August 6, 2018
I’m sorry I didn’t post this earlier so let’s start with a multiple choice question before I tell you about Day 18 on the Camino de Santiago.
If I was insane, which of the following would be the reason I was judged to be insane? (A) The intense sun and heat of Spain, (B) The fact I have walked for 18 straight days, (C) The genes I inherited, or (D) Other.
Okay, you don’t have to answer that question but I did something yesterday that I won’t do again. I was crazy to do it.
I started the day walking with Tonnie. We knew it would be a long walk before we ran into a village or a cafe and we were okay with that.
So we walked at a decent pace for 10.9 miles before we saw a cafe. And at this cafe we saw Gary and Scott. They started their walk a couple of hours before we started. They called for a car to take Gary to a doctor. I guess his feet were pretty raw from the broken blisters. (Note: We saw them later and there plan was to take a bus to León to go to hospital to have his feet treated and wrapped again. I am not sure what will happen to their plans.)
The car came and Tony and I decided to pass on this cafe thinking we would see another cafe in this village. Well, we didn’t see another cafe. Fortunately, Tonnie had some bread and I had some nuts to give us enough fuel to get to the next town which was my planned destination for the day.
We got into that town early and Tonnie already was planning to go to the next town so that his walk to León would be shorter the next day. We had lunch and Tonnie eventually left. I was still thinking of staying there but began to feel stronger plus it was early so I decided I would start walking. My plan was to go to the next town with Karl from Germany and Michael from Ireland. Their plan was to walk to León. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to León.
My plan was to go to the next town and see how I felt. If I felt good, I would go to the next town and then see how I felt. But I was pretty sure I would go no further.
So I went to the next town and felt good. I went to the next town and made the decision I didn’t want to stay there. I knew it was crazy to go to León but I also knew I could do it.
So I went to León and walked in the intense heat and sun of the afternoon. That was a crazy thing to do, but I did it with Karl and Michael. We met Stewart from Ireland and Kate from Hungary on our way and entered León together. I found a hotel, washed my clothes, and met them for dinner.
So I went to bed after a late dinner. And since Day 18 became my Day 18 and 19 walk, I am taking Day 19 off and will begin walking on Day 20.
I walked 29.07 miles from Calzadilla de los Hermanillos to León. And my mind, body, and spirit are good.
The photo is an image of the Cathedral in León.
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See additional photos from August 6th below:
Brief descriptions of the photos:
This is a photo of the trail before sunrise.
This is a view from the trail as we passed the village of Villamarco.
This is a view of the trail with Tonnie, a fellow pilgrim in front of me.
This is a view of some brick bodegas (I think) along the trail before entering the village of Reliegos.
This is a monument with the Santiago cross on top before entering the town of Mansilla de las Mulas.
This is a pilgrim statue on the outskirts of the town of Mansilla de las Mulas.
This was the first marker I saw like this so I took a photo of it. It was near the village of Valdelafuente.
This was one of the first views from a distance that I had of the cathedral in León.
This is a side of a church on the outskirts of León. I was fascinated by the stork's nest at the top.
Here are some fountains and sculptures in León.
This is a view of a church in León.
This is another fountain in León.
This is the cathedral in León.
This is the cathedral in León.
This is the cathedral in León.