Astorga

I'd been leapfrogging Maritza (who will only say Yugoslavia as a place of origin but I think modern day Croatia?) and Stefan (French) all day, and trying to put a bit of wind in their sails as they are struggling today for some reason.

Having a coffee together at 16km to go, we decided that was actually just six, twice, plus a bit. Eight? That's two fours. Six? Three twos. And so on. In the last kilometre I caught up, them crossing a very elaborate foot bridge over a railway and me approaching it. VAN TO GO she cried out, and we punched the air between us.

We checked in to the municipal (€7) together, so were assigned the same bunk - she gave me the bottom and took the top so I owe her. After the customary shower, laundry, and explore, I found them at a bar, joined their table, and looked incredulously around a town square full of pilgrims I thought were long gone. Mr 4.5 was there! Haven't seen him since leaving Roncesvalles on day two.

We went to the supermarket together, cooked together, and ate together on the terrace, lingering over a bottle of wine and watching the sunset before going to bed in our bunk, one of only TWO in the room. What a totally magnificent day. How lucky I am! Czytaj więcej