Rain....

What a day on the Camino!  I had to wear full rain gear and loved it!  A warm rain, beautiful trail and fresh fall like smells!  

Then the bottom fell out... Stopped raining, bugs came out,     the smell of fresh manure, dropped my poncho (had to back after it), lost my glasses and my electrical adapter!

Then the bridge at Porto Marin!  I have never seen green like I did today. The ruins under the bridge are covered under water when the dam is in operation.  I understand more of what you were doing in Turkey Brooke!  
   


Replaced everything I lost... Adjustments must be made on the Camino de Santiago!

Another camino miracle?

Dinner tonight was not good.  I had the Pilgrim's meal of macaroni with a tasteless tomato sauce, I ordered chicken and got four chicken wings and the desert was a pretty good almond cake!  Sitting close to me was this guy from Mexico.  He admitted he was drunk, he is on the Camino to party and chase women and then stated he did not like Americans!  I controlled my tongue ate and left.

In the alberque I found a magazine in English! Christian Focus! I read most of the articles and was reminded that this journey is Spiritual to me and then realized it was not about me!

Another Camino miracle?

A scare on the camino and 100km to go.....

I left Sarria before day break.  I encountered some of the creepiest experience I have had on the Camino!  Upon sunrise the most serene walk to date! Just look at the pathways!
        
First, I pasted the monastery which was no big deal.  Then right through a cemetery where vaults were layered upon each other.  After That I noticed that the trees were all gnarly straight out of the Wizard of Oz!  Suddenly a bat flew right in front of my face! Thank God for flashlights and sunlight!  
        
I just had to stay at this alberque!


Upon sunrise the most serene walk to date! Just look at the pathways!
Even found acceptable graffiti! Fancy that! 100km to go to Santiago!
          

My plan.....edited

I have been walking 10-15km per day.  At this rate, I will not be able to complete the entire Camino de Frances route to Santiago as planned.

I will be in Sarria on the 1st or 2nd of October to walk the final 100 km to Santiago (10-15 days) and still get a certificate of completion.  

So getting out of the Meseta(no more wheat and corn) and skipping the industrial side of Leon and heading back into the mountains! (Can you see me singing like Julie Andrews in the mountains like in the Sound of Music?).  My biggest obstacle will be dealing with the rain, cold, sore feet, aching shins, and hurting knees... (hungry too!)

The great thing about this plan is I will now have the assurance of completing my goal and enjoying it without the burden of a time frame.

And then I can be a wandering soul on the Camino de Santiago!

Astorga and fellow pilgrims....

Well the rain has started and is forecasted for the next 5 days if not more.  I am in Astorga, a town of 12,000.  Again another cathedral and this time a different structure called the Episcopal Palace (Disney-like)  Both buildings out of this world.  

Fellow pilgrims who we tend to re-meet.....

            
More Tigers' fans in Astorga!  Even a few Lions!
           
        

My credential del pelegrino (pilgrim's passport) so far.....

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Cathedral of Santa Maria de Leon....

Last night in Carrion I was strolling the old part of the city, when I came across the Church of Iglesias Santa Maria. The door was open and I heard a rosary being preformed.  I walked in and it was filled with nuns of a different order from where I stayed the night before with some other pilgrims.  Then to my surprise the singing started.  It was beautiful.  The acoustics just raised you up by itself.

Another miracle on the Camino!

Words fail to describe the splendor of the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Leon

The picture cannot describe the size of Plaza de San Marcos and the size of Parador de San Marcos itself.

And they keep asking me for directions...

This is where I'm at....

Where I'm staying.

 Notice the templar influence.

 How can you get lost?

 

 San Martin

Strange things on the Camino.....

Trekked 14 km from Itero to Fromista.  I like walking just before sunrise as the day is fresh and you get to see the sunrise.  The Meseta is flat and rich in crops of corn and wheat.  All you see is corn and wheat, corn and wheat!  Fromista has a beautiful roman influenced building in the center of town, numerous tour groups dash in and out.   A guy on the Camino says he is 92?  And I saw a guy hauling his pack in a wheel barrow?  You can see strange things on the Camino!

Buen Camino

Spanish omelette and french bread in the morning after a 5k walk.

Taking a break.

 

Back on the way....

Spent the night in Castrojeriz.  A small village built on the south side of a hill away from the north winds.  There was said to be a castle on top of hill guarding the entire valley.  The knights who built these castles strategically placed them to view anyone approaching.  The towns people leave bottles of water for the traveling pilgrims.  The shell has not failed me yet.

The view from where I stayed.

Knights everywhere.

                       
The landscape is back!  Walked 12 km! Up a 13percent grade and down an 18 percent grade.  The views were spectacular!  I talked with a gal sporting a Sedona, AZ hat and saw a guy doing the camino on a unicycle? Crossed the bridge where Scheen had his mishap in "The Way"! Right now the town of Itero de la Vega is on siesta and I am watching my laundry dry!  I love the relaxed atmosphere of rural Espana!  Muy buen!

 The bridge to Itero.

Leprechauns at the top.