Day 34: San Román da Retorte - Melide

The traditionally built stone albergue was comfortable and quiet. I awoke just before my alarm, made a green tea, ate peanuts and rice cakes from C and was out walking with the moon by 8. 

The sun soon made her appearance too. 

I left before my family since it was a long day (and I tend to take more breaks) and so that I could have a little sola time on the Camino (last day of the pure Primitivo experience). I thought a lot about change. The Camino vibe was changing, my daily routine is soon to change... and oh yeah, my post-Camino life. 

I crossed a lot of bridges today. I remembered the Galician folklore (witches can't cross bridges) and considered bridges as linking or transition points. 

(Notice Santiago just after this bridge.)

My family walked ahead and behind me and I like knowing they are there and meeting up at rest stops, but much of the day I was alone with amazing landscapes like these. 

And I saw Camino cows!

I arrived at 4, after 8 hours on the road. The town was quiet - siesta time on a Saturday. I took care of my daily personal errands, visited the supermarket for reinforcements, ran into friends from the Francés and Primitivo and had a great dinner here. 

I'm 51 k from Santiago, two days, or three easy days. I'm still not sure which option I'll take, but I'll get there. The way is the destination. 

Kilometers walked: 27 (Fitbit), 29.85 (Buen Camino app). Friends' guidebooks state 30. I'm calling it that. :)

Day 16: Burgos - Hontanas

The albergue last night had some interesting house rules. It's common that there is a curfew and that doors lock then. However at this one we didn't have control over the hall lights and so an earlier bedtime meant that light still spilled into our room (no doors). All the lights, including the room lights were switched on at 6am, which is a pretty hard wake up call. Soy milk café con leche at the bar across the street and I'm out by 7!

Leaving Burgos was a pretty walk and the misty morning fields added to the magic. 

The Camino soon departed from the city and freeway roads and views. Now I am on the "meseta," a long, mostly flat part, favorite of some and skipped section of others. 

So far, I like it. I read a quote that said the landscape here is in the sky! Yes, it is.

With M, an Italian who lives in England at a rest stop today. 

Sunflower season is ending, but this field still has some life. Mom, I always think of you when I see these. ❤️

Today was my biggest day yet. On any Camino. I feel tired and my ankles were ready to stop when I got to the albergue, but I did 30k! I was so happy to see the town of Hontanas. 

At the time of writing I'm sitting outside of the church at a cafe, with two Germans. I'll have the community dinner at my albergue soon and then it's bedtime! 

Photo above: Inside the Hotanas church. 

The Camino doesn't leave a lot of free time, but I am reading an amazing book: You are not your pain by Vidyamala Birch and Danny Penman. I highly recommend it if you are dealing with any kind of chronic physical or emotional pain (including stress!).

Kilometers walked: 26.6 (Fitbit), 31.37 (Buen Camino app), 30.5 (Leslie Gilmour guidebook). I think the Fitbit took a siesta and forgot to count some today!