From Carrion de los Condes, I Walked 17km to Calzadilla de la Cueza. This is probably going to be my longest day on this trip. Walked most of distance with two Australians, Peter and Hetty. He was a retired teacher, she was a mother who raised six girls. He was a year older than I am, but I noticed that he used a baggage service, so his pack was very small. The only other person who I have met, who is older than I, was not caring a sizable pack, either. I guess I am just a purist. I checked into a private room at the Hostal Camino Real. Had dinner at Hostal, ok.
Thursday I Walked to Moratinos. I visited Rebecca, someone who I had met years ago at a pilgrim meeting. She and her husband live there. Ended up staying at the Albergue with bunk beds, first time this trip. Had a small pilgrim dinner. Slept Ok
Friday I Walked 10km in substantial rain to Sahagun, where I had a reservation in the Benedictine Albergue, which is now run by the Marist priests. I attended a coffee for pilgrims with Mateo, a Marist priest from NZ. Attended the pilgrim mass, and the blessing after. For some reason I was really touched by the priest putting his hands on me for the blessing. We had a pilgrim dinner after.
Saturday morning I went to the laundromat. I walked only 10 km to Bercianos, as I could not find a private room in the next town on a Saturday night. I felt a few drops, so I put on my poncho, but it never rained seriously. I walked much of the day with Katharine, a German social worker. She was having trouble with her knee, so she was walking slowly, the same speed that I was. She was bemoaning the fact that even with two incomes, she and her boyfriend were not able to buy a house.
Sunday I called a taxi to take me back to Sahagun for mass, and then back to Bercianos. I walked the 7 km to Burgo Ranero, where I stayed at Piedra Blanca Hostal.
Monday I walked 13 km to Releigos, where I stayed in La Parada Albergue. Hung out a bit with a Basque from Spain who's a retired metal worker, Juan. I had dinner with Robert who's from Hamilton Ontario, recently retired. The employees claimed that my Spanish was better than theirs! (probably just more formal and correct). A nice Albergue.
Tuesday, I was apparently the last person out of the Albergue, at 8:15. There's no one on the trail that I can see. The people come in waves. My boots failed. I was kind of expecting it, I even brought glue with me. It's not that far to Leon, so I will just use my shoes the rest of the trip. I stopped in Puente Villarente, at the Delfin Verde. Had lunch with a French lady, Anne, who I kept seeing on the route. This was the first time I spoke to her. A few years ago she walked from northern France to Santiago, about 2200 km, by herself! She spoke of the magic of the Camino, something I feel too. Apparently, Internet is down in the entire country. This also happened when they had the massive power failure a couple of weeks ago.
Wednesday, I walked about 12 km into Leon. I walked partway with an Italian lady Silveran, and walked into Leon with a young German man, Fabian. Stopped at the Cathedral, walked to Hotel Zentral. Somehow, my phone figured I walked 14 miles! That would include my walking around town. My hotel was well north of the center of town, so that probably contributed to the mileage. Anyway, I don't really believe I walked 14 miles.
Somehow, my Camino is over; not surprisingly, it was a little anti-climatic. But the last day was a good day walking, and I enjoyed talking to the Italian and the German. Mostly on this trip, I am walking slower than other people, so I did not have as much opportunity to chat as I walked as I might've preferred. At the moment I kind of feel done. Not exhausted, but happy to have completed. My Camino has been dragged out over many years with various health and other concerns, causing repeated delays. I have talked about possibly doing something else that's Camino related in the future, but no definite plans.
It will take some time to absorb the fact that I finished; I will probably publish some retrospective thoughts later.
I am having trouble with my editing tools on my phone. I will probably end up posting the text and the photos separately, at least till I get home and sit in front of a real computer
Monday I walked 13 km to Releigos, where I stayed in La Parada Albergue. Hung out a bit with a Basque from Spain who's a retired metal worker, Juan. I had dinner with Robert who's from Hamilton Ontario, recently retired. The employees claimed that my Spanish was better than theirs! (probably just more formal and correct). A nice Albergue.
Tuesday, I was apparently the last person out of the Albergue, at 8:15. There's no one on the trail that I can see. The people come in waves. My boots failed. I was kind of expecting it, I even brought glue with me. It's not that far to Leon, so I will just use my shoes the rest of the trip. I stopped in Puente Villarente, at the Delfin Verde. Had lunch with a French lady, Anne, who I kept seeing on the route. This was the first time I spoke to her. A few years ago she walked from northern France to Santiago, about 2200 km, by herself! She spoke of the magic of the Camino, something I feel too. Apparently, Internet is down in the entire country. This also happened when they had the massive power failure a couple of weeks ago.
Wednesday, I walked about 12 km into Leon. I walked partway with an Italian lady Silveran, and walked into Leon with a young German man, Fabian. Stopped at the Cathedral, walked to Hotel Zentral. Somehow, my phone figured I walked 14 miles! That would include my walking around town. My hotel was well north of the center of town, so that probably contributed to the mileage. Anyway, I don't really believe I walked 14 miles.
Somehow, my Camino is over; not surprisingly, it was a little anti-climatic. But the last day was a good day walking, and I enjoyed talking to the Italian and the German. Mostly on this trip, I am walking slower than other people, so I did not have as much opportunity to chat as I walked as I might've preferred. At the moment I kind of feel done. Not exhausted, but happy to have completed. My Camino has been dragged out over many years with various health and other concerns, causing repeated delays. I have talked about possibly doing something else that's Camino related in the future, but no definite plans.
It will take some time to absorb the fact that I finished; I will probably publish some retrospective thoughts later.
I am having trouble with my editing tools on my phone. I will probably end up posting the text and the photos separately, at least till I get home and sit in front of a real computer
Congratulations on completing el camino...Gordon
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