Today it is my daughter Idas birthday, she becomes 14, and I was on facetime with the family at 6:30 when she was waked up with hot chocolate, singing and presents. That was a nice start of the day. I started walking while we had the birthday party since the hostel had closed the door to the restaurant and first opened at 7:00.
So it was an early start, but would also be a long day. Since I walked a bit longer yesterday, todays route was only 12 km, so I decided to go ahead and walk 20 km more to the next stop. I am a bit tired in my legs today after the 32 km, 26km yesterday and 46 km the day before. Next two days will only be 18 km each, and then I will arrive in Leon where I will take a rest day.
The morning started cold - temperature was 2 degrees and foggy. Is the Spain? Back home the kids are swimming in the pool in the sun, and here I am walking in nearly freezing temperatures…
I had to put all my clothes on, and the scarf I bought the other day showed really useful to protect my ears and neck from the cold. I found a coffee shop along the path and got my first breakfast- nearly the typical one with coffee, orange juice and this time a chocolate crossaint. Unfortunately I forgot to photo it.
After some walking, think 10 km, I passed the place that marks half way of the Camino towards Santiago, see the pictures below.
Some km later I arrived in Sahagun where I got my second breakfast and took a break.
At breaks I always take my shoes and socks off, and this seems to work, because I have still not got any blisters and my feets are softer than in many years. They also get lotions 3-6 times a day :-)
On the outskirt of the city, there was a monastery or church that issues half-way certifications. I went in and got mine and am now carrying it with me. While walking up to the monastery, I met Barry, the kiwi living in US that did 160 km ultra marathons by walking, and could walk 160 km in 24 hours. Berry is retired now and I don’t think he practices this anymore. I have met Berry at a number of different locations over the last 17 days and we always get a short chat.
I am walking completely alone today and will get so far ahead that none of the group will catch me. And I plan to do the next two days completely alone as well. It is nice to have a couple of days on my own. In Leon, I will have a rest day and I think most of our group will catch up there and we will go for dinner and explore the city.
Had a lunch 8 km before end location where I got a burger and met another danish pilgrim. He started 2 days after me, and walks +30 km per day, but also had issues with his feets now and was on antibiotic because of inflammation in a blister.
On the way, there was a Camino sign with writings on - and is very much in alignment with my thinking at the camino. Life is about love - love is the answer - which is also the key message in many religions, and the world would be a better place if more people thought about love and compassion for others.
I got to the hostel in El Burgo 14:30. I had sent a request to them yesterday and asked for a bed, and they asked for my name, but did not confirm if there was a bed. And as usual, the booking system hostels are using is based on paper and pen, and they could not find my name. But I got a bed, and they removed another reservation. Some people seem to book several places and hostels typically have the practice of cancelling reservations if you have not arrived at 15:00.
I got my bed, took a shower and made the bed. This hostel is one of the worst ones I have stayed in. There are lots of beds packed in the room and the building standard is low. But it is a bed and soon it is morning again and I am walking again.
I then headed for a restaurant to sit down and write my reflections and blog.
