June18

Walked from Foncebadon to Ponferrada 30.0 km.
Well the weather man was wrong, it did not rain as predicted, I got dressed warm as we were in the mountains and it was supposed to rain, left the albergue at 6:30 and had a wonderful sunrise, it made the climb a lot not so bad.
Today again walked with very little pain, and the views made  me forget even that.  It was very rough terrain and I walked with extreme caution. You can see on the picture how rocky and steep it is. I had planned to walk alone and did for the first half, but at the steep section I met up with a Korean lady, then a Spanish couple, then a german lady  and a german man and an Australian couple. So we ended  up to be a group. It was fun until Marianne fell on her face, lucky nothing broken just two black eyes and a swollen nose and hand. We wanted to get her a ride but she walked all the way to Ponferrada.
Passed by the memorial of a cyclist who got killed  a few years ago, always a little reminder to be careful. Well I am off to my bed to pamper my feet.
Hugs to all
Grateful Pilgrm

June 17

Waked from Astorge to Foncbadon  27.2 km.
This is the first day in a long tine that I walked almost pain free. Stated out at 6:30 am. and it wad cold and windy and a little rain, I am now off the meseta and the terrain is getting interesting again. In Astorga I met up with a lot of pilgrims who started in St. Jean with us, we greet each other like long lost friends and many a story is told. Lots of blisters, sorefeet and pulled backs. Nice to know that I am not the only one with  problems. Arrived in Foncebadon just after lunch and as there was rain predicted for the next day I walked 2.5 km. up to the Cruce de Fierro. The Iron Cross and put my rocks there. It was an amazing feeling to stand there, very emotional. The hostal was not very good but it is just a few houses on top of the mountain. Had dinner and went to sleep at 7:0 pm.
Thank you all for your mail

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Big hug
Grateful Pilgrim

June 16

Sorry the post got strewed up and I could not fix it also the pictures are too big. Hope the next one is better.
P.S. happy Birthday Harold.

June 15/16

Walked from Leon to Villar de Mazarife 22 km.
I did not stop in Leon as it was very busey, so I started my walk  at the edge of town. Traffic is cracy and as I am not so nimble on my feet it is a bit scary to cross a street. Again walked through beautiful countryside. Along the way I met a very young girl from San Francisco with a very heavy pack, very white skin, shorts and selleveless. Totally red in the face from trying to walk fast. This is her first day walking and she had never hiked before so was not prepared for the Camino at all. She was trying to keep up with a lady she met on the plane who is a seasoned walker. I told her to slow down and find a pace that feels good to her and meet up with the lady in Mazarife. So she walked the rest of the way with me . She is 20 years old and has her mothers ashes with her which she wants to put at Cruce de Fierro which is at 1,515 meters altitude, so quite a climb.
At my slower pace I can observe  the different types of pilgrims.
There are the men who get up at 5am. and race to the next destination. There are the young people who party a lot and in the morning have to get kicked out of the albergue. There are the couples who are very organised and help each other put on their packs. The bikers are a breed of their own. And then there is the rest of us. Out of the albergue at 7am. walking at a medium " mine now slow" pace and stopping often to take pictures or just rest in the shade. By mid afternoon we all end up at the same place and the slow ones get greeted by the fast ones. This is my observation of the Camino population.
June 16. Mazarife to Astorga. 18 km. walking and 13 km. by bus.
Left Mazarife at 6:30 to get an early start de Obrigo we had another stop and admired the Roman bridge which dates back to the 13th. Century. Got to Astorga at 2.0pm. And what a neat city it is, would need more time to explore, am going to bed soon as tomorrow will be a long day. Astorga is the chocolate capital of Spain, what temptation.

 start as it is very hot and I needed to arrive before lunch and give the ankle a break. Stopped along the way for my coffee and sandwich which is very welcome after 10 km. and also gives me a rest. At Hospital
Hooray only 254 km. to go.
Hugs to all from the
Grateful Pilgrim.

Day 23

Walked from Mansillas de las Mulas to just outside Leon. 18.0 km.
Last nite in las Mulas had a nice dinner with a lady from Australia and a mother and son from Brazil.
There were 18 bed in our room and quite a few snorers so had a restless nite. But the view of the sunset from my window made up for it. Left las Mulas at 8:0 am. And had a good walk, the feet hurt in the beginning  but after about 5 km. I get in to my stride and am fine. It took me 5 hours to do the 18 km. so very slow. Around noon the temperature was 27 degrees and when the our destination village came in to view it was a great relieve. We stopped along the way to cool our feet in the irrigation canal and spent 20 minutes in an underpass tunnel to cool off. Just before the village was a shaded rest area with drinking fountain. We could not go til Leon as all the albergues there were full. Now that school is out in Spain it gets busy on the Camino. I will not stop in Leon as it is very busy and one day is not enough to see the sights so tomorrow I will bus through the city to Option and walk from there to Villar de Mazarife where I forward my pack to a hostel.  The village I am in is Arcahueja, about 100 inhabitants but the hostel is nice and I can do my laundry.
Thank you all for the comments, as always it is appreciated.
Hugs
Grateful

Pilgrim