Day 23 - Through All Kinds of Weather

Destination - Astorga

Distance - 32 km

Hours of walking - 7:30 - 4:30

Terrain - gravel roads, shale construction leading to muddy boats

Weather - rain, sleet, sun, wind, rain

Nature - Wendy and I tried to save snails that were on the pavement during the rain, slugs, beef cattle, dairy cattle

Misadventure - Shale construction on roads during rain equals skating rink conditions. 

If you are reading our blog for photos, you may want to close out of this post now! I took very few photos today as my phone was locked up tight against the rain!

We started out today in the rain. At our first stop for coffee five kms down the road, the man working at the bar showed me the rain gauge. One inch that morning. He looked at me as if to say 'you peregrinos are loco!'  I was thinking this morning as I changed my socks in that same bar that on the Camino it may be the only place in the world where it is socially acceptable to change socks and bandaids in a restaurant. 

We started the day with corn fields. Miles and miles of them. Flat and predictable walking. The rain became quite enjoyable after the hot days of the desert. There were snails and slugs everywhere. It was like the earthworms coming out at home. 

Initially we had planned on 19 km but we decided that Wendy would cab and Dee and I would press on. We have a schedule to keep! After our decision, the trail got a little tricky. They were doing road construction (again for miles and miles) and we ended up walking on wet shale. Our feet became monsters of mud. At one point we walked straight thru a dairy farm. The fun of the Camino! We encountered a mess of flies again today. It reminded me of what Catherine from Montreal said about them 'I felt like a cow without benefit of a tail'. 

Eventually our path wound through some wonderful pine trees and then we came to the top of a hill. It was like a call from the mast of a ship 'I think I might see a town out there'

Still forty minutes from our destination but in sight

A cross at the top of the hill

We slugged through town to arrive at our hotel. The last march into town is always hard and today was no different. When we saw  the hotel and knew there was a hot shower and food to follow, we were so relieved. 

Home away from home tonight

A burger treat

Gorgeous town square 

These two hit the bells to make them chime

Cheer of the day from Wendy - even though Wendy had a bad day, in her typical fashion she found things to cheer about:

- being able to get a cab in any small town in Spain

- seeing the Greek Orthodox Nuns from a few days back in the square and having a visit with them - they are on their own mini pilgrimage

- running into our wonderful physio from Leon in the square and him remembering our names and calling out to us. We had a wonderful visit with him. 

The Camino brings people into our lives for the right reasons. 

Thanks to friends for supporting us with messages. They are true gifts from home. I had a couple quotes sent today from friends  that I want to share. 

Thanks Brooke!

Thanks Tami - that was the right timing - as always