What a difference a day makes!  Between the massage, yoga and a great nights sleep in a healing environment, my feet are almost totally fine.

I reluctantly leave my little taste of home, and set off on a glorious morning, walking normally into the rising sun, out into the countryside again.

The first little hamlet is only a mile and a half away…only downside to the albergue, they were so ‘green’, no real coffee in the morning…herbal tea just doesn’t give me the kickstart I like.

With caffeine in me, the walk now becomes emotional as gratitude for this whole experience overwhelms me… Oh, and gratitude for my feet not hurting and allowing me once again to revel in the extreme beauty on all levels.

A short distance to another cafe, I meet up with several pilgrims from last night, one who I met a couple of weeks ago, Gudrun from Germany, some fresh O.J. , some socializing, and we’re all off again to walk at our own pace… I am reluctant to talk to anyone on the trail his morning, I don’t want to interrupt the transcendental experience I’m having, we are all in agreement what a beautiful day it is.

now it is 4 miles to a little oasis in the middle of nowhere…here I am overjoyed to reconnect with several other pilgrims I know from before…taxing ahead was a brilliant idea…I am not only back on schedule, but have caught back up with my friends…Kevin may also even be in Astorga this evening.  Gudrun on my left, and Christine from the US on my right.

Christine and I ended up walking together for the next hour or so into Astorga.  What a beautiful city…very fun looking square as we walked into town, Gudrun was sitting there asking if I wanted to join them, but I was too tired, needed to find my albergue for the night.  Albergue for this evening…95 beds…not always a good sign…I have a good bed, but it’s on the second floor and bathroom is on the first floor…hmmm

These are the kind of hills you always seem to confront at the end of the day to get into the cities…

Another fairy tale type Cathedral right beside my albergue…

And this little hobbit house for my grandsons reading this