Sahagún

We are debating whether this is the best walk so far, but I think the ones with panoramas from high places rate well too! But we have certainly had a wonderful day - 22 kms - 5° and misty when we set off at 8am, and by about 10.30 mist burnt off and it was sunny and perfect for the rest of the day, temperature rose to a comfortable 16° and I shed a fleece layer for the first time I think!

Today’s meseta was undulating all the way and so beautiful with the green fields and wildflowers. Rachel and I identified wheat and barley with some difficulty, the crops look similar, but slightly different greens, and already they have the stems of grain visible, all with variations, and I’m always curious to know which is what. And to my delight I recognised a field as we approach Sahagun where twice before we have seen a man harvesting sunflowers. It is now ploughed and with furrows ready to be sown, so it confirms my theory that the fields everywhere which aren’t waving with grain crops are waiting and ready to be planted with sunflowers.

We also passed, and paused, at the little Ermita about a km before entering Sahagun where we were immortalised by the Google map truck in 2013! It was such a beautiful day, unlike yesterday’s wind and threatening rain, that we took it easy and stopped for refreshments several times, often meeting people we have got to know who stay in the same places…some Americans, Canadians mostly…you get quite festive and it is fun. A couple of women have had bedbug bites which makes me nervous…I haven’t thought about them and all our places seem so good, but of course the best places can get them…so here’s hoping my luck continues!

And we have been so fortunate with the weather - last night it rained soon after we arrived and during the night there was quite a storm, but all gone by morning, except some puddles and muddy patches now and then. We arrived here about 3. This town is the centre of a huge grain area, and when you first see a vista of the town you see an enormous silo towering over everything else, rather than the usual church tower and steeple. So we celebrated with an arrival beer - so sunny and bright that Amr and Rich sported Hawaiian shirts!Read more