We leave Sahagún, passing the grand arch that was not the passageway through which we entered the city. Turns out that this city is the half-way point along the Camino Frances, IF you started in St. Jean Pie de Port. We did not start there. But the arch is pretty cool.Leaving the city, we cross the Rio Cie over this bridge. I called it the Martin Sheen bridge because I think it is the one on which he rests his backpack and then knocks it into the river. From the movie The Way.
We were so grateful for a cool, dry morning after such a wet, soggy sloshing day before. Hair dryers were on high for quite a while as we tried to dry out our socks and pants. Camino Tip: Wadded up newspaper stuck inside your hiking shoes absorbs the water muy rapido. Replace and repeat several times.
After soaking my Lululemon leggings, I opted for good old fashioned hiking pants today. I told Donna that I was going for a Men in Black look, only looser for the Camino. This is the scenery the whole day. In fact, it’s pretty much the scenery for the entire Meseta. However, today we noticed and were grateful for the tree-lined Camino trail that paralleled a paved road. Tree-lined means shade. Add a breeze now and then and it’s nirvana. And then, right next to a harvested chopped down crop of hay, we come upon a lush, green section of corn. All I know about growing corn is that it is supposed to be knee-high by the Fourth of July in the U.S. The batch was the perfect place to put one of the shells I was carrying for Laurie Guest, CSP, an awesome speaker who started her business career as a young farmer’s daughter selling corn in a roadside stand.
Old and New Across the Camino
Today’s trek paralleled the highway. We didn’t have to walk on the road, but we were next to it the whole way. On the left we would see crops and an occasional bench or picnic table set up as descanso [rest] for the Pilgrims. The rest stop pictured below included a chapel built in the 17th Century.
And when I looked to the right, there was modern farm equipment, right across the road. I called it a tractor, but I call most farm equipment a tractor. I took that picture for my grandson Colton who turned four on our first day of the Camino.
Now that I look at the picture, it may be a backhoe? Colton will know!
We are averaging around 20K a day, or about 12 miles. This was one of those days. The village of El Burgos de Ranero was also a mix of old and new.
Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I’m, you know?
One more night on the Meseta after this. Then we take a day off in Leon.
Awesome! Great pictures and story
As always great pictures. Got my computer back (a new one).
Mom
Way to go!!!
The photos and comments are great. Keep them coming.