Thoughts of home

October 17, 2017
Thoughts of home
I think I would kill for a tuna melt right now.  This is odd because this is a country that seems to live on canned tuna and I have never seen a tuna melt.
Or cream of mushroom soup with crackers.
Sigh.
Re: Rabanal and On the road
Will do. Apparently all of Spain is on fire right now.  And this is the driest it has been in recent memory. (25 years). This from the only occupant of Monjardin, who claims to be the last of The Knights Templar.   He and his dogs run a refugio on the way down from the Cross de la Ferro.  Suffice to say it is horribly dry.  The place where I stayed last night could not offer laundry washing because the water supply was so tight.
Today it is raining and instead of 10 km downhill in the rain we took a taxi and our knees thanked us.
Oh, and the main crop on the Meseta seems to be feed corn. The irrigate the heck out of it
Leslie, your roving correspondent, now off to view a Templar castle in Ponferrari.
Photos:
Oct. 12 - John Reading with Gaudi - One of the amigos sharing a good read with a local.
Oct. 14 - Time for the pilgrims to rest and hydrate - One of the stops along the way, lots of teas, coffees, and notes left for the pilgrims to peruse during their rest stop.
Oct. 15 - A small flower that caught Leslie's eye. - Leslie takes some time to 'smell the roses' and in this case finds a familiar looking little plant.
Day 31 Columbrianos - with the end looming, our intrepid travelers march along smartly.

 

 

On the road

October 16, 2017
On the road
I am in a tiny place that looks, like many of the tiny villages do around here, like a set out of a spaghetti western.  If Terrence Hill turned up I might bludgeon him with my aluminum water bottle and steal his horse.  For those of you who do not understand this reference,  please look up "Trinity" on YouTube.
The air quality is not good today:  there is a large fire burning somewhere and the smoke has closed in like thick fog.  Some are concerned about the air quality.  I guess the fire is about 30 km away.
I have about about 2 km and 100m climb before I reach Cruz de la Fer.
Just an update from the trail.
Love you Snuggy
Photos:
Oct. 16 - Sign, Sign, Everywhere a sign - another intersection with signs to everywhere in the world.
Oct. 16 - Cruz de la Fer - If you zoom in, you can see the Canadian flag near the bottom. In the foreground, there is another pair of hiking boots! Who needs to carry worn out boots or boots that hurt your feet?
Oct. 15 - Mini Cruz de la Fer - Here is a mini-cross available for those not inclined to take the 200 meter climb to the main feature. Oh, ya, more boots, these with flowers in!
Day 30 El Acebo de San Miguel - One whole month on the road. We're on the 'downhill side' of this journey, in more ways than one.

October 15, 2017
Rabanal
Today in Rabanal, tomorrow the iron cross where I will leave my "offering" and on to El Acebo for the night.  That is about 17 km but does not include a 300m climb to the cross.  But it's down hill after that.
It is really hard to believe that I am over halfway though there are times when all I want to do is get home to you and the kitties.  But I struggle on.
I made pasta carbonara for John's party.  I am told that I made a mistake as I will be asked to do it again.
In answer to a question,  when I got rid of my sleeping bag,  I still had my sleeping bag liner.  It has served me well.
Oh if you  need to pay off Jack's bill, use my Pc debit card.  There is more than enough to cover it.
Now I am getting sleepy again.  This when I get to close my eyes and dream of home.
Love you my Snuggy
Photos:
Oct. 15 - Working out the kinks - Leslie is still working out the 'camera kinks' here. Look in the background and you will see mor refurbishment on the tower. Lots of effort going into refurbishment and maintenance.
Oct. 14 - Supper time in Rabanal - This photo shows the 'crew', the Amigos on the right and other Pilgrims sharing a comunal meal after a long day.
Oct. 15 - Now here's another tribute to Pilgrims. - A cute sculpture indication that Pilgrims are welcome here.
Day 29 - Rabanal del Caamino - a 20 km hike, up hill. Leslie walked and sent her main pack ahead by a service that is provided for the Pilgrims.
Progress Week 4 - Leslie has traveled 500 kms so far, what a feat.

 

 

 

Into Astorga

October 14, 2017
Into Astorga
Thanks for the update. My Bear.   Jack is back?  What did they do to him?  How much did it cost?  How is the work on the pellet stove coming?  Are you managing to stay warm and cozy at night?  Do you have the winter quilt on?
I was in Hospital de Orbrigo last night :  we took the bus about 20 km out of Leon to the end of the 'burbs and just to do penene for that we walked 12 more km.
I think we can safely say that the 3 Amigos are out of the Meseta now as the lano scape is changing and there are more trees.  There are some pictures from today including a slice from the 60s in a little way station maintained on the Camino.  Also another cute Fuente just outside San Justo de la Vega: when the water it running to fill a bottle, the water runs on the statue too.
Today was John's birthday so we had cake and I cooked dinner.  There was some enlightened self interest here.
Tomorrow off to Rabanal
Love you my Snuggy
Photos:
Oct. 14 - Still on the Mesets, for now - Pretty flat, but look at the trees off in the distance.
Oct. 14 - Another Statue for the Pilgrim - When the water rund when filling your water bottle, the water flows from the gourd to the pilgrim's mouth, pretty neat eh whot?
Oct 14 - Photo op, a slice of the 60s - Stopping to 'smell the roses' along the way.
Day 28 Astorga - The crew did follow the highway and did end up in Astroga, taking the bus and walking.
Week 4 - Leslie's progress on Week 4 took her 190km through Leon to Astorga

Lounging in Leon

October 12, 2017
Lounging in Leon
It was not quite the day we had expected in Leon, but since the whole town seems to be set up for a long weekend maybe there was more to be seen over that time.  That said the Three Amigos hit the road out of town on the morrow wit a bus ride to the edge of the 'burbs to avoid 20 km over cement and asphalt.
We took a tour of the Cathedral and around the center of town.  There is a picture of me giving therapy to a statue, one of John on a park bench with Gaudi and the foot print of a Roman soldier.  These prints are to be found as markers bordering the Roman encampment the was the beginning of the city of Leon.
We had a forgettable supper in a local brewpub.   Their beer was cloudy-not a good sign.-  The service was slow; and the food was not up to par.  Maybe we were just.too homesick, none of us
could face the thought of another pilgrim meal so we felt a burger was in order.  Usually Spanish
hambergesas are very good, but this one wasn't.
Anyway tomorrow is another day.  Missing my Snuggy and hope you got the stove issues resolved. 
Photos:
Oct. 12 - Leslie giving a massage to a Statue - Leslie takes time to pose in Leon
Oct. 12 - Inside Cathedral in Leon - The majesty and grandeur of these cathedrals takes your breath away.
Oct. 12 - Action on the Streets of Leon - There was some street action, but things were just ramping up when our travelers had to depart.
Oct. 12 - Roman Foot Prints in Leon - Foot prints of Romans survived the passage of time. These prints are used to indicate the original Roman encampment, a novel idea.
Day 28 Do they go to Astorga - Just how far will the travelers make it today? And What adventures?

last night in Mansilla de las Mulas

 October 11, 2017
last night in Mansilla de las Mulas
This is a town whose main claim to fame was as a mule market.  Those days have come and gone.  My two Amigos and I took a 34 km bus ride to Mule town and walked into Leon this morning. 
Yesterday was market day with all of those wonderful fruits vegetables and sausages and me with no kitchen. 
I  have checked into my hostal and there are even sheets and blankets.  This is different that the usual albergue (a hostal being a step up).
Photos:
Oct. 11 - Even Walls are Used to Give Directions - Here the entire wall of a building is used to give information and directions to Pilgrims. The yellow 'Via Franka' is the yellow line along the bottom.
Sept 26 - Taking the Pilgrims way - Formal signage points to the next spot along the Way.
Sept 27 - Signage of a Different Variety - An example of helpful signage with an information panel. No yellow arrow this time. Note that there are many 'paths' or ways to Santiago and they often share the same trail along the way. There are a series of different coloured arrows to follow for each one, sometimes it does get confusing.
Sept. 28 - Cute Marker - Some of the markers are downright cute, like this one decorated with a carved gourd.
Day 24 Mansilla de las Mulas - 36 kms today with most of it on the bus.
Day 25 Leon - A casual 18km walk North into Leon.

 

 

Kitties

October 10, 2017
Kitties:
I am off to Leon today about 18 .- 19 km and I want to get started before it gets hot which it does on the meseta. I think that moving the litter box upstairs was a good idea.  What with the Wing being the Wing. And a dog in the house, it may have just been the final straw.  Or maybe they miss me a little.  I do miss them.  And you.  I wish that there was some way of getting the Wing out of her snit but for the life of I can't think of any.
I have made it Leon and it's only 1:30.  Thanks to Google maps I have found that my hostal is only about 450 meters away.
More later... after a shower and maybe a little siesta
Love you lots
Photos:
Sept. 22 - Roman which way do we go - The signage varies greatly along the WAY. The yellow arrow is particular to the Via Franko [The French Way].
Sept. 25 - AH Leslie has found a Sale - A sign in town reassures the pilgrim that they are on track as they travel through town.
Sept. 26 - Abandon Boots Outside Logrono - A local monument decorated with a pair of abandoned boots. Note the yellow arrow on the post in the background.
Sept. 26 - Only 616kms to go - Even graffiti covered walls feature a helpful yellow arrow pointing the WAY.