Astorga to Rabanal del Camino 13.5 mi

September 22nd
Started at 7:30 am
Arrived at 1:30 pm

Started out at a leisurely pace. Met Maria Ophelia and Pedro, of Mexico, leaving Astorga. Found out they had done a rest day in Astorga. That would have been great to do as there is so much to see there and it is a beautiful place. We really loved it.

Walked out of town with them and quickly noticed how beautiful the landscape around us became. No more boring industrial areas to bring your spirits down. We were both uplifted immediately and saw more friends at our morning coffee break. We had grande cafe con leche and Nepolitanos. (Chocolate filled croissants)

In hyper drive after the jolt of caffeine and sugar we were zipping along. More great countryside and a few hills, which we blasted up. Black storm clouds were threatening, but never produced. Fooled us though, we donned and doffed the ponchos just for fun.

With every high comes the coming down part. Roxanne was saying ouch to the ankles the last hour into town. Not a problem that a little Advil can’t fix.

We arrived in Rabanal del Camino, saw Henry and Harrison, our chums from the UK, at a roadside pub. Confirmed they were on their second glass and that’s how much faster they hike than us. Or possibly they are very fast drinkers or slow walkers or visa versa. So really two glasses into the bottle was no information whatsoever.

Confounded by hiking speed calculations - we walked on and found a cafe serving spaghetti bolognese and zoomed right in. Snarfed a bowl of that each, after sharing a massive piece of chocolate cake.

After our meal we made it to our night’s accommodations where Cassie hit it out of the park and this place should have been called Cassieland. It hit all of the things that Cassie loves in a feel good way. Massages, candles, fireplace, laundry service, banana bread in the oven, a meditation vibe, a hostess with intuition and mindfulness. I could go on, and on, but the night is young and stuff is still appearing in the Cassie Christmas miracle made for Hallmark movies kind of way and I am a bit flabbergasted. I think I am along for the ride and my pragmatist self is going have to roll with this.

Later we’ll go for a reserved table at the pilgrims meal with the other night’s residents of this house. It happens to be all women tonight. And we’ll go to the pilgrims mass or chants at the village church.

Here are some photos and video of todays adventure.Read more