• Bruce Stanley6th time and laughingTraveler
    3
    2111312

    Leon

    May 5 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Hi ALL

    Well first of all the bad news and then the good news. 
    The bad news is in my my five previous caminos. I've never had problems booking ahead and always getting a place. However, that's not the case right now and if I'm not careful Booking.com will certainly find me a place but until you book it there isn't clarity about its location. Last year once I was 15 km off the Camino Francis track and this year I booked accommodation which would have taken me East not walking forwards West. Problem is that Booking.com instantly says they've got more accommodation but not quite at your site. This wouldn't be a problem if you're driving a car but you are a Pilgrim and advance forward in a Westerly direction. 
    Weather:
    Cold front. In Leon and everybody is wearing winter clothes and cuddling up cuz it's so cold.. Yesterday we had torrential rain, But it reduced a miserable drizzle in the evening evening..
    Accommodation: in the five pilgrimages that I have done. I have never experienced booking issues like this 2026 year.. The guru Ivar comments about the increase so far and it's very much in favor of the Americans and I think the Irish (Australia numbers are are down 14%,)  
    Please note those that are winging it  walk into villages and get accommodation every time. That's not the case if you are cautious and want to make sure you don't have to walk an extra 5 or 10 km then to find a bed.
    Back to some GOOD NEWS :
    Way back in St. Jean Pied de Port a fellow pilgrim recommended the product called BioFREEZE.
    This morning I applied this gel to the knee area and bingo. It works very well so much so I've done a fair bit of walking in Leon today and the problem hasn't recurred. 
    BTW despite trying every which way to get accommodation between Leon and Astorga I had zilch luck.
    The good news: Yes, I was able to coordinate Astorga accommodation and confirm its location plus catching the bus from Leon to Astorga.
    Lucky Brucee He's still laughing and looking forward to so much more of the Camino Francis and to Seville. 🤞    Read more