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Published: October 5th 2018
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Dinner At La Finca, Población
3 courses, €10. Very good value for a Camino meal Today is the last easy day before 3 solid days on the Meseta, concluding in an 18km walk into León.
I’m in the Hostel Santiago, in the same room as 2 years ago, only alone. It’s bliss.
I even have a bath.
I walked out of the albergue today at 6.50, followed by 2 Taiwanese girls who intended on going 34kms. Goodbye and good luck. The prediction is for a hot day and the last 17 kms will have no villages and no shade.
My 17kms started with an extended breakfast at a bar I knew opened at 6.30. The initially grumpy owner soon cheered up, and when he learnt I am Australian, went out the back to show me his toy koala and Australian coaster map. Very nice.
He was chatty, gave me a gift of a shell, and insisted we have photos taken. I had one taken as well, as a reminder.
After passing 3 people on the edge of the village, I walked in silence for 12kms. Most people took the road option , whereas I took the natural paths through some agricultural villages along the rio Ucieza . It was peaceful
An Early Coffee And A Little Gift
The lovely man at Bar Arrabal in Población spotted my potential, appreciated my broken spanish, and presented me with this camino shell, normally €3 folks.
When I first called in for breakfast at 6.40 he didn’t look like it was his favourite hour but we soon discovered a combination of our scattered language skills allowed us to talk about basic things.
Before you knew it we were besties and having our photo taken by a local who had just called in for a shot of rocket fuel to kickstart his day.
It was the 10th or 11th attempt that seemed to satisfy my mate, because the rocket man taking the pictures reminded me of someone poking an eye out. Nothing steady or gentle about his technique; he just thrust at the button and jerked the camera simultaneously.
He was a little better with my camera because it allows for the DT’s.
After viewing many more photos of people from all over the world, I escaped into the dark.
as I set a good pace in the early morning sun. The leaves on the trees were just turning for winter, and the sun shone through the light greens and honey coloured leaves and lit up the path ahead of me.
My feet feel relatively comfortable, and the silence and soft cool morning pathways really lifted my spirits.
It seems the discomfort and confusion of the past two weeks is passing and I’m starting to enjoy the walk more.
I hope to bump into Dave, Darcy and Janet soon, and they may be at the musical presentation for pilgrims at the church tonight.
I’ll break here to go and check it out.
I just had an enjoyable dinner with Dave, Janet, and Darcy, after being mesmerised by the gentle, pretty tones performed by James Kline. This talented musician designed his own unique guitar and, at the risk of sounding clique, he effortlessly delivered magic to us, seeming to barely touch the strings. It was as though he fell into a trance and was caressing a loved one. He played a few known tunes and some that were Camino inspired, written by himself. I bought a
My New Best Friend
The owner of Bar Arrabel with his wife in a cameo role. If you’re passing through and need an early breakfast, this is the place, and he is the Man. CD but we’ll see how that makes it back to Australia.
Don’t just believe me; look him up.
I’ve had a very uplifting day; Good walking, a pleasant bath and wind down in my own room, and the soothing hypnotic talents of JK to top it off. I missed some good music in Hornillos, so I feel I have more than caught up now.
And to top it off, I met up with my mates from Arizona for a delicious meal. We swapped a few details, as Dave has a leg issue and may need to back off for a few days. I would say we should hopefully meet up in León.
It’s Terradillos de Templarios tomorrow and I might need to start early to secure a bed in the albergue of my choice. Many pilgrims, few beds. After 26.8kms I’ll need to put my feet up.
Bye
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Marcelle
non-member comment
Hi from Melton
Hi Steve, Good to read that you are starting to embrace the walk, safe travels, am enjoying your commentary and photos. Take care. Marcelle