Long windy walk, but so pretty. 6.2 miles then a town, 6.2 then a town, then 3.1 and hotel. So long quiet walks with wind blowing, but bit warmer so all my layers worked and my hands didn’t freeze. Walked over a Roman built path then climbed a hill that had a lot of people gasping a bit because of the false summits, but the view was beautiful.
Continued the walk, then a bridge built in the 11c to assist pilgrims (with frequent reconstruction keeping the original design), then the Hospice of San Nicolas from the 12c. This was cool because the Italian Confraternita de San Jacobo di Compostelle di Perugia has restored it as a pilgrim refugio. And people around me took refuge! Long time, full exposure and it was the first bathroom. They were giving out coffee and wine (10:30!), cookies and cooking chicken. Just a little place, but it was a really nice outpost.
Then a very pretty surprise canal (surprise to me, just appeared), 17.4 k long with lochs to allow for elevation changes.
Then arrived at Fromista. I took this photo and thought I bet this says everything about the town, farming, and Camino.
Then, got to the hotel and read what my friends David and Linda had to say about Fromista. “Two words explain Fromista: wheat and pilgrimage.” Yep, the photo says it all. It was really rough here when they were totally dependent on the vagaries of weather and fighting locust attacks. Then, in 1773 the Canal de Castillo was built to bring water to the region and it made all the difference, actually reversed a decline.
Here’s the church that I can see out my window, hoping I get to hear the bells all night, I love that since I’m usually awake anyway!
Reb's Walks! 