My Way Today

San Martin del Camino to Astorga – day 23 – 25kms…

Today was supposed to be a 30km day….but one of the girls arranged to share a Taxi to San Martin del Camino….the first village en route and shorten our leg work by 5kms!!!

The day started cool (a mere 6 degrees) and clear…I had arranged a transfer at 6.45am to today’s starting point… Villar de Mazarife…to meet my walking buddies….

The storks in this town once again taking prime position…..my taxi driver told me that these guys migrate to Africa every winter and return to the same village in spring to make their babies! They are not in pairs and every year the females find new husbands!

The planter boxes are also blooming!!

We then hooked up with a couple of Spanish guys and shared a taxi to Our starting point! A coffee first as we had all missed breakfast…then out of town and…

Over the bridge!! We followed the Road for a few kms…path to the side…

And some imaginative painted stones and signs (the sign of the snail) dotted along the way!

But mostly gravel paths and road noise! Around about now we met with a Spanish and a German guy…who walked with us gals for a while…

Checking in on the marker… distance to go! I just realised this morning I am 23 days in and only have 12 left….not sure if that made me happy….maybe the feet will be happy!

We passed through the village of Villavante and continued on to the village of Hospital de Órbigo.. where a coffee and snack stop was needed ! This village is setting up for its annual medieval festival and Jousting tournament over the next couple of days…

We wasted a good hour in this cool village …

With its amazing Roman bridge leading into the centre of town..

Definitely photo opportunities here…Jean and I navigating the cobbles!

The area below the bridge where I think the horses and jousters will perform their magic…

The three Gals, saying goodbye to Hipatia who was staying here for the night..

And the streets adorned with bunting in readiness for the celebrations!

Jean and I carried on out into the countryside…for the next couple of hours and probably 12 km…it was a bit of a haul, coffee and bathrooms few and far between!

We did pass through a very deserted village with a name too long to write, where I entered a hostel and paid €1 for a wee! Then it was rolling hills… with a wine stop at the top of the first one!

For me it was a fur baby cuddle!

Up and down, past quarries. Poles back out for the first time in days!

And the dreaded cobbled downhills…gravel is much more manageable than cobble stones!

About 10kms in an oasis of good, for a donation…Jean was busting for a pee, took herself off discreetly for a bush wee, only to be yelled at by a seated woman at the far end of the garden…telling her not to pee in the garden! She had to stop midstream and was sent off to the side (forest the woman said) only to be disturbed by the husband and two dogs driving in an almost running her over while finishing the job….the need for refreshments and donations turned sour at this point..,,so we marched on…to finally glimpse our destinations…

Astorga in the background,

Jean was stopping at her accommodation, 3kns short…so we took a drink and foot rest at the only bar open in this village of San Justo de la Vega… and I set off to eat up the last few kms to my hotel in Astorga!

The landscape had been devoid of street art until close to town…

Then it dragged me to home base…

A great way of adorning blank walls!

Over a railway line…with the tiniest railway house!! and checked in to my very nice top floor hotel room! Showered, changed, and took a walk to the church…

Huge spires…didn’t feel like another church tour…

Again ornate masonry on the front (locked) door…should churches really be locked!

Adjacent the Palace de Gaudi…Museum of the Caminos! Needing a beer and food …I found the town square!

Writing here in the slowing filling up cafes and had a beer but need food!!! So off on the hunt!

Found the boys and devoured a hamburger!!! Full and happy and ready for feet up!!!