After breakfast we got our backpacks and headed on our way. We had a nice stop and took care of some business. Then off again. Next stop was 2,7 kms away but we decided not to stop. The only problem was the next stop wasn’t for another 8 kms. 

Our feet were yelling at us when we did stop. But we had a great stop and just relaxed. 

Next stop Astorga. The day went fast with good conversation. Our accommodation was ready. We took showers, started laundry, ran errands, and then went to have some lunch, and a walk around Astorga. 

We will have a small supper of pasta that we are making where we are staying. So a quiet night for us. Tomorrow is 26 kms and 700 meters up. 

Hope you are well!! Buen Camino!!

Today was the day our friend Jackie was meeting us. We also only have 13 kms to walk so a fairly easy day. 

We found a most amazing stop about 5 kms in and had a wonderful breakfast. We took our time hoping Jackie could catch up. But she had a little trouble with the taxi from Leon to Villadangos del Páramo. 

As we walked it sprinkled a little rain but nothing significant. The little village before Hospital de Orbigo (,5kms away) had a nice little cafe with exotic birds walking around the garden. We told Jackie we would wait for her there. We saw her come through the door. Hugs and tears followed. So nice to catch up. 

After getting settled in our hostal we had an early dinner with lots more conversations. After showers, Noël settled in to watch some tv on his phone, Jackie and I continued to catch up. Then it was lights out and off to bed to be ready for tomorrow’s adventures!!

Buen Camino. 

After a few days of rest we started off from Leon to Villadangos del Páramo. It is a place we have never stayed before. It’s a small little village and we are staying between the old village and what is called the urbanization Camino de Santiago. Which looks like a new town with very organized streets. Not sure exactly what it is. 

The walk today was good. Quiet for the most part. As expected there are all new faces. We chatted with a couple on the way out of Leon, Julia and Scott from North Carolina. We asked about the hurricane damage in their area, his mom had to be evacuated and school for their son was canceled for three weeks at least. They felt very fortunate because whole towns are gone. We continue to say prayers with each step we take. 

There is a big medieval festival taking place in Leon over the weekend. But the real festival which we saw all the way to Villadangos del Páramo celebrates Mary’s appearance to St  James. Now it makes sense why booking accommodation was challenging. In the hostal where we are staying they had two menus: the menu of the day and the festival menu. 

We opted to eat an early dinner shortly after arriving. Good thing we did because the place was packed the rest of the day and evening with locals. After a short walk in the evening we sat to have a glass of wine. A French pilgrim sat with us and once he knew Noël is fluent the conversation flowed (at least for them 😂). 

Tomorrow we meet up with Jackie. That will be fun!! Hope you are well. Buen Camino

So we had a wonderful arrival and send off dinner with people we started walking with from St Jean Pied de Port or at least met along the way. 25 of us from both the Camino Frances and the Camino Primitivo gathered at L’Incontro to enjoy great food and conversation. Good byes are always a little painful but a great aspect of the Camino is it keeps bringing you back together. 

We took the bus to Muxia in the rain. Muxia was covered with fog and rain as we arrived.  We arrived too early to get into our accommodation so we sat in a cafe having a drink. Another pilgrim couple overheard us and asked where we were from. We sat and had a lively conversation with Laura and Bob from Ohio. 

Muxia was all about rest and getting ready for the next stage of our adventure. Our plan is to go back to Leon after going back to Santiago de Compostela. Then we will walk a part of the Frances that we missed when we walked the Primitivo. A friend from Canada, who lived a time in The Netherlands, will be joining us for part of this too. This wasn’t planned but just happened. We are looking forward to seeing her. 

Yesterday we got up for an early morning train ride. It was raining for the 1 kms walk to the train station. After arriving in Ourense everyone had to get off and find a Renfe bus to get on for a 30 minibus ride. We pulled into a station that looked like it was built in 1950 and had no updates. Then we found our way to a train that would deposit us in Leon. Apparently there was some disruption in the train line. And I must say that we arrived in Leon at exactly the time we were supposed to. 

We went to El Topo for a nice dinner. And then made our way to the cathedral. It was Noël’s first visit to the cathedral. We will definitely go back. It has one of my favorite pieces of art: a statue of Mary, clearly pregnant. It’s not something you see very often. And it’s beautiful. 

It will feel good to be walking regularly and more each day. Buen Camino!!