• ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler
    Walking out of San Martin alongside a busy road
    1Some relief from the road noise was the wildflowers1Someone else with blister problems?1The 20-arch Puente de Orbigo over the river and flood plain, the longest bridge on the CaminoHospital de Orbigo even has its own jousting arena, to the left of the bridge1A lonely kittySaved by some pilgrims, to be dropped off at the next townOn a hot day a welcome coffee stop in Villares de OrbigoIt was great to be off the busy road, but climbing the hill in the heat was hard going.1Top of the hill was a reliefAt San Justo de la Vega, look at those km coming downWild lavenderThe Crucero de Santo Toribio mobbed by school kids on an outing, downhill to Astorga from hereThis pilgrim stuff is thirsty workEntry to Astorga, murals referencing Augustus1Antoni GaudiAsturica Augusta, the original Roman name of AstorgaAstorgans are proud of the fight they put up against Napoleon's siege of the cityRoman ruins in AstoriaRoman mosaics uncovered

    Day 24 - Hot on the trail

    May 23 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    San Martin del Camino to Astorga
    25.8km
    Accumulated distance 566.7km
    I was pleased to leave San Martin after breakfast, the accommodation was a bit shabby.
    Unfortunately more road adjacent walking for the first part of the morning, and although it started off chilly, the day heated up quite a bit under the Spanish sun.
    I left the main road just before the smart little town of Hotel de Orbigo, then treated to a view of the longest bridge on the Camino, together with the towns own jousting arena, how good. I also saw potatoes growing for the first time. Also could see some snow on the peaks of the hills we’ll be crossing in a few days.
    This led us into the country with two memorable moments. First was a lonely kitten which followed the group and looked so sad. The next was passing through a small village as school was coming out to go on an excursion, I managed to get heaps of high fives as we passed each other.
    Some puffing billy hill climbing in the heat until I got to a shady spot for a welcome picnic lunch, my ham cheese and coke was great. I was pleased that I popped into a shop earlier and bought some food, decent food stops were hard to come by once leaving the road.
    I enjoyed seeing all the kids at Crucero de Santo Toribio before the Astorga decent, they each had their own coloured paper Camino shells, obviously taught from a young age.
    My Alburgue is on the edge of town, so some exploring after I settle in.
    A moment of the day was the heartbreak meows of the little kitten looking for someone to adopt it.    Read more