Calzaldilla de los Hermanillos

Today we met an exciting milestone! We passed through Sahagún which is the unofficial midway point of the Camino Francés. So the actual mileage estimates are kind of varied for the Camino but most folks say it’s about 790 km (485 miles) long. Any distance marker of less than 395 km to Santiago means you’re on the “downhill side,” the second half. All of the distance markers were less than 395 km today! We’re having a great time but there’s something about seeing that we’ve made it more than half way to Santiago that really elevates the spirits!

I don’t know how great the pictures are today as we were on a very flat section of Camino. It was allegedly 27 km from Ledigos where we woke up today to Calzadilla de Los Hermanillos. However, it was actually closer to 34 km! That’s over 21 miles! We were hungry in the town before Calzadilla de los Hermanos and the only thing open was a little mini store where
the very nice lady made us a bocadillo (baguette sandwich) with ham and cheese on it. She was very friendly and we chatted a bit and I asked “So we must be pretty close to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos now, right?” And she said no, it’s 9 more kilometers straight out of town. So after we ate our lunch at a cute little park with a pond full of jumping frogs, we started the walk out of town. We didn’t see another soul on foot, in a car, or even in a tractor for over 6 miles. We started to say that maybe this is what it feels like to be
The last two living people on the planet! The Camino splits in two a ways back and I guess most pilgrims went the other way because no other pilgrims were out on the Camino with us and although we later met two lovely Australian women at dinner, it seemed like we were the only guests at the casa rural where we are staying tonight. So odd after having dinner with about 40 other pilgrims last night and seeing them all on the first few hours of the Camino today!

Tomorrow we are walking 23 km to Mansilla de las Mulas, our last destination in La Meseta, the section of agricultural plains. We’ll miss the Meseta! It’s quiet and lovely and so pretty! We’ll be walking into the biggest city on our Camino, León, the day after tomorrow.

David’s back is improving quite a bit. No tilt and he doesn’t have much pain. He’s anxious to “do his part” carrying stuff but hopefully he can rest it a few more days!Read more