Day 16 on the Camino

Saint Nicolás to La Virgen (a hot old day).
So we decided to walk through León. Two reasons mainly, we had stayed there the time before (four years ago), the Parador hotel was closed for refurbishment (so no posh pilgrims dinner) - oh, and also to smooth out the next few days before the mountains.
We set off just after 7am and it was around 7km until coffee. (And it was well worth the walk... we fell into a real ‘local’ bar, the noise you could hear across the square. Beautiful coffee and toast, and the biggest pastries 🥮 you have ever seen.) Set up for the next 18km to León we strode our into the countryside, along our friend the gravel/duty track - accompanied by our friend the mice and the birds. This time we came across four stalks wandering up and down an field of early growing corn. Obviously out for the worms etc, it was such a bizarre view.
The walk to León was easier for the fact it was broke up every 5 or 6km with villages or things to see. Still long and staring, alongside the road - but the time went quickly. Until the drag into León. Through the industrial, rundown areas and then the expanding residential areas. The last 3km took forever, not helped by the full sun and increasing temperatures.
León old town was buzzing with people dressed up to go out on a Sunday. There was some sort of festival season going on, with little stages set up in every square. The cathedral is magnificent and takes centre stage - we passed when people were coming out from a service.
Following the yellow arrows we started to leave the city, over the old bridge (J R Hartley and his son were fly fishing in the river), along side the railway and out in a similar manner as we entered. The idea of walking an extra 7.5km seemed sensible earlier in the day; but after a beer in Leon, and the heat of the day pouring all over us it was hard going along road and unravel cambers on the paths.
We finally made the only Albergue in La Virgen, ready to stop. Only to be treated by two donkeys. It turns out you can hire donkeys from France‼️ Thy will deliver them to the start of the walk and pick them up at the end - just wow... One for next time...Leia mais