• ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler
    Early morning pilgrim
    1When in Astorga, chocolate and churros for breakfastErmita del Ecco Homo just outside AstorgaInside the hermitageInteresting sculpture on the trailMe and my shadow are still trucking on, approaching 250km to goMore interesting artThe crosses are all uniqueStorks up high, sparrows and other little birds also nest within the stork nest. Freeloading.More dilapidated housesThe cross of SantiagoA memorial. At this point the steep climb had started.Taking time from the climbing, pilgrims had made crosses on the fencePastoral viewsThe very pretty town of Rabanal, more structure to the construction than some in the MesetaViews over what looks like hebe out over to the hills. Still can't tell if there is snow or not.Vegetation changing as I climb

    Day 25 - Starting to head upwards

    May 24 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Astorga to Foncebadón
    27.2km
    Accumulated distance 593.9km
    The Alburgue last night was really nice with a good menu del dia for dinner. Check out was 8am and no breakfast so I decided on an early start and grab breakfast in town. Astorga has a strong link to chocolate, not sure why, so churro and chocolate for breakfast. Yum, power food.
    A pleasant walk out of town to first stop at the Ermita del Ecce Homo, a hermitage next to the road.
    Nice flat walking and I bumped into Jessica from Arizona who is met yesterday and we spent the morning together talking, which always makes the km fly by.
    It’s becoming clear that the villages and towns are improving as we get closer to the Galicia region.
    As we climbed the views became very nice over what looks like wild countryside. Eventually we started climbing, the path sometimes pretty rough with broken rock and stones, and made the going tough. After a few days of no blisters, the horrible conditions created another one on my right heel. Damn. Said goodbye to Jessica and had a break in Rabanal in the shade for my picnic lunch, then on my way up the climb.
    Got into Foncebadón at a reasonable time and checked into my good looking accommodation.
    Moment of the day was the climb up to Foncebadón, increasing fitness certainly helps, and the views on a hot dry day were lovely.    Read more