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Published: October 11th 2018
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León Cathedral
A few last night pics. The sky was threatening. Today the game was all about staying dry.
With rain predicted, and having done the long mind numbing walk through León’s industrial area previously, I caught the bus to La Virgen del Camino. Here, the industrial wasteland gives way to more natural scenery, although you are walking on asphalt roads for most of the day.
I search out the narrow gravel or grass verges on the edge of the road, as anything softer than tar provides some relief to tired feet.
The new boots had their first outing today, and considering the circumstances, passed with flying colours. I had my inserts in the boots to start the day but after 2 kms I reverted to the manufacturer’s ones. I think mine caused the boots to lose half a size, and they were a little to tight. The poncho joined in for the day and never left my back.
The rain varied from nuisance drizzle to steady, sideways downpours, but you have no option except to keep going.
You don’t have to change socks on days like this, but my shirt becomes saturated from sweat, as ponchos don’t breath. It was a 2 shirt day.
I
walked with some South Africans at the start of the day. They began in León, today, and all their luggage was in suitcases, being transferred each day. You can’t keep pace with people whose water bottle is the same size as their backpack. I met up with them again in Mazariffe , had tortilla and coffee, and kept going. They were a little shocked when I told them they had a 31km day tomorrow, and that’s why I was pressing on today.
Tomorrow was to be a 31km day, but because I bused 8kms this morning, I added 9kms on the end to reach Villarante.
Apart from the weather and the constant road surfaces, the rolling dark clouds, constant green and gold corn crops, and distant mountains did brighten up the day for me, and walking alone had me focused on how the new boots were performing ( an ongoing assessment) and how lucky I was to be out here.
One thing I have learnt in life is that, while you can’t control what life throws in front of you, it’s how you respond or react that really defines the situation; and that part is totally controlled
by you.
So today was pretty good.
I’m in a lovely Albergue in Villavante, was first here and had my choice of beds, and had showered and done my washing before anyone else arrived. Dinner is here at 6pm, early for Spain, so I can have an early night before a 22km walk to Astorga in the morning. Hopefully it’s dry.
Astorga is a turning point on the Camino for me. I think the terrain is more varied and interesting, Galicia is coming up, and you pass through some of the green , forested areas with calm valleys, high mountain views, and friendly, medieval villages that seem to appear more frequently.
Hopefully, the hard rough work is done, we are all ‘ battle hardened ‘, and even steep climbs and declines are easily balanced by the path of the Way.
Catch up tomorrow from Astorga, the home of the Chocolate Museum. Sampling will be done.
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Susan Petch
non-member comment
Pretty
Pretty photos at night.