeMtTueSI0BH53M/s1600-h/05341.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtSRSo3HCSQ-BNkr-kLCR88gVQd1ac2vWn-N6oOXL58elrcec8VYdhulL5vofpmang_Yy5jh_HSHzySJg7TP-Iz8K-J1pQqf2vjUaUwRh1uywO49VGP96zethixnTmeMtTueSI0BH53M/s200/05341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116306128344476306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhuYkfDWJIhAnkaIQyi1X66TaSGAHQfqLCnPW_Q8xSYozp7cvF7I7HGqSzA6i8AYsAXgxmUhyM-NvpNJtNmMj9tLFaohSVrMiJNjuPIrTTWtggl8m5Gn86scqcYKqIgO2POVUcKz0Aho/s1600-h/05342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhuYkfDWJIhAnkaIQyi1X66TaSGAHQfqLCnPW_Q8xSYozp7cvF7I7HGqSzA6i8AYsAXgxmUhyM-NvpNJtNmMj9tLFaohSVrMiJNjuPIrTTWtggl8m5Gn86scqcYKqIgO2POVUcKz0Aho/s200/05342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116306351682775714" border="0" /></a><br />This time the sun refused to shine through the fantastic stained glass windows, I would just have to remember the wonderful shafts of coloured light that streamed through them when I was here before. It is a magnificent cathedral but I left now and took a coffee in a nearby bar and chatted to two men in traditional dress who looked like the ones that had played as I came into town. I was fascinated by the workmanship and colours stitched into their jackets. I took a photo of the back of one as he sat at the bar. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNXs1vpnQ-qkMSKLdFmLSDmmJIJHcMAv7g8XUDJUnF9WjX_fU_xYjSPSpuwtFFbW5fmQWhyphenhyphent4thKN-WcOYl4KxYJapL8Igexh9DVY8EffmH2l0lfHJs3b56pzAboehJ427ZE3INc3QB0/s1600-h/05343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNXs1vpnQ-qkMSKLdFmLSDmmJIJHcMAv7g8XUDJUnF9WjX_fU_xYjSPSpuwtFFbW5fmQWhyphenhyphent4thKN-WcOYl4KxYJapL8Igexh9DVY8EffmH2l0lfHJs3b56pzAboehJ427ZE3INc3QB0/s200/05343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116318107008264898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnC-vjr0BqBrc9n9YHG9JjF5Sjo_vAmBblQbSFt8OHFeJlGVkdOqPjB8cGRLadI1FnxGdrCZ2vynKowfeqUdMTbfzeNm5JCjPME2Pyh3QXaBh3ySibKMzOtsVElt-HYj9WH5-tAq_XjU/s1600-h/05344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnC-vjr0BqBrc9n9YHG9JjF5Sjo_vAmBblQbSFt8OHFeJlGVkdOqPjB8cGRLadI1FnxGdrCZ2vynKowfeqUdMTbfzeNm5JCjPME2Pyh3QXaBh3ySibKMzOtsVElt-HYj9WH5-tAq_XjU/s200/05344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116318390476106450" border="0" /></a><br />On my way out of town I stopped and went into another church,<br />the Basílica de San Isidoro, where I said my thanks again.<br />On leaving I had difficulty finding my way, but by asking several people I eventually found the right road. For a long way it was very built up and I stopped in a restaurant and tried the hare that was on the menu. It was ok but not something really exciting. I set off again and eventually arrived at La Virgen del Camino, where my guidebook said there was an albergue and I found it in what I think had been some sort of school at one time. It was well done and comfortable and most importantly clean. The only fault I found was that I could not find the instructions for the Micro Wave cooker!<br />During my walk from León I had text Vigi that I would be coming to Leon today. Vigi is an old friend that I met walking to Finisterra in 2004 and again in her hometown in 2005. I was very surprised and delighted to receive a reply saying she would meet me in an hour if I would text her where I was staying! I did so and now searched the grounds for a four-leaf clover to give her. I found one and took out one of my last koalas to give her. I know she has family here in Leon but knew she would have to drive from Oviedo to meet me and that was a good hour's drive. I sat on a bench chatting to a fellow peregrino till she arrived. I was so engrossed in conversation I didn't see her arrive but heard her call out my name and I looked up to see three ladies on the path. One was of Vigi and she was as excited to see me as I was to see her. We embraced and kissed both cheeks and I could not have been more welcomed. She then introduced me to her friends, both charming ladies. I gave Vigi her koala and the clover and she proudly showed me she still carried the clover I had given her two years ago. Arm in arm we all walked back to the main road and the bar on the corner. Here I had to tell my stories and they made a great fuss of me and I in return sung the song I wrote 'Donde va Peregrina' to them, much to the enjoyment of the rest of the patrons too. Alas Vigi said she must return to Oviedo and the two other girls who worked in the hospital in Leon must leave too. Snatching my money away and stuffing it back in my pocket they insisted on paying the bill. We now all walked to where they had parked the cars and said our goodbyes.<br />"One moment" said Vigi rushing over to her car. I was dumbstruck when she returned with a single peach rose for me. "For your hat" she insisted. I was overwhelmed "Gracias" was all I could say and kissed her on her cheek again. She knew I nearly always walk with a flower in my hat but never as big or as beautiful one as this rose. I waved a sad goodbye as she drove off and to the other two who now turned their car the other way towards Leon. I deliberately stepped onto the crossing to make them stop, then waved to them again after crossing still clutching my peach rose.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 26 = approx 27.3 km Sub Total = 311.6 km Total = 649.5 km</span><br /></div><br /><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-57910708313663657952007-09-30T04:31:00.000-07:002007-09-30T04:51:25.213-07:0009/06/07 Burgo Ranero to Puente de Villarente09/06/07<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Burgo Ranero to Puente de Villarente</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I left at 8am after walking into the village for a coffee. Soon I am on this straight road again. </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6RffIJFam-gOyiXNnOLfq0nyfBMZcWtTxrQV7LwyrU7sCcwzGbJlIpvbwUcawqlvDPo-Tq7IpZHlaqiVcCZN1rnV35IelfLK-w-2AXrqu3jShookklENboefVzSKCPcVU-NXu3H8deM/s1600-h/05333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6RffIJFam-gOyiXNnOLfq0nyfBMZcWtTxrQV7LwyrU7sCcwzGbJlIpvbwUcawqlvDPo-Tq7IpZHlaqiVcCZN1rnV35IelfLK-w-2AXrqu3jShookklENboefVzSKCPcVU-NXu3H8deM/s200/05333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115961173751130626" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> There is little to look at and I am grateful of the cloud cover today as I have been now for the last two days. The new trees here are not big enough as yet to shade you as you walk and I was to take few photos today. I passed the first rest stop mentioned in my guidebook, it had a few trees and a bench to rest on and I remembered meeting a friend here before. The grass was more than knee high today and lush after last night's rain. A few frogs croaked a chorus from water in the ditch as I walked on, evidence of a wet spring. I was glad I had not weathered last night's storm here. There were a number of peregrinos all heading in the same direction but I stayed alone and eventually came to a second place and here too the grass was high around the big concrete tables and benches supplied for tired Peregrinos. I decided to make soup and eat some bread and was surprised how many peregrinos walked past, some I knew some not, but all called out</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Buen camino"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Next stop was Reliegos and here I had coffee and Spanish omelette. Somewhere after that I text home and a little while later Maisie phoned me back. Amazingly, wherever it was I had just arrived outside a factory. Here was a shade stop with tables and benches too so I was able to sit down on a table and relax and talk comfortably.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My two kids, their partners and all the grandkids were there and all said hello to me. I told them how I missed them and that it was a good day for walking because it was still cloudy after last night’s storm and that I was fit and going well.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was thrilled to hear everybody and was very happy but now I found as I rang off that I was crying my eyes out!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Six more kms and Mansilla de las Mulos came into view. I had stopped in this village before with a big crowd of Spanish peregrinos. My shirts and trousers had just about worn out and here we discovered a little shop where I could buy some new ones and today I was still wearing one of the shirts and the other was in my bag! I have never been able to find shirts that wore so well, looked as good or dried as quickly as these two do. They were just beginning to fray at the cuff but were still serviceable. I was determined to see if that little shop was still here and if he still stocked those shirts! I racked my brain and found the street and the shop! The same man was serving a customer and I waited my turn.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Can I help you" he said as he finished serving the lady.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Si I want two of these," I said touching my shirt collar, "I bought two from you four years ago in this very shop and I have warn them almost every day since. I have searched the world looking for any as good but it's impossible! So now I am hoping you have two new ones or me."</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"What size" he said smiling</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"I have no idea, small I suppose!"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He pulled out a pair of steps and climbed up, dived his hand in a pidgin hole and came out with two shirts exactly the same white with a stripped pattern.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Only one small but this is not much bigger. It will be ok for walking" he said noticing I had my shirt unbuttoned.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The collar size said only one number different so I took his word for it.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Ok I'll take them how much"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The ticket pinned to the shirts said 140 pesetas!! I now realised how often he sold shirts!!!.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He jotted a few figures down on a piece of paper</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"15 Euro?"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"For the two" he added as an after thought.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Fine I'll take them." I had not seen a shirt under 30 Euro in the shops in the big towns! I could not get over that I had come halfway round the world to buy two shirts! I had tried everywhere to buy shirts as great for hiking in and never found anything remotely as good.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I looked at socks but decided not to buy any, I could manage. He meanwhile was wrapping up the shirts.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Don’t worry, they have to pack in here" I said indicating my rucksack.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We now tore them from the cellophane and removed the card and pins. He then carefully refolded them telling me how I should do it so as not to crease them and I undid my rucksack and placed them in with my other clothes. I repacked all and zipped up and paid my 15E while we joked about meeting again in 4 years time!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I told my shirt story and had a beer with a group of friends at a table outside a bar. All were stopping here and I said goodbye and they went off to find this shop, hoping to buy a few bargains.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I like this little town and have some great memories of it. Strange how some things change, and others not, I looked into the albergue and it looked the same but the little hedge in the patio had gone and with it the pungent smell that it gave off was also gone. That smell had driven me to take a hostel round the corner while the rest of my Spanish friends had stayed here! I had returned later and we had all chipped in and the girls made a great huge pasta meal and we drank many bottles of wine that evening in this patio!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I must be m</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4SPukqTqzp4jdMKnd5QI4zuXwYZi7kMz38bkNRlPgVDwa13tn5HSayn8G67_JRAdBERvNvwr4kiGMTJvht4rvCFq3ppE8wOzzT70z_E5m_So6AtvMnaw_ApoTZie7kZ4A2CPinH4rSk/s1600-h/05334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4SPukqTqzp4jdMKnd5QI4zuXwYZi7kMz38bkNRlPgVDwa13tn5HSayn8G67_JRAdBERvNvwr4kiGMTJvht4rvCFq3ppE8wOzzT70z_E5m_So6AtvMnaw_ApoTZie7kZ4A2CPinH4rSk/s200/05334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115961431449168402" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">uch fitter now than I was then, I realised as I headed out over the bridge. I stopped turned and took a photo of the town I was leaving. This time I'm alone but it had been my choice.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My guidebook said there are no albergues in the next four villages but in 6 kms I came to Puente de Villarente. I now knew there was one here because some way back a Mercedes had stopped and a lady had given me a brochure about it. I was walking into town when the rain that had been threatening to fall most of the afternoon started. I came to the first few buildings, where signs indicated there was more than one albergue here now, but I had decided to use the one in the brochure.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It started to rain really hard so I sheltered in the lea of a building with three nice Spanish guys. The rain soon eased a little and I hurried on to find the albergue. It was run by foreigners and whilst clean, seemed to me, ridiculously regimented. After being told to remove my boots and place them in the coral I was issued a bunk. Walking with a heavy rucksack with hot sore and sweaty feet over cold slate floors is not nice! My sandals were hidden well inside my rucksack!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I washed my shirt and socks and hung them in the old open fronted coral to dry, not that they would dry much in this weather.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I took a chance when it eased a bit and went out to try to find a place to eat. The administrator had said it would be hopeless but I said I'd like to look anyway. I did make the acquaintance once again with Francesca, a Dutch lady. We had a few tapas and a drink in a rather miserable bar then when we returned to the albergue, we found everyone sitting down with salad and pasta on the table. Francesca disappeared to her dorm while I sat down with them and asked for a wine and could I eat, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears, (I am not sure whether they didn't understand or didn't want to). In the end I did get one glass of wine but not one person offered food and few even spoke to me! I thought how different were the Spanish I travelled with last time and left them to get some sleep.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 25 = approx. 24 km Sub Total = 290.3 km Total = 628.2 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-65502671093067576092007-09-17T21:01:00.000-07:002007-09-17T21:28:59.184-07:0008/06/07 Moratinos to Burgo Ranero<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">08/06/07</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Moratinos to Burgo Ranero</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman;">6.21am I am awake and taking photos of the sunrise <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYuTdgFs_6Dd8mOWVOnEvMaoRPunlDLoNvDm67ct49N3XQbolUki6l3dN9jMnhS2Dq45Oax-m8RyvVuiT_Fu6BVraprTCLZljZsu7-YuUHX2o0-z3qfqVRldx-YN0QA4X-pEbTWk4N6M/s1600-h/05324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYuTdgFs_6Dd8mOWVOnEvMaoRPunlDLoNvDm67ct49N3XQbolUki6l3dN9jMnhS2Dq45Oax-m8RyvVuiT_Fu6BVraprTCLZljZsu7-YuUHX2o0-z3qfqVRldx-YN0QA4X-pEbTWk4N6M/s320/05324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111391077365679474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbOZfZThlDrHMBTH7-rQhdkyfkJFMnH4j75tCspHJ9ZS__8PILjV_8Rn_eDMb6BTr5TQazyz_INJB4zQWdKexlaneb0Y1xjpl7dFck9uq4XooP7LNNLIfqz6qruTDD15OUv9WfFNNnfU/s1600-h/05325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbOZfZThlDrHMBTH7-rQhdkyfkJFMnH4j75tCspHJ9ZS__8PILjV_8Rn_eDMb6BTr5TQazyz_INJB4zQWdKexlaneb0Y1xjpl7dFck9uq4XooP7LNNLIfqz6qruTDD15OUv9WfFNNnfU/s200/05325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111391657186264450" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span>Peregrinos have been walking past since 5.30 am and some used the flash to take photos of my little tent, there by waking me up!! Why they start this early beats me? They must have left the albergue at 5 am in the dark! Still I'm thinking I should be off! I packed away my tent and hoped for a café soon. I walked past James house, saw his notice 'bricklayer wanted' but resisted the impulse and walked on. As I left the village I took a photo of the church. standing in the morning light with not a soul about, I could almost see Luke and his mate come round the corner as they had done just after I took that photo 4 years ago. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS4rpmOGm-QbSY6aCpj0p1tv0Nl7WHvPsS99IEtHI915IxkYO8L88HHKc90vXfbZuDBoFIFLqSysa0FQlKke83AS9wyDO8twezjd921dk1pB1lkGBUl1eRHl6GD4BOHXLnt7UySZsuFU/s1600-h/05326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS4rpmOGm-QbSY6aCpj0p1tv0Nl7WHvPsS99IEtHI915IxkYO8L88HHKc90vXfbZuDBoFIFLqSysa0FQlKke83AS9wyDO8twezjd921dk1pB1lkGBUl1eRHl6GD4BOHXLnt7UySZsuFU/s320/05326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111392237006849442" border="0" /></a>Only the trees have grown a little in that time. I was standing on the same spot as I had then. Funny how one place sticks in your memory, maybe it was the carved yellow arrow that triggered it! San Nicolas del Real camino had a café where I bought a coffee, 7.4 km to Sahagún my book said, I could soon see it in the distance. I passed an old Ermita.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hlOV4DYM45ryeFmRP0z6kVTRKHHaT2bQcRd3nkbeAiJsPNp2IWpGr8FiLdcoqDXuJltEGQs1x3muAFrs9wvpv9MhrkBEhX8F0AE5V9aAQtVEAoHo7OiKlcvLfG2MkoE3YHGPOad0e50/s1600-h/05327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hlOV4DYM45ryeFmRP0z6kVTRKHHaT2bQcRd3nkbeAiJsPNp2IWpGr8FiLdcoqDXuJltEGQs1x3muAFrs9wvpv9MhrkBEhX8F0AE5V9aAQtVEAoHo7OiKlcvLfG2MkoE3YHGPOad0e50/s200/05327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111392481819985330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB9gGEK7HCgx4-SGLiCZXeRRRlhShtqk5vofFDm-XTiVQKk0SV3Z3WR0BLC16UwefLpmjLcqtNAt2pX08oMjNeX80xDXzdT7lf12_Lu4Y5bU7RkHUwU-I2KnMuJ66Hr4gVIluIeyGqtk/s1600-h/05328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB9gGEK7HCgx4-SGLiCZXeRRRlhShtqk5vofFDm-XTiVQKk0SV3Z3WR0BLC16UwefLpmjLcqtNAt2pX08oMjNeX80xDXzdT7lf12_Lu4Y5bU7RkHUwU-I2KnMuJ66Hr4gVIluIeyGqtk/s200/05328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111395106045003282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On entering town I asked for the centre and left the marked route. I found a bank and changed some cash. The town was very busy and as I came down a narrow street towards a square, a chap tagged on to me and asked where I was going. He had the look of a southern gypsy and I was suspicious of him and worried about the cash I had going missing again. He said he would show me the way and we entered the square people were setting up stalls and some knew him and asked where was he going. I spotted an arrow ignoring his glib reply to them I said<br />"It's ok, I know where I am going now" and briskly walked in the direction of the arrow, but he still tagged on to me. I heard a voice call my name it was Yolanda and I said goodbye to my shadow and quickly joined the girls sitting in the shade under a tree. Realising I was not going to go on he left me in peace.<br />It was quite hot and the girls were killing time here doing a little shopping. One sat looking after the bags while the other toured the town. There was a lot of clover here and we hunted for the one with four leaves. I found one and then Yollanda found another and gave it to me. I was happy to take it, as I had given them one each before I think. It's nice to get one back this way, it doesn't happen very often. Now rested I wanted to move on and the girls were content waiting for it to get a little cooler, so I said my goodbyes and went across the square and through the arch and over the river bridge. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOONWMg6knE__xI1gZvOMqBWLhkPy7yFs0JkjCKkMfJy7i1icsKqNHxvvbZqS6HZjr2B6QuTDXzXwt4aZteLUiK30OlIt_7cuCG9VDt-YXr7NwkKzWiX7QGrqM28mShMJUJT61TZKP-s/s1600-h/05329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOONWMg6knE__xI1gZvOMqBWLhkPy7yFs0JkjCKkMfJy7i1icsKqNHxvvbZqS6HZjr2B6QuTDXzXwt4aZteLUiK30OlIt_7cuCG9VDt-YXr7NwkKzWiX7QGrqM28mShMJUJT61TZKP-s/s200/05329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111393018690897362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuGrdIHVuYZbLGs5V8l3Yv0jdyDb_V3HEzv4-Ny4Qz3W6ojVH8zBrXlO1F2a5K-3LE2vuhh6zopOTufqmEi9nJ5AAU8b-_PoqEMA19RUPlDb7hwYp-O1ThaC-r41vOQzsDJZ0B5oYER0/s1600-h/05330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuGrdIHVuYZbLGs5V8l3Yv0jdyDb_V3HEzv4-Ny4Qz3W6ojVH8zBrXlO1F2a5K-3LE2vuhh6zopOTufqmEi9nJ5AAU8b-_PoqEMA19RUPlDb7hwYp-O1ThaC-r41vOQzsDJZ0B5oYER0/s200/05330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111393259209065954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the road again I had a few problems finding the way as the arrows were not very good here. It was a lonely road and quite hard in the warm sun. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsSUkctQpdHtpqOzU4Fz5BxxGQRVWVrMaXhdkXxd-_TzY7v7f2SUZnqPSeOPAA_e3UPNLM1I1ZIvilao0FObnWtEQN8m_Mh85j2_wfXopoZvpjRj631PYOgqsa-tYw7q9c_4-Oa6qZyY/s1600-h/05331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsSUkctQpdHtpqOzU4Fz5BxxGQRVWVrMaXhdkXxd-_TzY7v7f2SUZnqPSeOPAA_e3UPNLM1I1ZIvilao0FObnWtEQN8m_Mh85j2_wfXopoZvpjRj631PYOgqsa-tYw7q9c_4-Oa6qZyY/s200/05331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111393568446711282" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkv7LusTUXoAy4euubThyphenhyphen8CdXkR9x998r3kN94ebZbnx3VSv844xd1oLEDWOhAb0hHZDJ-yZUjbLbAPtCA1PQ23A1BTDhOTJOekSTy-9qNXhiq65NDMoCkl_dsjBvwJErXYQQDPTLO2Q/s1600-h/05332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkv7LusTUXoAy4euubThyphenhyphen8CdXkR9x998r3kN94ebZbnx3VSv844xd1oLEDWOhAb0hHZDJ-yZUjbLbAPtCA1PQ23A1BTDhOTJOekSTy-9qNXhiq65NDMoCkl_dsjBvwJErXYQQDPTLO2Q/s200/05332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111393843324618242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Near Bercianos there was a large clump of trees and a bench stood in the shade. Here I found one woollen sock and a map sheet, in its clear plastic holder. Ahead I could see someone coming back towards me, so thinking they must have dropped them, I picked them up and carried it towards them. Sure enough that was what had happened and whilst the lady could only speak but a few words of English, she was so grateful that I had helped her and she insisted she buy me a drink in the next bar. I gave her a four-leaf clover from the last town and agreed to the drink. We arrived Bercianos and went to the first bar and she happily paid for a coffee and cognac but she was worried she might not find a bed in the nearby albergue so we soon wished each other 'buen camino' and parted. We met many days later and everyone in the bar had to know how she had been helped by this wonderful Australian!!! It wasn't as if I had needed to carry her rucksack!!! It was a hot and uninteresting walk. This part is very hard when it is hot. Planting trees has helped the path a little. When I walked here before they were spindly saplings unable to shade their own roots let alone a hot and sweaty pilgrim. Today they are a little better and are surviving well. It just needs another 4 years growth. Still every little helps and although warm and humid it wasn’t 40 degrees today like it can get out here, I had experienced the high 30's here last time! I had been thinking that I could stop and camp today, not here but about 5 km farther on than Burgo Ranero.<br />I had remembered that there are two shade stops on that next leg and I remembered the first one. A stone seat, and level and grassy. It would be late when I arrived but if I stocked up on food and water in the town first, I would be ok.<br />Whenever I make plans something changes and this time it was the weather! As I arrived in Burgo, great big black clouds were rolling in, I dare not risk camping! Ok I knew where the albergue was as I had gone there before. They had been full but I had been given a bed. This time they were full again.<br />"No room" was the reply from the guy that runs the place.<br />"Is there anywhere else?" I asked.<br />"As you leave town on the right" he proffered in an uninterested voice.<br />Ok, I was not going to get much more help from him so I left.<br />I came to the edge of town and saw the arrows sending me out again into the country. No point going out there now, I thought looking up at the blackening sky. Three old people were sitting on a bench outside a building and I asked where the albergue was but they said they didn't know. I said the albergue in town is full but they told me there is another as I left town on the right?<br />"Try over there" said one old man pointing across to a building some way off. I could just see a notice and read 'albergue' I had found it!<br />I walked through a large gate onto a stone paved area between two buildings. Beyond was a stone walled grassy garden. Scattered about the garden were tables and chairs with bright coloured sunshades. The building to my left and the other to my right, both looked like dorms as they had pilgrims smelly boots outside. Seeing a Spanish lady hanging out washing on a clothes line further down, I started towards her but on the end of the first building I could now see the office and an alfresco bar.<br />It all looked very nice but a cool wind was getting gusty. I ordered a beer and asked the chap for a bed and filled in the forms and paid up. He told me to use the dorm on the right as I had come in. I finished my beer and went over to see it. It was a nice enough room, fairly new, three rows of bunks and a doorway at the end. Through this was a hallway, to the left a pair of basins, to the right were 2 showers and 2 toilets and at the far end an exit door which you left from in the morning. I went back and took the top bunk beside the first door where I had come in. A hot shower refreshed me and I mopped up the water - why there were no shower curtains to stop water flooding the hallway I do not know!<br />I washed my shirt and socks outside in a clothes washing sink and went to the garden clothesline near the bar to hang them out. Just as I started, the wind got up! Tables, umbrellas and chairs suddenly took off as did some of the washing and everyone started dashing about trying to save things. I decided hanging out washing was a bad idea!<br />I collected up mine again and set off back to the dorm, saving a flying table on the way. Giving it to the hospitalario I went back towards the dorm and just as I got to the door the first heavy rain arrived. Grabbing my own boots I flung them inside the door, then following them with the rest that had been put outside to air, darting inside I slammed the door to stop the rain from beating in. There seemed to be more people than beds now, and there were. Four young chaps had been visiting a mate and were stuck here with no rain gear! After a big discussion they stripped down to their shorts put their clothes in a plastic bag, opened the door and ran like hell into the storm! They had to go all the way back into town and the other albergue!<br />I pinned my washing on the window curtain beside my bed and decided to cook on the side of the sink in the wash room. It was very difficult as people were still showering and water from there and from under the bottom of the outside door was now flooding the hall. Still I ate and many didn't. No one was going to town to find a restaurant tonight!<br />Back in my bunk I closed my eyes to sleep, listening to the wind and rain buffeting the outside. I was very glad I had not walked on to camp out tonight!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 24 = approx. 28 km Sub Total = 266.3 km Total = 604.2 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-77658808399107975672007-09-13T23:23:00.000-07:002007-09-14T20:25:51.607-07:0007/06/07 Villalcázar de Sirga to Camp Moratinos<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >07/06/07<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Villalcázar de Sirga to Camp Moratinos<br /><br /></span></span> </div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > The girls had gone by the time I awoke so I set off on my own. Soon I was walking the straight road with the path for us peregrinos on the right-hand side.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZdoRncC7jIeAbEnJCeFQJPkd-qeGhyS84dDfrkJ4yIswrOzfrV2a_NPYJQCHZcOH0EXWUPqKHyzaZsZCMY8kBzjUbw8uvl3ENZ77Onjwzn5yFFtn_4zbm17r3s4-znQuL5N_DyUA3W8/s1600-h/05317.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZdoRncC7jIeAbEnJCeFQJPkd-qeGhyS84dDfrkJ4yIswrOzfrV2a_NPYJQCHZcOH0EXWUPqKHyzaZsZCMY8kBzjUbw8uvl3ENZ77Onjwzn5yFFtn_4zbm17r3s4-znQuL5N_DyUA3W8/s320/05317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109942840163271810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I made good time and arrived at Carrion in an hour and it is 5.8 km. On the way I realised I had not placed money in the donation box at the albergue. It was too late to think about it now, I was not going to walk back 5.8 kms but I did feel guilty! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Carrion is a nice town and I took a few photographs here then took a coffee in a bar in town and met a few peregrinos I knew, but again I set off alone. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL2M4AlS3QQheuXzdNIqbKEXW6hkl3Ddtl7-0yJejQeX9AXdkmoCCfjDdOL6h0ZeJRqnaXpTGaxQgCkN-x_aK_-pOpxs7e7NJUTYxXvLXTEfwWQTUuLuQfyKZnlob_YeZ4V2txyixqHY/s1600-h/05318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL2M4AlS3QQheuXzdNIqbKEXW6hkl3Ddtl7-0yJejQeX9AXdkmoCCfjDdOL6h0ZeJRqnaXpTGaxQgCkN-x_aK_-pOpxs7e7NJUTYxXvLXTEfwWQTUuLuQfyKZnlob_YeZ4V2txyixqHY/s200/05318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109943188055622802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau80uqW5RXlXGc-HDYBeHi5XOrbQUU1c_a59Z3SX9mlSz84TOsmDqW9RsLHGTr0Y_a1jQzor_xh_JIv6XamR5N0EDfePj9upFF3Kz_5XAIZKbmujatPIuf_GAWXG19OMZ1pSRcl20XoQ/s1600-h/05319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau80uqW5RXlXGc-HDYBeHi5XOrbQUU1c_a59Z3SX9mlSz84TOsmDqW9RsLHGTr0Y_a1jQzor_xh_JIv6XamR5N0EDfePj9upFF3Kz_5XAIZKbmujatPIuf_GAWXG19OMZ1pSRcl20XoQ/s200/05319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109943467228497058" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFZvUH7GKYZZF1GS8g4vlb8sRbWIoaBjEuSwv4yuOiyJVb7jzn2jmIuqxkHsO-dWk6-OarSj_1HPCKdg5BgUePtmQ6wrursPjniPlo98DkrIvbYgtSXP4KY6HbWVoNDqsAnWht_v2lnA/s1600-h/05320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFZvUH7GKYZZF1GS8g4vlb8sRbWIoaBjEuSwv4yuOiyJVb7jzn2jmIuqxkHsO-dWk6-OarSj_1HPCKdg5BgUePtmQ6wrursPjniPlo98DkrIvbYgtSXP4KY6HbWVoNDqsAnWht_v2lnA/s320/05320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109943690566796466" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >The next stage to Calzadilla has no shade and no water, so my book said, and was 17.2 kms. The weather now had changed to warm and I knew this stretch from before. Just outside of town I stopped and took off my waistcoat and was fixing it on my rucksack when a cyclist wearing the usual crash hat, tight black pants and brightly coloured top, stopped turned round and came over to take my photo! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >After Holde I was not too fazed out by this.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >He smiled and said </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"You don’t recognise me do you? I am from the albergue the hospitalaria!" </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I realised then who he was and we shook hands and he wished me </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"Buen camino" and said he was keeping fit riding and would do a round circuit of some 20kms round and back to the albergue. Just as he rode out of sight I again remembered I had not paid for my bed! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Too late again I kicked myself for not remembering!</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Soon I had to take a left turn and made good time down a pretty country road. A while later I saw my small road met with another road, here a lady was sitting on a small low sequía wall eating an apple. There had been hedgerows but little shade or anything to sit on and I asked if I might join her on the little brickwork wall and eat my apple too. Here we sat eating and chatting when suddenly a voice calls out to me and I see my hospitalaria friend riding back home on the other road. I shouted back calling for him to stop and he turned round and rode back to me. I explained I had not paid for my lodgings last night and was embarrassed that on seeing him again, I still had not remembered, now I asked would he take my payment back for me please. He said it didn't matter and not to bother, but I insisted and smiling he took the few Euro and we waved and shouted encouragement to each other as he rode off. I said goodbye to my new friend and continued my camino.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >The track became a rough un-surfaced road and went on for about 8 km from Carrión and here I found some enterprising person had set up a portable building as a café just a week before and they were doing extremely well. I also stopped and had a cool beer and a piece of tortilla and to my surprise the two Spanish girls arrived. I chatted for a while but then I moved off again to complete the second half to Calzadilla.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >It was very hot when I arrived at Calzadilla and finding a restaurant with a bar and outside a bright shade over some of its tables I decided to rest and let it cool a bit before continuing on. Yolanda and her friend arrived and we had a few laughs together, massaged our feet and relaxed.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FzEsxIuFSFSWrIZ4KapKhWJzf4FFx_gtMOcatSaryhMTVDvY1j1aC3eX1KLNu4XFgTRrbtpEVtoyqcOMvZxTJl14heOQkHtVPQZC-_IqeIaI6yJb5yhK4qWDzjLXNr9BjA5o2kdgHlg/s1600-h/05322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FzEsxIuFSFSWrIZ4KapKhWJzf4FFx_gtMOcatSaryhMTVDvY1j1aC3eX1KLNu4XFgTRrbtpEVtoyqcOMvZxTJl14heOQkHtVPQZC-_IqeIaI6yJb5yhK4qWDzjLXNr9BjA5o2kdgHlg/s200/05322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109947057821156610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWYqY-L7lCQ-cfi83IePP4VYknwKF99jOqPq6BuXoeoYqaHi3AJhE0WIBfgYivR0Ai1J9KXX81JbTMmulUaSO0g_fhoAqRyfo3NSnU00NHZnfd4_ecxvljIQTg2UBEEelSQiFwPMJia0/s1600-h/05321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWYqY-L7lCQ-cfi83IePP4VYknwKF99jOqPq6BuXoeoYqaHi3AJhE0WIBfgYivR0Ai1J9KXX81JbTMmulUaSO0g_fhoAqRyfo3NSnU00NHZnfd4_ecxvljIQTg2UBEEelSQiFwPMJia0/s320/05321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109947388533638418" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >We were joined by a few more peregrinos, many of whom ate in the restaurant inside. The girls were tired and I was the first to leave and as I left town I passed a donkey and three French ladies sitting in the shade of a few trees. I was to keep seeing them from now on. A donkey might carry their packs but finding grass, shelter and accommodation for him and them at times I think was a problem. It was quite hot and hard going but I passed Ledigos and got to Terradillos.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I remembered stopping here before, in the albergue. I had told myself I should stop in different places this time, I thought maybe I could camp tonight, it was sunny and it could be a warm night. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >As always finding a flat spot and away from a village was difficult. The track was not as I remembered. It was one of the places where the route had been altered since I had walked before. I was tired when I came down to a little stream, its banks lined with trees and a small bridge over it. There was a well with a hand pump for drawing water, but a sign said it was not drinkable. I believed it, as the stream water looked a bit polluted too but it was a nice spot. Other little boards had poems and welcome sayings scribbled on them. On the top cover of the well stood a cold box, a bowl of fruit and other goodies and a donation or honesty box. I looked at putting up my tent here and thought it might just be possible but I was not too sure about it. I sat and ate my banana and drank some water as I rested on a bench in the shade, deciding what to do.<br /> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnMI8tsRcLKpOcyaKAc5WvitVtq3BwvkjeU_gdxhrobnkT6Y_kxONCPeZfWOAb20ef7hVN2AwJW_wz9zJW6byAyI6epY0FC_K6zeOD8wh0trNZmvU47GmdiPO9GQz9sF7ZaeI6AyVf6A/s1600-h/05323A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnMI8tsRcLKpOcyaKAc5WvitVtq3BwvkjeU_gdxhrobnkT6Y_kxONCPeZfWOAb20ef7hVN2AwJW_wz9zJW6byAyI6epY0FC_K6zeOD8wh0trNZmvU47GmdiPO9GQz9sF7ZaeI6AyVf6A/s320/05323A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109944476545811666" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Just then an old car pulled up, inside was a young man and his wife and a small child. The young lady got out and started to replenish the oranges and bananas and I bought one from her and was given a beer by her husband James. We chatted for a while, they were both English and lived now in the next village and were doing this to help out their sparse income, while they rebuilt the old village house. I also had done this with my wife and young family in the 70's and knew how tough life like that can be, I also remembered the rewards of getting out of the rat race! But believe me, it takes a lot of guts!</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"We have a Mongolian tent set up in the garden come sleep in there" they generously offered. "It's what we used it when we first arrived"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I was tempted but reclined the offer and said I would set up my little tent in the next field. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"Ok, but if there is anything you want, call by, you know where we live, the house with the green door!" </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >They piled back in the old motor and shunted it round, and bumped their way up the muddy track, going out the way they had come into this remote little stream valley. The first rays of sunset were casting across the meadows as I set up my little tent alongside the path in a field of cut corn a few hundred meters after crossing the stream and climbing out that little valley.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > </span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >END DAY 23 = approx. 35.3 km Sub Total = 238.3 km Total = 576.2 km</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-34155768526671969672007-09-13T22:23:00.000-07:002007-09-14T20:20:59.588-07:0006/06/07 Ermita de San Nicolás to Villalcázar de Sirga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg2Z1OYZjGzY0q5R0yoFUVATI6l-MMuxVYsnFY9VeAsjSlnQzqn7xTcfxSbijafunweswX5D7f3It9lav8rBpRqRk8_QslhoCd_sWIvnJ9C_q6Ur4J3vysqh2W0K2I2SA7RjYdgVmBWk/s1600-h/05309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg2Z1OYZjGzY0q5R0yoFUVATI6l-MMuxVYsnFY9VeAsjSlnQzqn7xTcfxSbijafunweswX5D7f3It9lav8rBpRqRk8_QslhoCd_sWIvnJ9C_q6Ur4J3vysqh2W0K2I2SA7RjYdgVmBWk/s320/05309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109927584439436258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">06/06/07<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" > </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ermita de San Nicolás to Villalcázar de Sirga </span><br /><br /></span></div>Now again m<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFuoXuNEcXvTeqAKhVKU2Pi42d-rsZWNluBqUkDGBynaqcqy7X3XhASQj1D54P-Pel-bdb1BrgnPFhzsKhZyssfrlzEdw7aEjI-O2rD98PF4jn4dEv3AgO720E3tvEylm6NhAO-qbR68/s1600-h/05310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFuoXuNEcXvTeqAKhVKU2Pi42d-rsZWNluBqUkDGBynaqcqy7X3XhASQj1D54P-Pel-bdb1BrgnPFhzsKhZyssfrlzEdw7aEjI-O2rD98PF4jn4dEv3AgO720E3tvEylm6NhAO-qbR68/s200/05310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109927958101591026" border="0" /></a>y poor notes let me down. I walked on into the next village and I was with someone and we called into an albergue that has a nice bar and we had a coffee and tortilla for breakfast on the patio and another couple joined us at our table. We two left together but I am unsure who it was now, maybe Karin, I only remember walking beside the imperial canal de Castilla with her walking behind me and when we reached the lock I stopped a while, sitting and attending to my poor feet while she went on.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrq1QAsV53A_vFJ10gip3RhwTifaUG-uLLnv_Ss8alTx-pmF0MXfKjzq6TBGT2xSZcS3ueY2dOuMBnF_pkizK8UrhbcHIQAuVqYgpeJZm_uVTBSYThbFCrUsIG39Ep7_0i4-uBzVg7U/s1600-h/05311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrq1QAsV53A_vFJ10gip3RhwTifaUG-uLLnv_Ss8alTx-pmF0MXfKjzq6TBGT2xSZcS3ueY2dOuMBnF_pkizK8UrhbcHIQAuVqYgpeJZm_uVTBSYThbFCrUsIG39Ep7_0i4-uBzVg7U/s200/05311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109928361828516866" border="0" /></a>The canal was built in the XVIII century and was supposed to connect Castile with the Cántabros seaports but was never completed. There are 210 kms of canal left I am told and I wonder why the track doesn't follow the canal further but alas it doesn't. This quadruple lock is a beautiful spot, from here I entered the town and looked at the magnificent church but they want money to go inside, so I never went right in. The church is not used, they told me there is another built nearby that is. Is it because this was a Templers church? <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGvHPQyusbjNiSllbIBPiyFtHRwSX6n7aD7WJeHCgY7MHGUD1we2Gh4WNURUQ_eZJ4YLL6fAwfuV0963rYJPGGcAVOZ7gwkMEB9p7GOaKCbOmt4XbQkLgJd8d6Szk_ZPLkkl3Zje5IUo/s1600-h/05312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGvHPQyusbjNiSllbIBPiyFtHRwSX6n7aD7WJeHCgY7MHGUD1we2Gh4WNURUQ_eZJ4YLL6fAwfuV0963rYJPGGcAVOZ7gwkMEB9p7GOaKCbOmt4XbQkLgJd8d6Szk_ZPLkkl3Zje5IUo/s200/05312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109928842864854050" border="0" /></a><br />I do not know and never asked! The track seemed different to my book again. I appeared to be on a stony road that went out to a small village and here I found a small bar set on a corner with shady trees. I bought a beer and slept a while. I bought and ate a fine bocadillo and chatted to the owner and his friends and just as I was leaving two Spanish girls, Yolanda <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB633WIOckwL9iEp8BUYM9f7SvH6-YB50cIwuCXYNNTOJNHZPlbwevQV2LG4qFS04aeTqH_LPKwYXTNFImTgOBf9B9LFU0HWouHkK1TwEDkFs47oMMCwkPaddRXSTFtBiLmep7Xi_at0/s1600-h/05315A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB633WIOckwL9iEp8BUYM9f7SvH6-YB50cIwuCXYNNTOJNHZPlbwevQV2LG4qFS04aeTqH_LPKwYXTNFImTgOBf9B9LFU0HWouHkK1TwEDkFs47oMMCwkPaddRXSTFtBiLmep7Xi_at0/s200/05315A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109929104857859122" border="0" /></a><br />and her friend, came and sat down to rest on the grass. I went over to them and we soon all left together. We came to the main road to Frómista and from here it is a straight line into town with not a tree for shade. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNS9i8rw1MTvDyUQ11a0jvMb-SwJiHa9Y9QYAZuxdCcQ8XwVWceasK-VDkY5B99NYTbGAsylkwLgym3DibSNBFZf3MOooA0lI-AM3zHxQ6L7sr9Qf60IJJoxZYCGh3v0g-ioxiLXACFg/s1600-h/FRIEND.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNS9i8rw1MTvDyUQ11a0jvMb-SwJiHa9Y9QYAZuxdCcQ8XwVWceasK-VDkY5B99NYTbGAsylkwLgym3DibSNBFZf3MOooA0lI-AM3zHxQ6L7sr9Qf60IJJoxZYCGh3v0g-ioxiLXACFg/s200/FRIEND.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109934864409003090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtkAmsn7MUvdiVvND-gGFLZoLZpz_NZaqyX3UobSJZDmJNeARze02SMIVOIKjnU7BGyupJHVh0pRq9sjMASuE2ICCwcLl94vpo8-4ifL-D6FhVxeERZ5pjsHRtUnAwYtHGMHsv3Q6l5E/s1600-h/05315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtkAmsn7MUvdiVvND-gGFLZoLZpz_NZaqyX3UobSJZDmJNeARze02SMIVOIKjnU7BGyupJHVh0pRq9sjMASuE2ICCwcLl94vpo8-4ifL-D6FhVxeERZ5pjsHRtUnAwYtHGMHsv3Q6l5E/s200/05315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109935263840961634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> I remembered walking this in the heat in 2003 and one of my bootlaces hooked on to the other boot tying my feet together! To my embarrassment I fell flat on my face alongside my companion.<br />As I told Yolanda the story, I quickly glanced down to see if my socks were folded over the boot hooks this time! I had two young ladies with me and didn't want it to happen again! Even today this was a hard walk, there is little to see and we were all happy to arrive and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZckfcR_doHSX-Wje6G6nI6AJAFb4sEsh6NOzJrth8NtR7lx1CmjDKkJfpaftOuTrH_sPZCQltoQuH3EP2rQlvyNM9GnVlt03hKOBGTgSjR8Dm9DT4e50K76myBdITE2kdzwOIqaQ6vI/s1600-h/CHURCH.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZckfcR_doHSX-Wje6G6nI6AJAFb4sEsh6NOzJrth8NtR7lx1CmjDKkJfpaftOuTrH_sPZCQltoQuH3EP2rQlvyNM9GnVlt03hKOBGTgSjR8Dm9DT4e50K76myBdITE2kdzwOIqaQ6vI/s200/CHURCH.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110265220408509778" border="0" /></a>we entered the albergue there and while booking in were told to help ourselves to a bowl full of succulent cherries in water. I noticed there were very few cherries left, as we climbed the stairs to find our beds! We settled in and showered, we had a choice of cold or hot!!!<br /><br />We did our washing then looked at the church and were unable to enter but the priest gave us a brilliant commentary all about it and why it was so unique. Much of his speech I have forgotten, but again it was because this was a Templers church and he insisted, the only really important one!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We found a little shop and managed to buy a few bits, just enough to cook a meal tonight. We did so in the little kitchen come dinning room, and we shared our produce and ate very well and the two girls were very good company.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh86XDsTIqnL03QiYh2zBu4ZshpYP4kJdmFupNGptpIohOCaWH83qFrs4Y1e1N2Iz0Gup4g8Nw5N6qXfLAY5OdzhgwIko892AYRHGFICPGDdzpCuBnJFKOvo0288OftKdvYDMVBoRWIzY/s1600-h/05316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh86XDsTIqnL03QiYh2zBu4ZshpYP4kJdmFupNGptpIohOCaWH83qFrs4Y1e1N2Iz0Gup4g8Nw5N6qXfLAY5OdzhgwIko892AYRHGFICPGDdzpCuBnJFKOvo0288OftKdvYDMVBoRWIzY/s320/05316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109935779237037170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 22 = approx. 28.2 km Sub Total = 203.0 km Total = 540.9 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-74621666353429981462007-09-12T21:48:00.000-07:002008-01-09T23:28:39.305-08:0005/06/07 Hornillos to Ermita de SanNicolás<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">05/06/07<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Hornillos to Ermita de SanNicolás </span><br /></div><br /><br />At last I had a friend to walk with, Ernesto. He and I were taken to the village and soon were out in open country, the fields of poppies fascinated me giving unbelievable blood red splashes to the landscape. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NxPmhF3caLjzT9h_toTicQzciNRxtKRCCFNdrXch8yLGMolYjST9mDGaMSZ37X3bJHwthP-FtSinGyYgA99n4oB78S9crqv7M4GXhpPg58gz_dQXji4XLDux2Ih6FjbbNAEB1HLLrhg/s1600-h/05285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NxPmhF3caLjzT9h_toTicQzciNRxtKRCCFNdrXch8yLGMolYjST9mDGaMSZ37X3bJHwthP-FtSinGyYgA99n4oB78S9crqv7M4GXhpPg58gz_dQXji4XLDux2Ih6FjbbNAEB1HLLrhg/s200/05285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109548235747984114" border="0" /></a>Any artist putting that colour red to a canvas would be told it can't be that colour! It's straight from the tube, tone it down! But believe me the morning sun would hit the poppies as the clouds scudded overhead and they would become even brighter, no camera could capture the magic and there is magic on this camino.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think it was in the little village of San Bol that you suddenly see after walking acr<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_UD3H5nr2pxBmX0y0_RY8shtmE3uNevClITOG9B_gzl1vMHY21MOKc-160uXDd_fGldPcGgFxBPbN8CcH2ELhdKTiJWCvLmHL0FRbjbvpmY22dyatDixX5Y4UHGx02DJAyg_lqXMvVA/s1600-h/05288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_UD3H5nr2pxBmX0y0_RY8shtmE3uNevClITOG9B_gzl1vMHY21MOKc-160uXDd_fGldPcGgFxBPbN8CcH2ELhdKTiJWCvLmHL0FRbjbvpmY22dyatDixX5Y4UHGx02DJAyg_lqXMvVA/s200/05288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109548450496348930" border="0" /></a>oss the wind swept fields of green corn, that we found a nice café and bar. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>There was only one last time I came here, now there were three and they all seemed to be albergues. After a nice omelette bocadillo sitting in the weak sun in the square, we retired to the warm bar for a cognac then hit the road again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB-wJG5WckDga39_Ba3mGSNEK0_Zd9dwdp08sXaZQP1r0pFqYhWJnHDUTGk5E5cG1SXPvQczpWAHyeg5gOwSlCLI3eGfTI5J2SaDm0dTEKOgumAhoo3lw1mrd-t30-r_99Z9PdpxCJwY/s1600-h/05290.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB-wJG5WckDga39_Ba3mGSNEK0_Zd9dwdp08sXaZQP1r0pFqYhWJnHDUTGk5E5cG1SXPvQczpWAHyeg5gOwSlCLI3eGfTI5J2SaDm0dTEKOgumAhoo3lw1mrd-t30-r_99Z9PdpxCJwY/s200/05290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109548871403143954" border="0" /></a>Ernest walked behind most of the time so I had the walk to myself for a while taking the dirt path from Hontanas till coming down and meeting the road again to the ruins of San Anton, an old XIV century Convent. There is no village, as Leprosy was the common sickness of the peregrino and they were treated here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soon we could see Castrojeriz, the hill covered on one side red with poppies. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsp3fiAAoEex6BKegqZFaMio19X9iSXAzFE0GuqWcpsiST_129WjciBiYu6mdJrmYKmo76CYfbWUkiH1bMzQhm27J7dKSbXcIFkinEXqZX5EKdNw4tykWpevHjUhuCDLsJhrJF3FoM2Q/s1600-h/05292+ERNISTO.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsp3fiAAoEex6BKegqZFaMio19X9iSXAzFE0GuqWcpsiST_129WjciBiYu6mdJrmYKmo76CYfbWUkiH1bMzQhm27J7dKSbXcIFkinEXqZX5EKdNw4tykWpevHjUhuCDLsJhrJF3FoM2Q/s320/05292+ERNISTO.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109549111921312546" border="0" /></a><br />I had terribly bad feet last time and was so tired, while now I felt only a little tired yet I had walked 20 kilometres. We looked at an albergue, but passed it by, my friend saying he would look for a casa rural. There was an awful amount of work going on in the village and we could hardly pass along the main street. The work seemed to finish a bit and we found a local bar and sat at the bar on the stools. Ernest was going to stop here while I thought I must go on, I had a place to visit here and wanted to do the impossible and go on much further like I had done before. No one with that idea should not get in to drinking good red wine! Then the conversation got round to orujo! Now we had to try the four different types till having got the entire bar going. There had been no one here when we arrived! Now it was full of peregrinos chatting about the hardships of camino, chuckle. I must have started that with stories of El Ebro. I embraced my new companion and wished him well, drank a free orujo from the barman and got outside and set off up the street hoping I was not staggering too much. I came round a corner and here was what I wanted, A row of houses and shops with a row of pillars supporting the top floor leaving a covered walkway underneath. I strolled along the flagstones thinking of what had happened to me last time. At the end I stopped as before, outside a hardware store. This time raincoats were hanging on the pillar. Last time I had slept here on the stones in 40° heat in 2003. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ps15K-Tc5SGV2OvOcsu3HCOJ9hUIajstX49wYEDWepChQ6XhG294noe0i_LgpCv8gBEa3aro_S4Enlq6nGrNCi_K_7-CzPIt96-HYne0zBdXFOLvuKgD348kASbhze8iKQF3kJYiMDk/s1600-h/Mike+asleep2003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ps15K-Tc5SGV2OvOcsu3HCOJ9hUIajstX49wYEDWepChQ6XhG294noe0i_LgpCv8gBEa3aro_S4Enlq6nGrNCi_K_7-CzPIt96-HYne0zBdXFOLvuKgD348kASbhze8iKQF3kJYiMDk/s200/Mike+asleep2003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109554759803306962" border="0" /></a><br />On waking had been compelled to touch that round pillar with my back! I had been embarrassed to do it, even though I was alone at the time. I was now but I touched the stone and feeling its firm rough texture under my palm, I patted it and said a little "thank you" to myself.<br />My confidence returned and I turned and went into the shop. The same old man who had left his shop unlocked while I had lain in front on the flagstones to sleep was serving a customer, I had no idea why I had come in but seeing hat badges on a rack I stood and selected one. I'll take that one of Castrojeriz please" I said to the old man as he came to serve me.<br />He took the one and started to wrap it up.<br />"Why is the pillar outside your shop round and all the others square? I asked<br />"It's from another age" was his smiling reply.<br />I then told my story of last time I was here and he nodded with a knowing glint in those old eyes. No I don’t think he was thinking I was nuts!<br />I went out of the small town taking the dirt road across the flat valley floor. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYJx5dugP4ws0BereG43pH0soNK1RLc6pK_G3oCaXL2pL89hqNXz6Jp4TDKdUDXKRtM2JrgvJrlahen0O78N4TjCquCRqds43q8nNCEPc2U6hvawM_SSiUbvyObAJTivpAPJpp8HA1UM/s1600-h/144+-+Ascent+to+Alto+de+Mostelares.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYJx5dugP4ws0BereG43pH0soNK1RLc6pK_G3oCaXL2pL89hqNXz6Jp4TDKdUDXKRtM2JrgvJrlahen0O78N4TjCquCRqds43q8nNCEPc2U6hvawM_SSiUbvyObAJTivpAPJpp8HA1UM/s320/144+-+Ascent+to+Alto+de+Mostelares.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109550915807576898" border="0" /></a>There is a raised track at one place and is, I think, the original way here. I saw two men on bikes come towards me and then stop and turn round while a female dropped her bike and filmed them riding the last section before the tracks meet. She was a very pretty girl and as I too took my turn on this section she waved and filmed me as I too arrived. She called out and carried out an interview with me as the two chaps listened. I don’t think I have met a more vivacious young lady as she kept getting me to move so she could get the best angle and photos of me, my sticks, and my many hat badges. Holde was incredible and I fell for her charm immediately. Holde said like the Australian car Holden without the N she assured me, while I wrote it down to be sure. We chatted for some time swapping stories.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5VT07oBeOTcQ7aSaaBeEQ3Na86402DXtTXen4TearxOSdLGMHXbWpGqOCjstqbPXMYKFszAHmZDVwblvBKV8Y46klq-xMnza3brf92besOF2hexlI-zBYA6cTGxoLoTgJuVe5DU2qQs/s1600-h/PEREGR2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5VT07oBeOTcQ7aSaaBeEQ3Na86402DXtTXen4TearxOSdLGMHXbWpGqOCjstqbPXMYKFszAHmZDVwblvBKV8Y46klq-xMnza3brf92besOF2hexlI-zBYA6cTGxoLoTgJuVe5DU2qQs/s400/PEREGR2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153744325501684258" border="0" /></a><br />They were from Germany I believe, I should write these things down at the time but I didn't. I gave her my card and she promised to email me the photos. This photo is one she kindly sent to me. I waved, wished them luck and left them riding and photographing in the same place again. Now I soon came to the steep climb up on the other side of the valley. I was almost at the top and still thinking about them and when I turned my head and looked back to see where they were, I couldn't see them anywhere. Looking forward again I was amazed. I could see I had all but reached the top! I had walked with seventeen kilos up this killing climb and not even noticed I had been climbing!!! I had not stopped once! I felt a shiver. I had only patted the pillar this time but it had done the same as before, then I had walked out into the heat and across this valley and up to here without effort. I stopped at the top to take photos. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fcF3Z2kW_xFMlVL3_5W0Xo6Zuqhedd2HnL30sINqoODkTPrrOBwqZT9_ht6zhdiUveK5ZciZVh3d56aUk1iDZiihHAKllhGd1nqKxb7bgyI0NhFdLo11E_xJY8PuG1mOLwZQAp3mc_U/s1600-h/05294Castrojeriz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fcF3Z2kW_xFMlVL3_5W0Xo6Zuqhedd2HnL30sINqoODkTPrrOBwqZT9_ht6zhdiUveK5ZciZVh3d56aUk1iDZiihHAKllhGd1nqKxb7bgyI0NhFdLo11E_xJY8PuG1mOLwZQAp3mc_U/s320/05294Castrojeriz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109551414023783250" border="0" /></a>Three young peregrinos were there on a bench resting. I had no need but drank a swig of water before leaving them to rest while I crossed the top to the other side and looked out across the wide expanse before me. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFJtsb8Q5stkN5uNk-4sajRCg_2elxTjed0EGOkpcvIeTmLJV6Rmzepnb34IpU9R4tkq1ZGrIzn_PMgR8_nJDR1nJLLtlMhyphenhyphennNHk8Y9UDUM_JLbK9TFDMQbg2-wWcqmGkueWbOvsPk8/s1600-h/05296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFJtsb8Q5stkN5uNk-4sajRCg_2elxTjed0EGOkpcvIeTmLJV6Rmzepnb34IpU9R4tkq1ZGrIzn_PMgR8_nJDR1nJLLtlMhyphenhyphennNHk8Y9UDUM_JLbK9TFDMQbg2-wWcqmGkueWbOvsPk8/s320/05296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109551757621166946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not a house could be seen but I knew it was there far away hidden in a valley near a river. Last time it had been almost frightening to know I had to face the heat and head out across here not knowing how far the next water was. I started down now and Holde and her companions came by and as steep as it was, they all shouted and waved as they skidded and slid trying to pick the best parts of the rough track. By the time I had reached the bottom where it had been remade, they had disappeared.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcv7DWdE65aF1jCXPs31gZ009sgP-iWVgJRCUnl_f1huBabB-fCTBDBRxMrTa0wk064PZp2GFY1ke4Z1BiBo5lBNQ2gNphXKRIvoB-xgFqze5Fwig0iWHygbLtRwRwYuJa19GsE1QYxQ/s1600-h/05297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcv7DWdE65aF1jCXPs31gZ009sgP-iWVgJRCUnl_f1huBabB-fCTBDBRxMrTa0wk064PZp2GFY1ke4Z1BiBo5lBNQ2gNphXKRIvoB-xgFqze5Fwig0iWHygbLtRwRwYuJa19GsE1QYxQ/s200/05297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109552088333648754" border="0" /></a>Probably half an hour later I came over a small hill and there on the now rough and narrow track I saw them working on Holde's bike. They seemed to be doing ok but said they had to change their plans now.<br />"We go on to the next big town for parts. Holde would only be able to use one gear all the way."<br />She is taking photos of me all the time we are chatting.<br />"I have something for you to bring you luck, it will help you get there and get the parts."<br />I gave her a four-leaf clover, it was my own clear laminated one, for bringing me luck!<br />"I find them all the time. I will soon find another I assured her"<br />She hugged me, kissed me on both cheeks and took more photos! The boys embraced me and shook hands and with a "Bueno camino" and the three rode off, leaving me with an empty feeling hoping I would see them again but almost knowing that was not to be.<br />It is 10 kms from Castrojeriz to the ermita San Nicolas of Itero de la Vega. They are hard too, there is that first mountain and not a tree for shade all the way. This time I was lucky, as it was cloudy much of the time. I passed the fountain where I remembered filling my water bottle, as I had none left then. It looked as if the fountain had been neglected since the new tarmac road had been laid I thought!<br />I was sure I had taken the wrong way at a junction because I could see a village to my right and I did not remember seeing one before. There are few markers here, no trees to paint with yellow arrows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmKo4VIJOJgQDyKa4rxq8-iuxp9L1jwl69I1Ji6_RrHHFfKUVh66oQXTj6FJr8rUDEHdVpUOblItk60IzfIQqfkP8hVxbFFXcdpw2QjorKXFoCDUXADL8Ld2U95DsjSVxUhc2dkycVP0/s1600-h/05302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmKo4VIJOJgQDyKa4rxq8-iuxp9L1jwl69I1Ji6_RrHHFfKUVh66oQXTj6FJr8rUDEHdVpUOblItk60IzfIQqfkP8hVxbFFXcdpw2QjorKXFoCDUXADL8Ld2U95DsjSVxUhc2dkycVP0/s320/05302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109552715398873986" border="0" /></a> Then I saw it as I remembered, there before the bridge as it has been for hundreds of years. This time I could not see any peregrinos outside the Ermita. At least, although tired, I was feeling better too as I came up to the door. That was different too, being wide open this time, light flooding inside. The Priest was a different man (they change often I was told). He sat at the table with a young lady who had the registration book in front of her. I was asked to sit down and fill in the form and was given a bed. This time inside the Ermita, a top bunk at the end by the stairs. I rested a little while then showered and washed my clothes and hung them to dry behind the building. Then went for a walk to the bridge to look at the river. It was very full this time. Then I saw the peregrinos entering the Ermita and hurried back and I was again the last there. We were asked to sit and say a small prayer around the alter with its gold shining icons. The service was read in Italian, Spanish and English and then we were asked to remove our socks and the young lady who had done the paper work now washed and kissed and blessed our feet. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzdkpm4NuhONQHXWK0VX4WaFJ1DRz54QHf0RZ0nOigiFhBtGKoqhb4BJngOzhAQRXkqvcTCaK0ghUO9sD4d28Q3V7d_CHAk24ENQ2O2u4Ch1_pAtRKUr-JoV8j2FC_lEYAHEvdFR6Ha8/s1600-h/05304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzdkpm4NuhONQHXWK0VX4WaFJ1DRz54QHf0RZ0nOigiFhBtGKoqhb4BJngOzhAQRXkqvcTCaK0ghUO9sD4d28Q3V7d_CHAk24ENQ2O2u4Ch1_pAtRKUr-JoV8j2FC_lEYAHEvdFR6Ha8/s400/05304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109553050406323090" border="0" /></a><br />The man had done it last time, I have now had my feet blessed by both sexes, chuckle. At least this time I knew what was going to happen. Last time it had been a miracle that I had washed my feet under the pump before staggering in here to eat not knowing what was going to happen.<br />When I arrived at this Ermita for the very first time, I had come from bright sunlight into complete darkness. The first words I had heard came from a priest who was standing in the darkness just inside the door.<br />"Arr! You are the Australian, for you I have a bed"<br />I don't know how he knew that! I still don't!<br />This time had been different but as I sat down to eat at the long table that had been laid down the length of the hall, a lady sitting almost opposite uttered, as I sat down,<br />"Arr! You are the Australian" and I almost leapt from my seat!<br /><br />After dinner the word went round that we should all go to the village for a drink and our priest and the lady plus a number of peregrinos were going so I put on my boots and joined them. It was a wonderful star-lit night and was a good kilometre but we were in good spirits. They were all good company and we had some interesting conversations round the table. When we all decided to call it a night after a few wines, we sang all the way back. One elderly man was from England. I had met him a several times, he was a year or two younger than I but wore a hat very similar and had done a fair bit of camino travelling. Laughter, old English, Irish and Aussie songs echoed into the night joined a terrible rendering of 'Oh Solo Mio' for or Italian friends. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2ytfaR1aXJDZ-aUk-0lGWFkcIce7LqNzrmaN5oyZPpyu1PuCflsTmspMiz7weT5tJrnTYOWEGFe9UNxFOjzOxxUwlvZ-fIJdjOBHgDxJkffdxGsI5IU1i55NeqEx2pomthtSPnCqe-w/s1600-h/05305-6BAR1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2ytfaR1aXJDZ-aUk-0lGWFkcIce7LqNzrmaN5oyZPpyu1PuCflsTmspMiz7weT5tJrnTYOWEGFe9UNxFOjzOxxUwlvZ-fIJdjOBHgDxJkffdxGsI5IU1i55NeqEx2pomthtSPnCqe-w/s400/05305-6BAR1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109553458428216226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD4DJA8W6LAk13rPvOYL3bOoVF_6MtusySzMJ8i9CqVUytNeDDhutoVQpLbyqARWNyPjiIApaDZzlgmuvzijtPGOMcZcG6AIl-oyMqXOuoI5PiL6ITCwoiSzow4E5Hd5SbdPPnzjZNHc/s1600-h/05307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD4DJA8W6LAk13rPvOYL3bOoVF_6MtusySzMJ8i9CqVUytNeDDhutoVQpLbyqARWNyPjiIApaDZzlgmuvzijtPGOMcZcG6AIl-oyMqXOuoI5PiL6ITCwoiSzow4E5Hd5SbdPPnzjZNHc/s200/05307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109553750485992370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmh5sOAspbUmoef2OJ2X8UmHlGUHe83UYZy7I1U_I__zA2EMHhkfVdaOiZklWRcLaW1SEpgo-at8lZuLXUiw9XY36AVnrIOZTzqTBHPVs0we7WWfJE4186Rol3uN6i55MvWBfFgvVI9Q/s1600-h/05308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmh5sOAspbUmoef2OJ2X8UmHlGUHe83UYZy7I1U_I__zA2EMHhkfVdaOiZklWRcLaW1SEpgo-at8lZuLXUiw9XY36AVnrIOZTzqTBHPVs0we7WWfJE4186Rol3uN6i55MvWBfFgvVI9Q/s200/05308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109554021068932034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 21 = approx. 30.3 km Sub Total = 174.8 km Total = 512.7 km</span><br /></div><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-35919739332272726262007-09-10T21:06:00.000-07:002007-09-10T22:46:47.513-07:0004/06/07 Cardeñuela de Río Pico to Hornillos<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman;">04/06/07<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Cardeñuela de Río Pico to Hornillos </span><br /></div><br />I slept well enough - probably the drink! I seemed to be the only one walking, the others had bikes. Back on the road it was very quiet as I made my way along the road. It was pleasant and I passed through Orbaneja <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATezVAf32RxkPyu5RWQQOxcoZIztOWXeVXW5MOFiAKXKftext430Fkv9t64YfVPmCvlUtM1r5lPhuqdaWdJK9mMcGSs1C-Q_3kjZEc07Y_XfkLnHpJC4sonGCFgOAfwNpC-eK0gMveLI/s1600-h/05269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATezVAf32RxkPyu5RWQQOxcoZIztOWXeVXW5MOFiAKXKftext430Fkv9t64YfVPmCvlUtM1r5lPhuqdaWdJK9mMcGSs1C-Q_3kjZEc07Y_XfkLnHpJC4sonGCFgOAfwNpC-eK0gMveLI/s200/05269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108811098138030866" border="0" /></a>then Villafria then at Gamonal I started the normal entrance to a big town again Burgos! It was the horrible main road and industrial strip. On reaching what I thought might be near the main town, I asked at a couple of different banks if they could change some Australian dollars and was always directed to the head office or main bank, city centre. One attempt to get in a big bank that I thought might be the main bank of a big banking chain was quite funny. It was drizzling rain and I was dressed in my rain cape!<br />I went up to a glass door and had to pull it hard towards me. It opened, I move smartly forward, as it springs closed behind me pushing on my rucksack and clicked shut! I can't move! There is another glass door in front that doesn't open. I am stuck with my face inches from the glass in front. I am in a glass cabinet not much bigger than a telephone box, I hear a loud mechanical Darlek voice<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again" and every time I touched the door in front it repeated it<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />My Spanish was good enough to understand but I could not move, let alone remove my rucksack or any weapons I may have had anyway!<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />bump bomp!<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />I shouted and waved as best I could at a bank teller serving a customer, the teller was facing me but twenty feet away, behind a glass screen on the far side of the large room before me.<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />"I want to change Australian Dollars, do you do that?"<br />"Leave your weapons in the foyer and try again"<br />He and his surprised customer spotted this army khaki wrapped figure gesturing at him!<br />Suddenly, realising I'm just some tourist nut not a bandit, he shook his head and called back<br />"Try the main bank in the centre of town."<br />Well ok, now I didn't have to enter, and although the voice kept on, I now put my mind into turning round and flattened my face against the glass eee-shurrump! went the rucksack against the opposite glass! I'd managed to get half round. Once more, eee-shurrump! suddenly it went again and I am facing outwards! I grabbed my staffs heaved on the handle and putting my shoulder to the door stumbled out into the street again complete with my weapons!!!! What a photo shoot that would have made for a funny home video!<br /><br />At last I was in town or at least on the edge of it. Here I found a bank to change my notes and I enjoyed the fountain before entering the old city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqgEWUcimz99G5yUOxcLA_mVAa9487SWvVvYsSOf5vxPX7zYdHJEEHppdbZcPkjm_d2tbyBGeFFnxcd_VelUeql9gCXPIWVjwc90g3opTOAOWv8ZrgDFNEsY9yU5CZUh1y2nQFZZA-sM/s1600-h/05270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqgEWUcimz99G5yUOxcLA_mVAa9487SWvVvYsSOf5vxPX7zYdHJEEHppdbZcPkjm_d2tbyBGeFFnxcd_VelUeql9gCXPIWVjwc90g3opTOAOWv8ZrgDFNEsY9yU5CZUh1y2nQFZZA-sM/s200/05270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108811433145479970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soon I came to the Catheadral. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3CLW5dNxhyHNisht4J6kdfOR8eNUYK0Qf0kFJ5aBCDn6KluJ1PP-LA9vXStXgaZ_OeULILo4uzH5-K9aivPfYwpz3cG645picrkDxV8eeP28E_Kx9_rge8cQJEc8I2zKSfs_U5THRco/s1600-h/05271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3CLW5dNxhyHNisht4J6kdfOR8eNUYK0Qf0kFJ5aBCDn6KluJ1PP-LA9vXStXgaZ_OeULILo4uzH5-K9aivPfYwpz3cG645picrkDxV8eeP28E_Kx9_rge8cQJEc8I2zKSfs_U5THRco/s200/05271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108811768152929074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY8M8Y9KNNPWJ5RD8LpP8LJ9SbWiphNEdvJqWeqoDQBSwJ5SkEkFmKneQ-RgUJT7M8Kf5b1UNMK3nDLPeTpzcfcb-YqoewaaMx7MpT4XM67pnRqul6fPkQ9d7IHQvmmusNvFu0HIvE6A/s1600-h/05272.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY8M8Y9KNNPWJ5RD8LpP8LJ9SbWiphNEdvJqWeqoDQBSwJ5SkEkFmKneQ-RgUJT7M8Kf5b1UNMK3nDLPeTpzcfcb-YqoewaaMx7MpT4XM67pnRqul6fPkQ9d7IHQvmmusNvFu0HIvE6A/s200/05272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108812030145934146" border="0" /></a>I never found the entrance and know there must be much more to see here but my itchy feet sent me on. It was a nice walk and a different way to last time where I followed the river all the way, but I did come down to it later. First I found a charming lady who said she was just starting her camino but coffee called and I stopped in a bar then continued later.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Hc6xJilw6eLJi2dze5Xu883v_KMQq5yWME-qjpK0vcwR8raqIVqK38NRGKoLQgYCKjqOHLxIjKBL0E57h9fHFajVweWrFazGYwRdaEo02bjK5N55fu4hhb9EFO1SWUADCq1b6vkjtFw/s1600-h/05274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Hc6xJilw6eLJi2dze5Xu883v_KMQq5yWME-qjpK0vcwR8raqIVqK38NRGKoLQgYCKjqOHLxIjKBL0E57h9fHFajVweWrFazGYwRdaEo02bjK5N55fu4hhb9EFO1SWUADCq1b6vkjtFw/s320/05274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108812257779200850" border="0" /></a>Out of town again I walked seeing several peregrinos, spoke to some but stayed alone. The arrows took us to the right and we took a rough road with bulldozed trees and hedgerows. I stopped, dumped my bag down and searched for a new staff and finding one cut it to length and pealed off the bark. I took my big one to pieces and with the other old one, that was now bent like a bow, I fixed both of them on the outside of my rucksack. Hands free, I could walk and trim up the new one. It was sturdier and I hoped it would dry and stay straight! It cut well and I thought it was chestnut but was not sure. I walked for miles working on the stick hardly noticing where I was. I drew on where I was going to put my Templers cross and the four-leaf clover and started carving them on the staff. I was walking with some ladies for a while and we crossed a stream not sure if we were right. It all looked different than before to me. Puzzled I noticed there was a lot of new building work going on and then looking again at the stream I remembered it now, last time the same stream had been very green and natural. Now it was neat and tidy, its banks lined with stone and very colourful, yes wild flowers capping and transforming its banks, I'm not sure how I felt. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD0IWIpg1MRqbF8EL_Xpijk85XEgOyRvFU7IRf7VWAXfT8navShUPRKwxBCRImpUAIvSNz3YhBFJ2tsUklFCnTuhXnGpC46ez7wq1k5-TLSuck9jd3hEirpPQtx8TPZ4fFbDBU6CshzI/s1600-h/05276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD0IWIpg1MRqbF8EL_Xpijk85XEgOyRvFU7IRf7VWAXfT8navShUPRKwxBCRImpUAIvSNz3YhBFJ2tsUklFCnTuhXnGpC46ez7wq1k5-TLSuck9jd3hEirpPQtx8TPZ4fFbDBU6CshzI/s200/05276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108812764585341794" border="0" /></a> The camino is the old way, I wanted to see it as that, as it had been, not with just another neat park look! Next time there will be a new village here I think! Next village was Villabilla. I think it was here I took a photo of the unique fountain by Gaudí. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatd4mfnbfwBFA2G_WMpzCWdZ6m4-iwIHClt6vRvTdZP0GJbFUv21sCifhyB9y5wi3oZeiPwnJqwFUppkSBTQMC2ZeZoCEA6dpUGRdCKuVlw1hXeeqizkerX2jAD3zVIRW3LnL-inLSgs/s1600-h/05277.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatd4mfnbfwBFA2G_WMpzCWdZ6m4-iwIHClt6vRvTdZP0GJbFUv21sCifhyB9y5wi3oZeiPwnJqwFUppkSBTQMC2ZeZoCEA6dpUGRdCKuVlw1hXeeqizkerX2jAD3zVIRW3LnL-inLSgs/s200/05277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108813099592790898" border="0" /></a>I had a photo of it but I had got a finger over the lens and spoilt it. This time I did better and in one a young peregrino was crossing the shot.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIR09cdalMCyFKhfhpg95Xuv9JKhokl8heo7s-OSXqfsACkBx381VsKShT-v1AUW2Pt76KGq8dMx4mIDEyfCiU0AO2WwNEqgUpLUk9OM4ONoCvMsTTQLADjpGprAuygdQJ2xWOM9SjY0/s1600-h/05278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIR09cdalMCyFKhfhpg95Xuv9JKhokl8heo7s-OSXqfsACkBx381VsKShT-v1AUW2Pt76KGq8dMx4mIDEyfCiU0AO2WwNEqgUpLUk9OM4ONoCvMsTTQLADjpGprAuygdQJ2xWOM9SjY0/s200/05278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108813331521024898" border="0" /></a>We were to meet later as we climbed up a hill many miles further on. After Rabé the camino climbs high and crosses a plain and it can be a hard journey her for 8 kilometres. I was lucky this time, the wind was ok, and the sunshine seldom and showers few. I came down into Hornillos pretty tired and met two Canadian ladies and one kindly took my photo by the village name. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQuVGmgP1AtxI80QDobYS4_xspGUW1mG4eUQlU5lAPsa0AhcoGIISOAVHBkzaqtqDkXpCDUvRTSVeDceFIiyIrISld1n6Z-KH4NTsm5LLEgAQOOZQLUUYBI-bc7Soe0kyl5YJrul_JnQ/s1600-h/05280.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQuVGmgP1AtxI80QDobYS4_xspGUW1mG4eUQlU5lAPsa0AhcoGIISOAVHBkzaqtqDkXpCDUvRTSVeDceFIiyIrISld1n6Z-KH4NTsm5LLEgAQOOZQLUUYBI-bc7Soe0kyl5YJrul_JnQ/s320/05280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108813645053637522" border="0" /></a>Hornillos has a special meaning for me. It was here I got taken to a Casa Rural and I joined a fiesta and drank and dined for three days with a most wonderful host. I decided I would try to see them again. I called into a little shop and bought some food and drink and helped the two ladies buy things and I asked the lady behind the counter if the Casa Rural El Molino was still open<br />"Yes of course, why?"<br />I told her of the wonderful time I had had there and would like to see them again, she said<br />"The son is across the road you must speak with him."<br />I did not remember seeing a son but she dragged me to meet the young man. He was very pleasant and listened to me, then made a phone call on his mobile and said he would take me there, he was sure it would be ok, but he was unable to contact his mother at the moment.<br />"You go to the bar in the square and wait and I will collect you from there."<br />I thanked him and the shop lady and went up to the bar to wait. This was similar to what had happened before, that time I had asked in the bar itself for something other than the albergue and been collected by an older gentleman with a beard. We had tried all the wine in the bar before driving the eight kms to the El Molino.<br />I only had a couple of tinto de veranos this time before the young man called in and I loaded my rucksack in his car.<br />Sadly my memory for names has let me down again although I knew it when introduced to the same bearded smiling face on my arrival, Paco I think.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ES62ju8KQJXwfWJpdSg5EIJKFmPRCcFHSbvK3JER1ZuHjAo2WWUws2pgUokTtw3l5-pddYKU6CO-zqT4h5hsMDx8m1L4SsMN_2As8YFi4DCBxK25Nr0nOGWtWKpR2TTuSCjFFj4uqM/s1600-h/05283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ES62ju8KQJXwfWJpdSg5EIJKFmPRCcFHSbvK3JER1ZuHjAo2WWUws2pgUokTtw3l5-pddYKU6CO-zqT4h5hsMDx8m1L4SsMN_2As8YFi4DCBxK25Nr0nOGWtWKpR2TTuSCjFFj4uqM/s320/05283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108814422442718114" border="0" /></a><br />I was shown my clean room with a superb view and clean shower room with hot water! Oh I had arrived in paradise again! I was welcomed by the dueña and she looked hard and then her face lit up and said<br />"Yes you have a different hat this time!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZZvhvSLORg_kCRgZ4jHGqzmCoXz1uSS8JDnqKakta9Y_dPG8FlvJau131vkE4xu1z1B1eUQKabY21YS6zBKu46Rku_JLzDdbxwoXcSnzgLs7ujy-v-8X0e4r8xm9ry3HcRo4l7fOJ74/s1600-h/05281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZZvhvSLORg_kCRgZ4jHGqzmCoXz1uSS8JDnqKakta9Y_dPG8FlvJau131vkE4xu1z1B1eUQKabY21YS6zBKu46Rku_JLzDdbxwoXcSnzgLs7ujy-v-8X0e4r8xm9ry3HcRo4l7fOJ74/s320/05281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108814770335069106" border="0" /></a><br />She did remember me! She explained that my timing was out this time, sorry there was no fiesta! She told me later when I gave her a koala that she only had one other Spanish gentleman staying, a peregrino like me. This place is charming, the river runs right under the house and the mill now generates electricity for the house or at least it did last time I stayed here. It deserves a much longer stop than I could do this time. Nearby there are hot springs and as I understood my host to say they are being developed and a hotel built too. Paco joined Ernesto and me at our main meal in the dining room that night and we ate and drank well. I found Ernesto good company and conversationalist and time flew. We retired and arranged to be on our way at seven thirty in the morning.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">END DAY 20 = approx. 35 km Sub Total = 144.5 km Total = 482.4 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-7401652113651426032007-09-08T19:45:00.000-07:002007-09-10T02:03:34.455-07:0003/06/07 Villafranca to Cardeñuela de Río Pico<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fc3DLIBJgL4CZtpMJiu6cNz7ADF8KlPfXJGVEHAAdNe6s3ST4dw_d89w9z3_n5Be9YSErPL0VKAVa4t7P9xOd_xn3ENQOAPfzgTBkZgdqENriVbF1lBH9OM4S9McL-3e6Tc-nAzjym0/s1600-h/05264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fc3DLIBJgL4CZtpMJiu6cNz7ADF8KlPfXJGVEHAAdNe6s3ST4dw_d89w9z3_n5Be9YSErPL0VKAVa4t7P9xOd_xn3ENQOAPfzgTBkZgdqENriVbF1lBH9OM4S9McL-3e6Tc-nAzjym0/s200/05264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108053268338520754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >03/06/07</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Villafranca to<br />Cardeñuela de Río Pico </span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I was up and out fairly late and I was on my own again with my memories. I now remembered the little café at the top of the road that was just a little way out of my way. I needed that morning coffee, I knew it was some way before I could get one. I could make a black one for myself but anyway thought it would be a good idea to get breakfast and bread and food of some sort for later.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >The little café was open and a sleepy eyed proprietor made my coffee. I asked if there was any cake for breakfast and he got some from the room at the end of the bar. I looked in and it was set out like a small shop, which it was. I stocked up on cake, bread and chorizo.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >As I left he told me to go to my right and take the steep track up by the side of the café as it met the other camino that others would have taken opposite the albergue. It was a hard start, but breathtakingly beautiful and I now remembered climbing this before with Luke.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX3vRv7k9gpMtJgXb6yOZmAHdzLLfwaFTRFPxH5n9SwJzoRdp9Z5IEaQoxecmi1hDLrEaXHqD8mHCdlODxj2TA3FXJxQBYQhC0zb59vP4Tk93gK7flUa3uFlXNB03gAYv8X_1PB9eTcs/s1600-h/05256A.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX3vRv7k9gpMtJgXb6yOZmAHdzLLfwaFTRFPxH5n9SwJzoRdp9Z5IEaQoxecmi1hDLrEaXHqD8mHCdlODxj2TA3FXJxQBYQhC0zb59vP4Tk93gK7flUa3uFlXNB03gAYv8X_1PB9eTcs/s400/05256A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108049540306907714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I dallied, looking out across the hills back the way I had come yesterday and then continued slowly looking for wild flowers in the grasses. There were a number and the scrub here is lovely, mostly Holm oaks. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZiYNyTHcNmwYCekNLvkDhcFnSNifRaptwVa-1UK-HhyDFTSuq50UCDsnL1BbvlOiRjgc3C_AYlbyAUqqkl_WgLsXHuZkHUCk4mcJuSoIWm59Swx5VdYJJT8yHNvxJ4KNkmE509qdm9w/s1600-h/05259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZiYNyTHcNmwYCekNLvkDhcFnSNifRaptwVa-1UK-HhyDFTSuq50UCDsnL1BbvlOiRjgc3C_AYlbyAUqqkl_WgLsXHuZkHUCk4mcJuSoIWm59Swx5VdYJJT8yHNvxJ4KNkmE509qdm9w/s200/05259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108050038523114082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span>This part was notorious for bandits in the old days but today it was just a little hard going. Still I was fresh and the day cool, with the sunshine promising to warm things later. When you reach the top it levels out and becomes a wide track that proceeds to take you through the forest. I stopped to repack some of the food I had bought and take a drink. An Austrian chap came along and we walked quite a way together. Unfortunately he could not speak much English and almost no Spanish. At a monument to fallen soldiers of the Civil War we caught up with two Norwegian girls.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2wAhqc_sLJ9q5AiILaf559xBApdTxUobeYWquQpLmWYkCIsdXnwoLYsTp7j5L0cUfaDieUahxbfHj3jWVldUCaO1NzCq2tujFI2zxSHyrSLB0ntiGapM5eI-vEdFJ488VoiVZ4MwxA/s1600-h/05258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2wAhqc_sLJ9q5AiILaf559xBApdTxUobeYWquQpLmWYkCIsdXnwoLYsTp7j5L0cUfaDieUahxbfHj3jWVldUCaO1NzCq2tujFI2zxSHyrSLB0ntiGapM5eI-vEdFJ488VoiVZ4MwxA/s200/05258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108050437955072626" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Soon after taking photos with them we left them behind and met a very pleasant and brave elderly lady. I had met her some days before. She was Austrian too, she walked very badly and slowly, as she suffered from arthritis or some such complaint and I had great respect for her. She was completing the same mileage as I was each day, by starting very early and finishing late. A very courageous woman to have walked from the French border to here and still going strong. I am not sure now, but I believe she told me she had walked from Austria in fact. Anyway we both slowed down so we could chat to her. I soon moved forward so they could talk in their own language, then picked up speed again leaving them both behind talking! </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKTPEThNM43SzXUeTk2zObEAfH5sgZWr5YbjwhOIR2ku8zk-cS-cAoWsVdmeJrBhb-BU0EQCzTI_r5SU_JlvgQspSoMygsrb_aQMRC5pmM1DnxMY7nujBN9Ue2AA3QiieoOazN4a6i-s/s1600-h/05261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKTPEThNM43SzXUeTk2zObEAfH5sgZWr5YbjwhOIR2ku8zk-cS-cAoWsVdmeJrBhb-BU0EQCzTI_r5SU_JlvgQspSoMygsrb_aQMRC5pmM1DnxMY7nujBN9Ue2AA3QiieoOazN4a6i-s/s200/05261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108051408617681554" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76VUALdKca5vcXiIReFaEqqN8o0zWTRT3ZII4YM8ZdL9oJvlyo9hZtKo6hqnuM3c_L4fzv8lWdO0Z_IXhJn_K6S3OasGinDTw5LSYzCAopc0ydcyCPXpx6v6APMEblcV8fCVJqXhXc9w/s1600-h/05260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76VUALdKca5vcXiIReFaEqqN8o0zWTRT3ZII4YM8ZdL9oJvlyo9hZtKo6hqnuM3c_L4fzv8lWdO0Z_IXhJn_K6S3OasGinDTw5LSYzCAopc0ydcyCPXpx6v6APMEblcV8fCVJqXhXc9w/s200/05260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108050888926638722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >It’s a good 12 kilometres to San Juan de Ortiga, where I stopped last time. I must have been physically worse off then for although I now had painful blisters, I was prepared to move on. I enjoyed a coffee in the busy café and took a look around the church that had undergone much restoration since I stopped here last. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MR_aCuszASdDvw3QO0M8YenPg76BlogvYmATHVRdLhRKm74-otAkuxg5QXzQG9WEPtinaCOQHbZVDIYK19nsLXWwWzAOy7lltjgCLtlrL4DUFagg8X8jdkTbVt_OzSU2SVeUR1b33Zo/s1600-h/05263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MR_aCuszASdDvw3QO0M8YenPg76BlogvYmATHVRdLhRKm74-otAkuxg5QXzQG9WEPtinaCOQHbZVDIYK19nsLXWwWzAOy7lltjgCLtlrL4DUFagg8X8jdkTbVt_OzSU2SVeUR1b33Zo/s200/05263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108051906833887906" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I found steps in the church going down into the floor and went down them. It was pitch black and I could find</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > no light, I almost fell but now used my torch and found it was a candle lit chapel and I took a photo hoping the</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > flash would light it enough to see it properly. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I now know the plaque says San Juan de Ortiga 1.080 . 1.163. I returned up another flight of stairs and out into the strong sunlight. In the porch of the Nuns albergue, you can stamp your own credential. I had felt guilty for four years for not leaving a donation the last time I slept here, but finding no one to give the money to, I never paid my dept, so I still feel guilty!<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES01tgZWzOndqyZS9_rAsEeNc6MfO9X7vgQ2Ddc2z2_KzaTz5kgQaos-X3a9CUyt5ic40UmEqDdBrNZRV_vl_WFinN8V7F1EDEcClazVp_6g4iwRzojkkOBPVY0anJm4EZk3BZzs897k/s1600-h/05265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES01tgZWzOndqyZS9_rAsEeNc6MfO9X7vgQ2Ddc2z2_KzaTz5kgQaos-X3a9CUyt5ic40UmEqDdBrNZRV_vl_WFinN8V7F1EDEcClazVp_6g4iwRzojkkOBPVY0anJm4EZk3BZzs897k/s200/05265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108053886813811394" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I returned to m</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >y camino and saluted again my brave Austrian lady friend and presumed the chap was in front somewhere. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > In 4 kms I found that the small village of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Ages that now has two albergues. My camino then took me to Atapuerca that had only one, but several hostels. Here also was a tourist office and ancient bones had fairly recently been discovered of one of the first humans. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >They had been unearthed nearby but they only took groups to see them, and discouraged people from going to see the site on their own and the last group had already gone. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I now stubbornly went on over the hill. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxiiKP-1pvI2_Qexl4gt2czMBVR3HMuqMmOlofD4PuljJXTd6Pu9MEtpDtp4-E_U5j6IlAN0PW1yqnPmW0NC8N1hlzC9XrHuU2NEU48OhhUlcjYNbzSjrZxvAdAHhQdU4QWZyuYCsuVs/s1600-h/05266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxiiKP-1pvI2_Qexl4gt2czMBVR3HMuqMmOlofD4PuljJXTd6Pu9MEtpDtp4-E_U5j6IlAN0PW1yqnPmW0NC8N1hlzC9XrHuU2NEU48OhhUlcjYNbzSjrZxvAdAHhQdU4QWZyuYCsuVs/s200/05266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108054204641391314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I remembered this climb and knew it would be hard especially on my own. The views were great and made up for the effort but where would I be able to stop for the night? My guidebook said no albergues from Atapuerca till Burgos some twenty or more kilometres. You could see it in the very far distance from the top of the hill.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQo5smkGedpvrlWm13KMT-l5u5M1rtjHSEUPcrJX-xodSCbcZ8-FRqIIaq2Ri-b2JscohJ1H4xKDPUAT_YMfo86Dy-_dtQWOWbm4_UlsyLyAbU6ea6AgveiKQ-shEcQYAiEilc-n869o/s1600-h/05267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQo5smkGedpvrlWm13KMT-l5u5M1rtjHSEUPcrJX-xodSCbcZ8-FRqIIaq2Ri-b2JscohJ1H4xKDPUAT_YMfo86Dy-_dtQWOWbm4_UlsyLyAbU6ea6AgveiKQ-shEcQYAiEilc-n869o/s200/05267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108054531058905826" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > Coming down I was looking for a camping spot but nothing seemed flat enough. The track took a turn to the left and I came past Villa Aval that was not much more than a farmhouse. I felt shattered and flopped down to rest my weary body out of the cold wind. While walking, I had a scarf and gloves so I had not noticed the cold too much except that the wind was in my face, therefore making it harder to walk!<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >The wild flowers were lovely and a few rocks sheltered me from the wind and here the grass was long. Unfortunately it was sloping too much to camp and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZy8Yk-R79qoD8eSQpdvrIE-Tids1DUXLevopsTR-P-D3ZOXCvzD9LhCi5p8PNCZ3xKUlvpIqg1aD_kuRF-j0vZJiJmqwGMWB7dVt-Vfl-0GiM5tAVG7x4WDxeH6WmtHoNiaarDAiBJw/s1600-h/05268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZy8Yk-R79qoD8eSQpdvrIE-Tids1DUXLevopsTR-P-D3ZOXCvzD9LhCi5p8PNCZ3xKUlvpIqg1aD_kuRF-j0vZJiJmqwGMWB7dVt-Vfl-0GiM5tAVG7x4WDxeH6WmtHoNiaarDAiBJw/s320/05268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108498153935942386" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I'd not much left to eat in my bag or water anyway. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >My feet were painful and I took off the boots and socks and laid on my back in the long grass with my feet up over my pack, socks hanging over my staffs in the wind drying. It must have looked a bit funny to the few cyclists and a lone walker as they went by but only the walker spoke saying just "Are you ok?" then continuing on before I could say no! I ate a bit of stale cake and drank a little water. After twenty minutes or so I put on my boots and went on. After what seemed ages of trudging I came into the little village of Cardeñuela de Río Pico. It may only have been about 7 kms from Atapuerca when I came to a few old houses and a building on my right with flags flying that I thought must be the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) then I saw a bar! Oh boy! was I happy! I went in and ordered a coffee. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >I asked if there was any place to stop here and the barman said I had passed it! </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"Didn't you see the place with the flags."</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > I had to pay him anyway to stay there then went back to secure a bed! The building was built into the hillside. I was so tired my brain was not working as I entered the ground floor only to be met by two giggly boys that thought everything was hilariously funny! They had been on a computer, I had probably come in as they found a porn site or something! I could get no sense out of them! Looking round, I saw there was only a flat wooden staging, other than the computers in the far end of the room. The only sensible word I could get from the boys was (staircase.) I left them giggling and went out and found a flight of steps that went up around the outside and round to the back. Here I found another entrance to the top floor, and this was the albergue. One toilet, one shower, one basin, all in the same tiny space, although the toilet did have a door that wouldn’t close properly. The shower relied on a skimpy curtain. There was a room with several bunks and I took one. The water was freezing cold so it was a very quick shower I had!!! Being so tired I was happy when I discovered I had a clean shirt and socks in my bag. I decided I could go one more day without washing my clothes. I rested a while, then several cyclists, one being a girl took beds. I was not getting much rest so decided to go to eat in the bar restaurant, embarrassing the poor girl washing as I used the loo on the way out!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >At the bar I was asked to join a very pleasant coloured Canadian and his girlfriend and another man from the USA and to my surprise he was a Jesuit priest! It was a good home cooked meal by the Mamá of the house and we drank a good wine and passed a pleasant hour or two and swapped addresses, which I duly lost! I gave them a four-leaf clover. The priest said he was stopping off in Burgos to visit other Jesuit priests. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >"Well you have to make the most of your visit" he chuckled over the orujo we were by then drinking. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:times new roman;" >END DAY 19 = approx. 24.6 km Sub Total = 109.5 km Total = 447.4 km</span><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman;"><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-77567585271452952752007-09-08T00:35:00.000-07:002007-09-08T19:44:10.488-07:0002/06/07 Santa Domingo to Villafranca<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj2gXBMkAwD0pbMzuC-XbGn2vqm6EKi4TqerXUh9JK6QBb3BAFGKDZar_Pey-yH4SthHuzXPr2bUSlhd12QxGXYXlxgoRQQfexoXmDlcGLwELeKTBBzSEauPzYK7t9WH_6Bisn6Q40qM/s1600-h/05244B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj2gXBMkAwD0pbMzuC-XbGn2vqm6EKi4TqerXUh9JK6QBb3BAFGKDZar_Pey-yH4SthHuzXPr2bUSlhd12QxGXYXlxgoRQQfexoXmDlcGLwELeKTBBzSEauPzYK7t9WH_6Bisn6Q40qM/s200/05244B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108028125599969842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman;">02/06/07<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Santa Domingo to Villafranca</span><br /></div><br /><br />I found a cafe open and had breakfast, bought some cake and bread then started out of town but suddenly remembered I was walking without my sticks! I went back and found them in the bakers. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNzCthPzGRLHbGURiMLRDfclotPsbf3t9jdm10RhyHSsjn__8vrcF-b7eR2wyuG2g7bjNTC1TR2FWMceiIoNy_0t6u7R2CeQpXp6zdGbHH7CW9qw7oz9lk4_fTXs52Jxl7Q3nBcQKhpw/s1600-h/05247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNzCthPzGRLHbGURiMLRDfclotPsbf3t9jdm10RhyHSsjn__8vrcF-b7eR2wyuG2g7bjNTC1TR2FWMceiIoNy_0t6u7R2CeQpXp6zdGbHH7CW9qw7oz9lk4_fTXs52Jxl7Q3nBcQKhpw/s200/05247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107737506637885778" border="0" /></a><br />Most peregrinos were gone as I now walked out of town over a bridge and remembered seeing the incredible storks on their high poll-top nests here before at sunset. I had been with Biel, another peregrino friend four years ago. We had seen them at dusk with the glorious red sun setting behind them. The storks had been making clacking noises and touching beaks and renewing their bond as they settled down for the night. This morning was quieter, the parents already gone for food, the young were looking for them to return. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWlOt_YrQQQhNlekp_kWTefV7tfZ955Fs4XyX2x7kB7UoiN1BVMYPbybSnGLN862qeyZ3Q8tTJICV1NEBFEtTSJi_z0qvEeh56U-0h8XFRrHrWVQpg5H4RbmGIgG9NRsMjphYPQUXQ6s/s1600-h/05248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWlOt_YrQQQhNlekp_kWTefV7tfZ955Fs4XyX2x7kB7UoiN1BVMYPbybSnGLN862qeyZ3Q8tTJICV1NEBFEtTSJi_z0qvEeh56U-0h8XFRrHrWVQpg5H4RbmGIgG9NRsMjphYPQUXQ6s/s200/05248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107738533135069538" border="0" /></a>I was enjoying this stroll and was going well and soon came to a road and over the other side was a tourist office. I remembered getting a stamp in my credential with Biel here and for old times sake I went in again. A pleasant girl put the stamp on the card and as I came out there were several peregrinos around a tall stone village cross that is so often marking the way. This one, like many, had a wide plinth that you could sit on and rest. I joined them drinking water from a nearby fountain and eating cake. I knew some of them but in the end I left alone. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF13qSA2R4WUGPxlTkNyNf-BKC8uwh4gaTdwTeiu6QyrqbJUtH8gIdefaZq5C96yyTcL3o5ADVwKqMQH7UeId8d4aczSyPsaiBN2EcdLIN298KLIQknHM9Oge9wtLOoAA1HtzVQZnXQ8/s1600-h/05250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF13qSA2R4WUGPxlTkNyNf-BKC8uwh4gaTdwTeiu6QyrqbJUtH8gIdefaZq5C96yyTcL3o5ADVwKqMQH7UeId8d4aczSyPsaiBN2EcdLIN298KLIQknHM9Oge9wtLOoAA1HtzVQZnXQ8/s200/05250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108017852038197650" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcp10FLDtsUDHKsBLDEsK7kmabzOHEqIFEvdg_nckefyN4j_hnadsmLjnNaqSuZUYyvbnlJsiM3hqU2QDTNuIMds5SCdGINTbQU7QeoZRijzbMBCxgXKIGJj4NM1rSvDgD_9et6R3p4A/s1600-h/05249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcp10FLDtsUDHKsBLDEsK7kmabzOHEqIFEvdg_nckefyN4j_hnadsmLjnNaqSuZUYyvbnlJsiM3hqU2QDTNuIMds5SCdGINTbQU7QeoZRijzbMBCxgXKIGJj4NM1rSvDgD_9et6R3p4A/s200/05249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107739216034869618" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> I took some nice photos in the old village and then I passed through Grañon. Well, I did stop for coffee and a splash of brandy, only for the feet of course! I noticed the church where last time I had hung wet washing in the belfry! It is used partly as an albergue. Crossing wheat fields, I came to Redecilla then by road to Castildelgado and on to Villamayor. It was 2 p.m. when I stopped in this tiny village to eat my lunch. Here was a fountain, three stone tables and benches and one had a little shady tree, not that shade was very necessary today, but it was sunny. Soon I was joined by a nice couple from Perth W.A. and a Spanish couple who they were travelling with. We swapped stories and shared some cheese. Some of the young Germans that I had met arrived as I was leaving. I plodded on to Belorado alone again and passed the Albergue as I came into town. I had walked 23 km and was tired but felt I could go on if I got some good food first. I asked some local folk where I could eat well and cheaply.<br />"There is a fiesta on, so go into the main square. There are plenty of places and even at this time of day you should find good food there."<br />The camino continued straight on and might have bypassed the town, so taking their advice I took a tiny street and soon found I was in the right place at the right time. Tents, colourful banners, buntings, flags and market stalls. Straw bales were everywhere and it was obvious there had been a lot of fun here, probably with the bulls but at the moment it was peaceful. I admired but resisted the cakes and yummy churos stalls. I then entered the big main square. More stalls, shops that spilled their wares onto the street, a big music stand with a band setting up and hundreds of people sitting outside bars and restaurants. People sat where they could and the many straw bales here were in use. I joined a couple of tourists sitting on some and asked if they had eaten in any of the restaurants but they hadn't. We chatted for a while then I left them to soak up the Spanish atmosphere and drink their beer and headed for the nearest bar. I had a job to get near the counter but a Spanish family spoke to me and moved so I could get closer to catch the barman's eyes. As I was still carrying my pack I had to tell where I was from, and my story up to arriving at Belorado. I did catch the barman's eye in the end, he told me to climb the staircase as the restaurant was up there. Saying goodbye to my new Spanish friends I went upstairs and opened the door. The place was packed and as far as I could see not a table free. Girls in traditional dress ran hither and thither with hot dishes. I stood for a few moments until one poor girl, sweat running into her eyes came to ask what I wanted.<br />"Table for one"<br />She raised her shoulders and gestured at the tables and rushed off again. Only one man occupied the table in front of me. He was eating but nearly finished.<br />"You are welcome to join me if you like" he said "I will soon be finished!"<br />I thanked him and lent my sticks against the wall, took a chair and unloaded my pack onto it then took another and sat down opposite him. He filled a glass from his bottle of red and pushed it my way.<br />"Gracias, salud" I gestured and with no problem we were soon deep in conversation. He had a stall in the first small square I had come too and was from a nearby town, and here selling his own cider.<br />"You must stop by before you go, try my cider"<br />I thanked him and said,<br />"I'll come and see you before I continue my camino, but I will have to refuse your kind offer of cider, because I drank cider in Oviedo last year and was warned not to mix it with the red. We are drinking red now!" I laughed. "Last time I had one glass and then the cider and was nursing a terrible head till lunchtime next day" I chuckled. The girl appeared and scribbled down my order. When she returned loaded with my dinner Jesus excused himself and left me to eat a rather large and good meal of veal and chips. I drank the last of his bottle of good red wine.<br />As I came out I met a table full of beer drinking and laughing peregrinos, who all knew me. They joked and wished me buen camino, especially when I said I was going on. I then went back to the first small square and found Jesus and we shook hands and wished each other well too, then I went back to the main plaza and crossed to the far corner and down a few streets till I saw the familiar arrows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSXb1wKOUom8YnDZBSqVfJWxlAcAsR6is0CwWhmrDXr6wb_tuYjrSytVx8Xg30wkfEayQDWIqgLNrnbxSx94T7exxBIYz-FxFuIA984dsW196H8HLCvE_5KbeAwFVTisUF4AalDO3G5k/s1600-h/05251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSXb1wKOUom8YnDZBSqVfJWxlAcAsR6is0CwWhmrDXr6wb_tuYjrSytVx8Xg30wkfEayQDWIqgLNrnbxSx94T7exxBIYz-FxFuIA984dsW196H8HLCvE_5KbeAwFVTisUF4AalDO3G5k/s200/05251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108022774070718898" border="0" /></a> there was a superb old bridge with wide arches that I remembered from my last trip, there is now a wooden one alongside so the traffic doesn't remove any of the peregrinos before they have completed their spiritual journey! The locals prefer to give them a nice chance to photograph it instead! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlgoC-LRzvLXgCfl8zYpl4hMIN5HaTeY0FJH5qp8cqNZqCkSRJqBadaRsAMnZzW8Eue6iB4B4rn7D7tATBPjeLDanwGbB1gIgP3uVii8UgOCk2xbh09YXR8GPZMt3XcXNtRph6oxIVJk/s1600-h/05252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlgoC-LRzvLXgCfl8zYpl4hMIN5HaTeY0FJH5qp8cqNZqCkSRJqBadaRsAMnZzW8Eue6iB4B4rn7D7tATBPjeLDanwGbB1gIgP3uVii8UgOCk2xbh09YXR8GPZMt3XcXNtRph6oxIVJk/s200/05252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108023001703985602" border="0" /></a><br />At this stage I would like to point out the camino, when it was a true track, was usually well maintained and often stones mixed with clay and rolled well. This gives a smooth sound footing without sharp bits sticking up to annoy your blistered feet and much better than asphalt that heats up in the sun. This French camino was generally much better than my Ebro camino to Logroño had ever been. The camino is walked by thousands of folk these days and getting more each year so naturally there are more albergues and the tracks are wider the well trodden. I liked but hated the changes. My body liked the changes but my eyes hated the disturbance of the old ways, the gracious old sagging buildings full of charm that suddenly have the front ripped out and new glass shop fronts put in! I do believe I was quite often sent a different way to that I had travelled four years ago at times.<br /><br />I came to Tosantos and carried on. I could now see some tumble down buildings in the next village of Villambistia. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf4XBjhvg3P5hn8G6HGDSzfX4lnPnmwBaQCtCrWN-jznFDWcGA8yOShtGgk6qmgxKJPj6MuAKjXlnvQ8rGHkEiA_t7dCeSSwRxC_Kmb0XfeIhK3nNJ1W_nC99yKLOyuKryccU3X5gxXQ/s1600-h/05253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf4XBjhvg3P5hn8G6HGDSzfX4lnPnmwBaQCtCrWN-jznFDWcGA8yOShtGgk6qmgxKJPj6MuAKjXlnvQ8rGHkEiA_t7dCeSSwRxC_Kmb0XfeIhK3nNJ1W_nC99yKLOyuKryccU3X5gxXQ/s200/05253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108023276581892562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl098HXhy3O3y48UXrLUTlno2gR7VsEdnPr_JR3Tl9RMcFAGAMac8kCdj-cXarjkX-SiuyZlOEIsDrV-r892EQ7hf-RqlK_UAaNZL9Zt_1CC_XbCw-N063Z7eiYtpSPoefZdD2q7ULAuw/s1600-h/05254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl098HXhy3O3y48UXrLUTlno2gR7VsEdnPr_JR3Tl9RMcFAGAMac8kCdj-cXarjkX-SiuyZlOEIsDrV-r892EQ7hf-RqlK_UAaNZL9Zt_1CC_XbCw-N063Z7eiYtpSPoefZdD2q7ULAuw/s200/05254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108023401135944162" border="0" /></a>It jogged my memory back, I had been with Luke, my very first peregrino friend from America. It had been completely deserted. My feet hurt then and they were starting to do so again. I saw an albergue sign on the first house on the corner. It had been recently restored and I thought the old house looked inviting. I had, after all, done a good days walk, but the gentleman who answered the door said, when I asked for just a bed for the night,<br />"You have to have the evening meal it is a fixed price."<br />"But I have eaten a big meal and only want a bed surely that should be cheaper"<br />"No the same!"<br />I can be a funny person at times, the cost of the next albergue would be just two Euro less without the meal, in other words the meal was only two Euro but I wanted the choice whether to have it or not! I said goodbye and carried on! Leaving the village I toyed with the idea of camping but there was not a flat place anywhere for the tent and I had not enough water. I must keep going, the terrain was hilly and had been for some while. Espinosa del Camino had nothing. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8Srg7PFQXGbc9W1XOcdSbj_Cxyvy7cAFiOoQFGLr7NbHcbYf28ZmsRU59xayrrKk_xtzXabe1i605YvFtS2LcVo3qVu15UF-Vbry0judiN9HRDE2Wklz7ppz8pmDl-0sTnz1pAr_dug/s1600-h/05255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8Srg7PFQXGbc9W1XOcdSbj_Cxyvy7cAFiOoQFGLr7NbHcbYf28ZmsRU59xayrrKk_xtzXabe1i605YvFtS2LcVo3qVu15UF-Vbry0judiN9HRDE2Wklz7ppz8pmDl-0sTnz1pAr_dug/s200/05255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108023942301823490" border="0" /></a><br />I stopped at the top of a hill and looked down the valley and knew Villafranca Montes de Oca was down there somewhere just before the big hills. They were tomorrows challenge, I remembered that stop well! My problem was getting down there. My feet were burning!<br />I stopped and removed my socks and treated my feet as best I could then started down. An old ruin on my right, a tower probably in its time, remains of a monastery if my memory serves me right! I looked at it but there was a steel grill across the doorway so I could not shelter there and tall grass full of thistles stopped me camping outside it. The last part along the valley floor was awful, my body ached and my feet said stop at every pace but I knew I must keep going. At last I crossed the river and entered the small town remembering the albergue was a little way up the hill in front of me! I reached the door and the same dueña (boss lady) took my details and the ten or twelve Euro! I didn’t care now!<br />"Been here before" I said, "four years ago, looks just the same " I said jokingly.<br />"Oh no! Lots of changes" she assured me. I got the same dorm as before but a different bed! That all looked much the same but the showers were all brand new. They had been terrible before, the place had flooded with water all the time!<br />I hung out my washing on the lines provided under the roof of the old wagon shed in the yard at the back of the building. This yard was now concreted. This was where another peregrino friend Ralf had pitched his tent on my last visit, so he could sleep with his dog to stop it barking all night, something this kind lady thought was hilarious at the time! Yes things were different now I thought, 90% Germans for a start, the albergue was pretty full now and I was obviously in a bad mood. I had gone from no peregrinos to too many and was still having problems getting used to it.<br />I had a top bunk and soon crashed out there to sleep. I counted at least four other people doing the same. Six loud foreign people that spoke little English and no Spanish, come to that, were using the dorm like it was the local saloon. Talking very loud, laughing and having no respect for the others in the room who might be sleeping. You always look around to see who is sleeping and anyway never make such a noise in a dormitory. I put up with it for a while but I was tired, my patience snapped! I sat up and told them in English and Spanish to shut up! Go out side in the hall to talk if you must (there was table and chairs there).<br />The biggest guy was taken aback and swaggered over to this little old man sitting up in bed and asked in broken English what I said. Not thinking of my safety I told him plainly again! In both languages! The advantage of a top bunk became obvious because as big as he was I sat taller!<br />"Lights go out at ten we can make as much noise as we like till then and it's only eight o'clock!" he said loudly.<br />"That maybe but have some bloody consideration for others that have, like myself, walked thirty five kilometres today!" I countered.<br />Muttering about he would make as much noise as he liked till ten o'clock he rejoined his friends. While they never really shut up it took some of the fun out of their conversation and the riotous laughter was gone and we could get some rest!<br />I had met a number of people today but had walked always alone.<br /><br />I lay there thinking;<br />Often peregrinos on camino say its like your whole life is squashed down into four or five weeks before your eyes.<br />Most, if asked, don't know why they walk it. I was wondering why the loudmouth guy did so? Then it occurred to me that out of all of us he had the most to learn, so it was good he was here, but probably he would never learn anything!<br />I had met a French chap the other day, he was two thirds of the way to Santiago and had big problems with blisters and was in pain on every step I could see. I looked across and said<br />"Why the hell are we doing this? "Most people are like me they don't know why!"<br />He continued walking and replied,<br />"I do!" There were tears in his eyes as he continued, and he looked across at me,<br />"I had just come back from a holiday to Lords in France with my wife and we were bathing our new grandchild." He took a couple of more paces looked down and said,<br />"The baby slipped and fell to the floor!"<br />Typical of me I exclaimed,<br />"Christ!"<br />He swallowed and started again<br />"I 'felt' in that moment 'Mary' caught hold of the child and placed it gently on the floor! For the child was unhurt!"<br />"I have not told my wife, but this was why I had to leave to walk the camino a month later. This is my way of saying thank you!"<br />I hope and pray his little grandchild grows up big and strong and loves his grandpa as his grandpa obviously loves him.<br />I never remembered seeing this quiet spoken man again after I went on but am sure he made it to Santiago. That was the only time I heard such an answer but I shall remember it always.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 18 = approx. 34.9!!!! km Sub Total = 84.9 km Total = 422.8 km</span><br /></div><br /></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738191954225858561.post-66096725447450609022007-09-07T23:56:00.000-07:002007-09-08T00:28:36.066-07:0001/06/07 Najera to Santa Domingo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSqI7dd11OUq6SQF3E39baiW1T6dyNS6SZCTnsRIgn7jRG732y-eHrPFT5QReu3FAr1Hxz7ti6-EkQrGS-hLi1JjmgfZbd7abgiOxTkLxw07jDLvaKlc-BHeg1kuY_M4vwD_ETw_ijgA/s1600-h/05244B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSqI7dd11OUq6SQF3E39baiW1T6dyNS6SZCTnsRIgn7jRG732y-eHrPFT5QReu3FAr1Hxz7ti6-EkQrGS-hLi1JjmgfZbd7abgiOxTkLxw07jDLvaKlc-BHeg1kuY_M4vwD_ETw_ijgA/s320/05244B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107731304705110338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Najera to Santa Domingo </span></span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I started the day with Katarina from Slovakia. The first part is nice climbing up through pines, then we came to the great plains. This is hard country to walk when hot but we were lucky with the weather. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWk-EqiTxTWOFuIeEiS6ZzDZ4jVYVRRli3LWl4soAplnHfXYVumyMf1vhuFBWHYg2J8dqeLBH_8biJKOYmV7I952jzWnWj8q_6-e6ogO6zN32fNrQlRtHU0EAzY3rWKbLrIN9MUTZ5P0/s1600-h/DSC05241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWk-EqiTxTWOFuIeEiS6ZzDZ4jVYVRRli3LWl4soAplnHfXYVumyMf1vhuFBWHYg2J8dqeLBH_8biJKOYmV7I952jzWnWj8q_6-e6ogO6zN32fNrQlRtHU0EAzY3rWKbLrIN9MUTZ5P0/s200/DSC05241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107727048392519906" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZ_nNXHantlxvaznGoY0fFT1hC2_nqoYGY4Bu-yCelNEiFZLaqqKVBh5HzDd8OCyB19olQG6TEmZ8KPYUG20SFuuEvMf5QLRTS-xLDxbg2O2rD7zIhOB_CNf10mYmWwsvAF3cYKnNFUg/s1600-h/05242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZ_nNXHantlxvaznGoY0fFT1hC2_nqoYGY4Bu-yCelNEiFZLaqqKVBh5HzDd8OCyB19olQG6TEmZ8KPYUG20SFuuEvMf5QLRTS-xLDxbg2O2rD7zIhOB_CNf10mYmWwsvAF3cYKnNFUg/s320/05242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107727495069118706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We came to Azofra and took the track to Cirueña, a long valley and then an ascent. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsozc8tgOe7s_cqVn6ore1IzAnb_v5SHnjqFAO444Mt7is3ZpSb75qudicUUrxrJiHiKIX7KbT4VB7Anzc9GjSxSYR318yS4YNNeoQddmDmj1GhScZU_wJ7qagkhffQ6KLY3l91vPAmg/s1600-h/DSC05243.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsozc8tgOe7s_cqVn6ore1IzAnb_v5SHnjqFAO444Mt7is3ZpSb75qudicUUrxrJiHiKIX7KbT4VB7Anzc9GjSxSYR318yS4YNNeoQddmDmj1GhScZU_wJ7qagkhffQ6KLY3l91vPAmg/s200/DSC05243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107728594580746498" border="0" /></a> We got there and stopped for a coffee and some tapas. It was mostly down hill to Santa Domingo de la Calzada "Where the roasted hen sang" and I decided I would stop here in the same nunnery albergue that I had stopped before.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw_OvoiYeJdfPtpmkfaGb2JKi-bLqFSYs0ZBtDV81taXb3gSfcFMPJtN5fArZTcR8MJN8gYIpxiiYkloe77d5zKBkwvlHjUki8j5E6TJmxvJzPqy3gx2UVkv6Qi04Ynh9FAPD5gONKJQ/s1600-h/05244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw_OvoiYeJdfPtpmkfaGb2JKi-bLqFSYs0ZBtDV81taXb3gSfcFMPJtN5fArZTcR8MJN8gYIpxiiYkloe77d5zKBkwvlHjUki8j5E6TJmxvJzPqy3gx2UVkv6Qi04Ynh9FAPD5gONKJQ/s200/05244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107728912408326418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9q-CnYsi5V4kplYnOrjLZhtzxgN6QQQ55Ha4hN_emEdcyOwCwdv8Ts_DV5iDsYw6JTaXmc2ygcL5NoRETCwba_-LYsq9Oe0V9sCDzhvaZiqGAhpfXEPn5GueCkIfUzdhfBbCXj9_LC4/s1600-h/05245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9q-CnYsi5V4kplYnOrjLZhtzxgN6QQQ55Ha4hN_emEdcyOwCwdv8Ts_DV5iDsYw6JTaXmc2ygcL5NoRETCwba_-LYsq9Oe0V9sCDzhvaZiqGAhpfXEPn5GueCkIfUzdhfBbCXj9_LC4/s200/05245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107729221645971746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Then I had been walking with Gina an Irish l</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">a</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ss a</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nd had asked the nun behind the glass screen in my not so good Spanish for a d</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ouble bed for us i</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nstead of two beds!!! The look on that nun's face had been memorab</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">le and I told Katarina the story as we arrived. She laughed and said she didn't think they would remember! I asked the nun this time correctly and was less intimidated than before, as she was not dressed in the severe black and white this time. Now I am not saying she did remember me, she told me to put a donation in the box, wrote 11 on a piece of paper and said that was my bed number. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Up stairs on the right"</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> she added as I took the paper. Up the old stairs I went now remembering this was the same old part of the old building I had been in before. Several rooms with ancient floors sloping in several directions loaded with bunk beds but no number 11. I went to the corner room. Yes this was where we had bunked before, I chuckled to myself. Looking around I found number 11, it was the same bunk I had slept in before!!! Katerina was in the hall outside the door, last time Gina had been given a bunk in here. To make it even stranger, I was told later there is a new part with a hundred new beds in another section of the building! My washing done I put it on a rack under a shelter in the patio but the little sun would not dry it much. It looked as if it would rain again so I could not leave it outside. There were several people in the patio writing journals and drinking beer.<br /> </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlzJL0A9vl0Jx9laTZ1eVic4TV7K957-JcOryNNRN0wyjzAYi0vG4TiHvM-DWfwWZKkdaB2AZUI_pEQRshq73mfqwdXXSR228XKF5a950Hd_1HihCUjzyOIrHJlNTIRQlLg4qb5Qv5Rk/s1600-h/05246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlzJL0A9vl0Jx9laTZ1eVic4TV7K957-JcOryNNRN0wyjzAYi0vG4TiHvM-DWfwWZKkdaB2AZUI_pEQRshq73mfqwdXXSR228XKF5a950Hd_1HihCUjzyOIrHJlNTIRQlLg4qb5Qv5Rk/s320/05246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107730029099823410" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>I joined Horst, a German I had met, and we chatted for a while and were joined by a Swedish priest, a lady so therefore not a Catholic. She was travelling with a Frenchman that was quite obviously enamoured by her and I think she too was very impressed with him. It was a joy to see them together. The camino often brings the most unusual people together and creates a very strong bond. This was such a camino romance. Both were on their first camino. I told of my other walks and the Ebro one. We all also discussed the camino and the religious influence of it on our lives. I told her of some of experiences and she seemed to think I was telling the truth and had been touched at times by the power that most call God. I guess in a way I was here looking to confirm that. I had never felt at such ease with a priest before. Here was I chatting religion in a nunnery patio with a priest and her boyfriend!!! We all had to go to do things and she said she would like to meet again to talk further. I decided to see if I could find somewhere to eat in the town came across a café restaurant and had a coffee but they were closing and would open later for meals at seven. I said I would return then as I thought the Spanish potato omelette very good that I had eaten. But back in town I changed my mind, I had seen a kitchen as I went to the patio at the albergue. I decided to cook and bought things to do so.</span> There were two girls already using the tiny two ring stove and I managed to commandeer a little bit of marble work top and started cooking green beans potatoes and a chop with my spirit stove. When I sat down, the girls kindly offered me a glass of wine. I was very pleased, as I had forgotten to get any. The priest and her gentleman came in and proceeded to prepare dinner too. The girls had finished theirs and left and I was asked to join the other table. I was still eating my sweet of yoghurt and banana so I crossed over to their table and we drank more wine and talked till an early bedtime. A good Spanish friend had text me, to say she had seen our web page and would be starting her camino the next day from Somos, nearer Santiago, I text back "Animo".<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">END DAY 17 = approx. 21 km Sub Total = 50 km Total = 387.9 km</span><br /></div></div>peregrinomikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510684244082398137noreply@blogger.com