El Camino de Santiago and other trails.
Today was an easy walk through an area that was prevalent with gold and silver mines in Roman times. Most of the villages have been abandoned, but with the increase of pilgrims walking in the past years, some of those medieval villages have been restored. Tonight we went to a church where Benedictine monks delivered the mass in Gregorian chant.
Today was our last day walking through La Meseta. We walked through some low hills, and a few high trees provided a most needed shade. We saw about eight pilgrims along el Camino; it is the beginning of the high season here; probably next week, we will see more people along the way because it is the Holy Week.
Long, long walk 20.5mi/32km through La Meseta. We met a few pilgrims on the way; the weather was fantastic for hiking today; every few miles, we walked through a small town; we are very tired but excited to be walking. Today we saw a lot of activity through La Meseta; the farmers are preparing the soil for seed.
Today we arrived in Leon. We are very fortunate to be back in Leon in less than a year to finish our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Tomorrow morning we are going to start our 302Km/187Mi to Santiago.
Me: Today was our last day walking our pilgrimage this year. I can’t believe how fast three weeks went by. We challenged ourselves every day, and we suffered a little, but this has been the most fantastic experience in our lives so far. I walked 25km. (15 mi) today, and then I took a taxi to Leon, but Jeremy did the walk to Leon 41 km (25 mi), almost eight hrs.
Jeremy: This was our last day walking the Camino of Santiago this year. We will be back next year to walk the final 13 stages. We have done 289 out of 480 miles total.
Today was a record. More than 25 miles (41 km) total.
This has been an unforgettable three weeks despite tendinitis in both shins, achy knees, and extremely sore feet. Can’t wait to get back on the trail next year to finish our pilgrimage!
Today we had early rain showers in the morning, and then by mid-morning we had wind. It’s official, I would prefer to walk in the rain than walk-in 15mi/h winds.
We walked 32km today and were quite tired when we arrived at the hotel. We only have one more segment on this leg of the Camino before returning to the States.
It was a bittersweet farewell during breakfast today because it was the last time we ate with the people we met in St. Jean or Roncesvalles.
We saw during lunch the 82 year old pilgrim who was at the hospital. He is doing well and will be walking slowly for the following days.
Otherwise, it was a flat but very long trek through the Meseta, and we got slammed by a thunderstorm during the last kilometer into town.
We still walking through La Meseta in Castilla y Leon province.
Walking through La Meseta has been interesting. The only way not to lose your sanity is to walk through with a good attitude and be open to starting a conversation with anyone who crosses your path. Otherwise, the flat and repetitive scenery will drive you crazy, and most people are eager to talk to someone. Today we learned that an 82 years old gentleman got sick on the trail and was taken to the hospital for observation. His friends think he got dehydrated or maybe had a stroke.
For the past two nights, we have met our new friends for dinner or for a glass of wine, and the conversation that we had with them is priceless (what happens in El Camino stay in El Camino.)
Jeremy and I are sad because we will not finish el Camino with them to cheer up and congratulate each other in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral. We have to go back in a few days to California and wait a year to return to finish our walk to Santiago de Compostela.
