Stage 19: Terradillos to Calzadilla de Los Hermanillos, 28 kms, 24C, 5 Hrs

Four Legged Friends!

With a long day ahead we were up at 6:30 and on the road by 7:30 this morning....needed our head lamps as it was a dark start and this time there was no moon to guide us...just the stars. Again it was a brilliant start to the day with just a few other peregrinos out at that time. As usual, this is my favorite time of day to walk with a decent sunrise sure to impress.

We walked trough the early morning with Ken from Regina and Marianne from Denmark as we passed through the first town and worked our way towards Sahagun where we parted ways for a time. We took the cheap (as in free) self guided four of the sights of this nice little town and located a bakery (on a Sunday morning yet!) where we found pan de chocolat which we took to the local bar in the ever present Plaza Mayor where we found zuma and coffee to help the pastries down. Sahagun was a nice little town...

Oh and by the way, as we entered Sahagun we passed an old Roman bridge and the half way markers for the Camino when departing from Roncevalles (you might recall we departed about 28 kms earlier in France).

And did I say that we also crossed the frontier into the Province of Leon...so much happened today!

Then I was introduced to a cool, if oddly dressed peregrino...

For the next few days its everything Roman as we head off down the Calzada Romana Way...

But before we were able to walk to far along this road we had a 4 footed encounter, actually a couple of them....walking right through the middle of a sheep herd is outstanding, and pretty funny!

I have video too! Then it was time to get out the bandanas as there would be no shade for the next 10 kms...we are tanning again...

Then more friends!

And then we were off into basically...well, basically nowhere.

With an occasional marker...very occasional.

And even some water to drink...a font...this one was a bit different.

Until, finally a town, our destination came into sight.

We have just finished an amazingly meal...it's 3:30 and we will feed again with Neil and Sarah in just a few hours. We have reached a need for calories and are stocking up as there is absolutely nowhere to stop to eat or rest tomorrow until we cover the 24 kms...that means no toilets either...I'm happy to be me! Many prior connections are wondering up to our table...I guess the party has begun!

Annemarie has been very prolific...buen Camino!

The Camino Diet

As we walk along we notice our friends are shrinking

And it's happening to us too I'm thinking

We all comment on how we are constantly famished

The tug in our stomach is there almost before each meal is finished

We start each day with a breakfast of coffee/tea, juice and toast

Not a breakfast of champions, but it's what's available most

By our first stop we are looking for something more

So we pick a snack up at a bar or a store

There's usually chocolate to pick us up at some point

And often a coke at some little joint

We will probably pull something from our pack as we continue on our way

But our biggest meal comes when we finish the stage for the day

Then it's the menu del  dia; two courses, bread wine and dessert

The sweet at the end is well deserved I assert

There may be tapas as well, accompanied by a beer

And then a late night dinner, where more food (including dessert) will appear

So how can it be that we all look smaller than when we began?

I don't know or care, I'm just happy with this diet plan