Stage 22: Leon to Hospital de Orbigo, 33 kms, 7 Hrs, 25C Hot and sunny

Out of the Parador and into a....Truck Stop?

How do you go from this...

and this...

And this...

To this???

Welcome to the Camino. We (with our friends) have all agreed that the Camino gives you what you need...just not necessarily what you want. Actually we have had some great experiences in Spanish truck stops over the years...we have a bed, cold beer(s), a shower and if we look around, hopefully some decent food. So no complaints. Annemarie prides herself in finding us unusual places to stay...I will say she is particularly good at this.

Today's walk was very long, dusty and hot. The amazing part is that the flies didn't make much of an appearance today...woohoo! We stopped in a small town and sorted out lunch with a very nice lady who does credit to her village, and we enjoyed the simple fixings in a couple of chairs outside her little store...she even gave us each a candy for dessert. Everyone in town who walked by or passed in a car wished us a Buen Camino...what a lovely experience! On long stages this sort of reception can just make your day.

Around lunch time we passed another milestone on our journey....500 kms competed! Who would have thought we would get this far...and still be talking to each other?!

As I've said, the day was long and hot and  we walked on pavement for much of the day and then transferred on to a long , dusty road. It looked a lot like Iowa must look with long flat stretches of corn fields...a bit hard to look at for a west coast kid.  But did see some nice flowers along the way,

We did see an amazing church today that I'd read about previously. The church in La Virgin del Camino 

has been replaced by a new structure, but they have kept the original alter piece and sanctuary....it took our berth away the manner that they had accomplished this.

It was very dark inside and we stood there by ourselves...just enjoying what was there and the peace before carrying onwards...ever onwards.

Check out the fellow behind Annemarie...I really liked the way he just sat there and took it all in.

When we arrived at our destination this picked up with this medieval bridge...the best preserved and longest in Spain...

Ok kids...this one's for you....soon someone is going to have to show me how to deal with this, ie., trim it!

And Caitlin I say we break them out...agree?

Apparently there are peregrino restrictions in this area too...

But they are rather fond of us too...

Buen Camino. Planning something a bit different tomorrow so stay tuned. A short 21 kms to look forward to via a very beautiful route where we are going to stop at the "Cantina of the Gods"...I've been waiting for this! More tomorrow....