Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagun May 26

The day started very cold - I wore gloves- but it sure warmed up nicely! Some people find the Meseta boring and a hard slog, but I like it. No big hills to huff and puff over and miles of waving grain fields. In addition to the vague outline of the mountains on the horizon to the north, we now have a suggestion of mountains to the west; the end of the Meseta in view.

 

I have met a few Perigrinos Perros (dogs), and last night 2 slept in the courtyard. One was with it's owner,nwho pitched a tent,the other slept outside by the boots, waiting patiently for its owner who was snoring soundly inside.

Dogs foot pads are not that tough, and this smart owner had fitted out its dog with boots. He didn't like them too much so as many pilgrims do, the boots came off at the rest stop.

It was a great day to walk, the winds had died down and the sky was blue. The sun was hot and promised good weather for sitting outside in the afternoon. There were lots of small villages to stop and take a break at, Ldigos, Terradillos de Los Templaroos, Moratinos and San Nicolas. The hit at Moratinos featured bodegas (Wine cellars) built into the hill - no it is not hobbit town!

The long and winding road... Not really, long, yes, but pretty straight west.

Before long we passed the border of Palencia and the Region of Castille y Leon in the Province of Leon, and the day's destination was in sight. Sahagun was visible in the distance for a full hour before I actually entered the city.

On the outskirts was this very nice Park around the Ermita de la Virgin del Puente (there is a bridge over the Rio Valderaduey nearby). A good place to take a break and enjoy midday shade in the hot Spanish sun.

 

The Abergue - Domus Viatoris was great for 7 EUR. It was both a hostal (sort of motor hotel) and an Albergue.

 

I purchased a train ticket to Leon (70 km away) for the next day - what a deal for 6 EUR!

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Villacazar de Sirga to Calzadilla de la Cueza - May 25

Blog Uploaded May 25th - only 1 pic due to slow internet.

 

Today was another wonderfully sunny day, nice temp for walking not so much for sitting outside. Last. Isn't I went to sleep to the sounds of a street party, as the town was having a fiesta honouring their Patron Saint. I was tired enough that it didn't keep me awake and safely tucked into my upper bunk I. My sleeping bag topped with a blanket, I had a nice sleep.

This morning's treat was boiled eggs! At the Albergues which provide breakfast the usual fare is bread and jam and coffee and that is about it. At this municipal Albergue the Hospitalaro provided hard boiled eggs and juice - a much better option.

After a brisk 6 km walk I was in Carrion de Los Condes and my breakfast stop. I had a coffee and a pastry and then finished off the half of yesterday's bocadilla that I had saved. The spot I stopped in doubled as the bus stop and advertised bus service to Leon leaving at 11:30. Before long there were a few pilgrims wandering in who planned to bus forward. We all had a great chat - these were ladies I had spent time with at various of the Albergues enroute.

The town, population 2,200 was a reasonably size but did not take too long to walk through.

The next section was 17 km through the countryside and by 10:00 I had left the town and was walking the long country road westward.

It was really a nice day to walk such a stretch. To the north, we could see the siloette of the mountains to the north, but mostly it was just the lonely tree lined road and fields (no houses).

There were a couple of rest stops, treed areas with picnic tables, but no water fountains and no toilets.

I arrived at the small village of Calzadilla de la Cueza at around 2:00 and checked into the Municipal Albergue which had -guess what! - a swimming pool! That said, the only thing it was good for was as a cold foot bath as it was unheated. Good if your feet were hurting as it numbed them in about 30 seconds.

 

I wandered around town for a bit (took about 3 minutes to walk all the streets), and then ended up at the town Cafe//Bar/Restaurant chatting with other pilgrims.

 

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