Astorga to Rabanal del Camino – Day 24 – 20.35kms
Jean joined me for breakfast ….having spent a lonely (and hungry) night in her haunted house a few kms back….and we left Astorga behind at 7.30am …
This guy wanting the breakfast takeaways….obviously knowing the pilgrims will stop and provide treats on the way out! (If he looks cute enough)?
The first town of Murias de Rechivaldo….about 3kms out provided the first coffee and loo stop…
Here Jean felt an ankle twinge and as we headed off for the next 6km to the next village…the pain was shooting up the leg….
These were pretty much long straight paths…and at 3kms in we realised we needed to get her a taxi…luckily we came to a road…and Camino Magic…a taxi came down the hill!…just before the climbs began…so here I was solo walking again!
Just me and my shadow…until the next village of Santa Catalina de Somoza…
The geography was becoming more mountain like…..with promises of the challenges ahead…but not to dwell on this…there was a cool breeze and the sun was out…perfect walking weather!
Entrance to this next village.. at the 9km mark, water and bathroom break!
Getting into the start of the mountains of Leon…the villages are taking on the ancient stone architecture…
Still with the colours and flowers!
Out in the farmlands…a few more livestock…chilling in the morning sunshine…
Nearing the next village around the 13km mark…
And the promise of a beer in the cowboy bar (with a couple of Camino friends) at EL Ganzo! A little bit of Texas in the middle of north western Spain!
Not sure, in hindsight, a beer was a good idea at this point with still 7kms to go( as a couple of bush wees were needed on the next stretch) but it was most enjoyable!
Not so much in the cowboy theme except the goose in hat guarding the restroom door!
Leaving town, another church, another stork or two!
Then it was long straight gradual ascent, moving into Forrest on one side and…
Mountain ranges (in the distance) on the other side…
These memorials…dot the trail from time to time…where pilgrims leave bits and pieces of memorabilia..
A final steeper ascent..
Provided a bush walk…nice change…
Lined with wire fences where walkers have woven in crosses with branches and anything else they can find….
More cows..bigger horns! wouldn’t want to tangle with these big boys!
And finally… into the bustling (not) village of Rabanal del Camino…having just gone to sleep at 2pm!!!
I took a walk in search of food or anything…one corner store calling itself a supermarket! The three restaurants open at 7pm… so a couple of flato peaches, bag of Doritos, nuts, water and two cans of beer later I retuned to the Albergue….drank my beer in the courtyard…returned to my room at 6.30pm, showered and climbed into bed to eat my snacks!!! I have a long day tomorrow- breakfast is at another place, but coffee making facilities down stairs…so will grab a coffee and hit the road early!!!
All who wander are not Lost girls 