LP and VQT

 Posted by LP Photo - red door ….you probably didn’t expect this! Photo - blue door - possibly another unexpected photo  Photo - archway….all that is left of a demolished building  - FYI, these three photos were taken right next to one another! Photo - table in first breakfast cafe, it says, “Leon is the threshold between the path you walk with your feet, and the one you walk with your soul” - we are a couple of days walk away from Leon Photo - knitted flags hanging in first breakfast village Photo - little dog at cafe  Photo - big cat at cafe  Photo - part of an entrance, all that is left of a monastery on the outskirts of Sahagun - it is now part of a park where we rested in the shade before walking into town, our destination for today  Photo - part of a mural on the outskirts of town (otherwise an ugly light industrial area) - modern pilgrims/walkers embracing  Photo - on the property of the hotel we are staying in this evening, green door with char...

 Posted by LP I’ve put quite a bit of effort into walking today…not sure I have enough energy for an interesting post, this is all I have in me… Photo - “pilgrim” sign advertising “economic breakfasts” at a petrol/gas station we passed as we walked out of our “first breakfast” town Photo - sheep (there were lots not captured by this photo)) being led by a shepherd and 4 sheep dog  Photo - “second breakfast” location = a food/coffee shop truck in the middle of nowhere - we were very happy to see it :) Photo - 400 km (about 250 miles) marker to Santiago …..look at us go! Photo - VQT walking along a very long trail (today was a lot of walking, a lot of miles and a lot of sky) Photo - Ken and Lynda (we’ve bumped into them several times) from N California - this time at our afternoon beer stop 🍺 Photo - Tina and others at afternoon stop cafe….we were so happy to see them and the cafe = a very welcome break  Photo - green door at one of the very few towns (only 2) we walked th...

 Posted by VQT We were up and walking by 6:45.  Stopped at mile 3 and had 1st breakfast.  Then at mile 8 stopped at a food truck and had 2nd breakfast.  It was a long walk on gravel.  Around 1 we arrived at Cadzadilla de la Crueza and found Ken & Lynda from California and Tina from Germany.  They were staying in that town but unfortunately we had another 4 to 5 miles to walk until we arrived at Ledigos (La Morena hotel - which we stayed at 3 years ago).   This bookstore owner was amazed that 2 pilgrims wanted to buy a school notepad with lines.  We are working on a chart showing our daily mileage in 2022 compared to this year’s mileage.  We’ll post the comparison in a few weeks as we near the end of our walk.   LP in front of Carrion de Los Condes town sign.   Our morning entertainment came from seeing a sheep herder and herding dogs with a huge flock of sheep.   LP and Tina at Calzadilla de la Cuesta.  Photo of one of...

 Posted by LP 15 days……can you believe it? - that means 21 more days of walking (plus a rest day in Astorga) until we walk into Santiago on 7th October :) Photo - it was a beautiful sunrise  Photo - seeing the sun rise under a bridge  Photo - early on we walked alongside a canal…very pastoral - a lovely beginning to our walking day  Photo - Gecko mural on wall as we walked through a town  Photo - very old Camino sign  Photo - VQT walking a path alongside a stream - this was an “alternative” Camino, worth the couple of extra miles because the non-alternative Camino was alongside a busy road  Photo - LP and VQT on steps of a church with Kathrine (sp?) and Laurelee (sp?) from Seattle  Photo - bonus photo today = a green door Photo - a second bonus photo = close up of the ancient paint on the green door 

 Posted by VQT We were walking before sunrise.  A shorter mileage day but another day of many gravel roads.  We passed by places we vividly remembered from 2022.  Staying at a family run hotel/bar/restaurant.  No laundromat in this town but the hotel is washing our clothes for 12 euros - that’s a good deal (we’ve been paying around 8 or more euros at a Laundromat).  WiFi has been unreliable so posting has been delayed.   Tina and LP walking with the sunrise behind them.   A huge (empty) stork’s nest.   Gravel path next to a road.  We passed this church last year and it was closed.  Today the nicest man was there greeting people and stamping their Credentials.   Inside of the church.   Very simple pews.  Huge sanctuary area.  Stamp from the church.  One of the best stamps we’ve gotten this year.   Quiet night tonight in this sleepy little town. 

 Posted by VQT And we walk… Headed to Villalcazar De Sirga about 20 km (12 miles). There’s a scenic route we’ll take part if the way.   Up early eating white bread with butter and jam - that’s it - all they serve this morning.   We have walked 182.3 miles over the past 2 weeks. 

Posted by LP Alarm at 6am - up, dressed and packed up by 6.45 Out before the sun was up - wonderful stars and planets  to see in the sky  Photo - VQT checking the Camino App - we missed a turning in the dark Walked for an hour or more until we reached the ruins of an convent for pilgrims, San Anton - there is a hostel there now  Photo - interior of ruined convent  Soon after we walked into the town of Castrojeriz  Photo - approaching the town, the church is dominating the view We went inside the church, paid 1euro each for the visit and a stamp in our pilgrim’s “passport” We were ready for breakfast - we went into the first cafe we saw Photo - the menu board at cafe - we had scrambled eggs with cheese and bread, tea and fresh squeezed orange juice for 19 euros total  Photo - you can tell it is a classy establishment by the sign that says “It is forbidden to take off your shoes inside the bar” Photo - friendly cat by LP’s feet - we met a couple of sweet cats...