El Burgo Ranero to Puente Villarente - 8/28

(Distance: 24.5 kms  Time: 6 hours)
The Day: We continued on the alternate route today which the locals debate is the real Camino, to the point where the two paths join back together. Our original plan was to stay there but since we arrived before noon we decided to continue on. Leon is drawing near ( now only 12 kms) so early tomorrow morning we should arrive there. The way is now following the major highway to Leon so it is not as senic or peaceful but the path is well off the road so far so it is safe walking. At the end of today's walk the thought occurred to me that it would have been much better if they had buried St James in Leon as our bodies need a rest. So the plan is to stay in Leon for 2 nights and take a break. (for all you PM's reading this, translated for you this means I have project reserve built into the plan and I am taking advantage of it) We really are ahead of where we thought we would be and with no major injuries. A few minor blisters, very sore feet and tired backs & legs ... but for the most part in pretty good shape which helps make the whole experience that much better. Have I mentioned lately God is good? It seems even when we make a mistake He turns it into yet another great experience ... guess we are supposed to let Him be in control :-)

sometimes the way just goes on and on and on ...

another small town we passed

Betsy relaxing at the albergue

The People: Today we have pretty much been on our own with a few familiar faces here and there but none of the friends we've made. This morning we met a couple from Colorado Sally & Mark whom seemed about our age. She has tendinitis though so we far out paced them. The albergue we are in tonight is very nice with the usual 8 bunk beds per room arrangement and coed bath room & showers ... something we are getting used to but not something you grow to like. Tonight's pilgrim meal should give us a chance to meet some new people.

our room for the night

Terradillos to El Burgo Ranero - 8/27

(Distance: 28.7 kms   Time: 8.5 hours)
The Day: We were in a bunk room with our friends last night and we all went to bed early and no one woke up until 6:30! So it was a later start than normal ... around 7:30. The walk started off fine and we made decent time in the morning. When we got to Sahagun , we had a snack and then waited for our friends to catch up ... they  were reportedly 10 mins behind. After waiting 45 mins we decided to go ahead and go on. By the time we were back on the trail, lots of people had passed us and we were pretty much on our own.  There was an alternate route choice which we had decided we did not want to take ... so of course we took it by mistake and by the time we realized it, we could not turn back. We were bummed that we might not see our friends again. Then when we got to our destination for the day, we found Mike who we thought we might not see again so it all worked out. The terrain turned today from the endless wheat fields to gravel paths following the major highway that leads to Leon. We should be there in a few days. One good things about the alternate route we took was that the path was lined with trees. That combined with the cooler than normal temp ( around 75) and a nice breeze made the walk much more tolerable than it might have been. Seems God is watching out for us :-)

The People: Reunited with Mike we did not feel as bad as we initially did with our "wrong turn". The alternate path we took merges with the other path after tomorrow so perhaps we will see Jee Young at the end of tomorrow.

"The Way" beside the highway

ruins we passed by

sites in the towns we pass through

some unexpected company