It was an easy day today, in to my hotel by 1:30 and such a sweet albergue. Just outside the town of Herrerias. I’m surrounded by green pastures, can hear both the river and the cow and sheep bells as well as the radio from the bar. Here’s a view from the balcony along the hotel.
And the food was good! Had a great lunch and am already looking forward to dinner in 3-4 hours. Sue and I have had all of our meals together for days now and we laugh that we get in, cleaned up, eat lunch. Huh, it’s 4 – 4:30 and yep, we’ll be good to eat in another 3-4 hours. Weird schedule, but it works. Rick’s coming in tonight and still on American thinking, re no – can’t eat that late.
We start tomorrow with our shortest hike of the Camino, 5.6 miles straight up a mountain. Don’t imagine it’s all the way up, but it’s enough that the business that takes people up via horseback a-la-pilgrims-of-old does a steady business. 3 of our friends did it today and said it was great. 2 more are doing it tomorrow. Sue says no, then she’d regret not having walked the whole thing. I’d probably think about it, but can imagine what Rick would say for his first day of walking if I rode instead. So – probably not!
I’ll walk into Santiago righteous indeed…
My calves are still talking after the steep downhill couple days ago, hoping going straight uphill will undo that talking.
Here’s a photo of chestnuts on the ground – big around here and saw people parked by the side of the road picking up chestnuts. An ancient woman was stooping and reeeaaaccchhhinggg out to pick up one at a time. She had already filled one apron pocket and was still collecting. I couldn’t believe people just walked by without helping. So I started looking and realized you do have to be a bit picky, rich color, nothing eaten into it. I gave her one, was going to find more, but realized her hands were already full. Sweetest face, talked a lot and I didn’t understand but maybe 1 in 10 words, thick accent. So cool. I love this adventure.
Not a single church today to explore. There was one that looked like it might be open with a curtain covering half the door, but it also looked like it might fall down on you if you walked in, so kept walking.
It’s beautiful in this area, walking between the road and the river, flat pavement with easy hills.
Reb's Walks! 