Currently in BERCIANOS del REAL CAMINO

I have lost a few days and with little time on a pay internet cant really catch up....hopefully later I can fill in the gaps.

The last few days have been very hard but there is joy in finding a bed for the night and a place to rest my head and FEET.  We have walked long roads without any rest point apart from the side of the road.  Gizzla is unhappy about sitting on the cold gravel road....personally I couldnt care less.  Today I am feeling stronger for the first time in many days though a cough is still hanging around. 

We walked through Moratinos and I remembered that Rebecca of the Santiago Forum lived here so I said to Gizzla I would like to stop and say hallo....not really expecting anyone to be home, called The Peaceable Kingdom.  Not only were Rebecca and Paddy there they invited us to stay the night and we enjoyed their warm hospitality and lovely food and a quiet place to rest our heads. 

Today we walked 20 kms...it was a marathon fete for us both.....even Gizzla started to complain about sore feet....usually it is just me.  My poor left toes look like they have leprosy with compeed stuck on every toe except the big one which has escaped blisters so far.  Gizzla now has two "flusters" ...blisters...and is very unhappy with them...

There have been about three memorial crosses along the way since  I started and today there was the third one....A Perigrino (Pilgrim) of Santiago died there in 1998.  Tears stream down my face...I  have no idea why I am crying....but I let the tears flow.  Gizzla says Oooh! he was from Germany and touches my arm with understanding....we continue our walk to the alberque about 2 kms to go....we walk in silence and forget about our sore feet.....someones son, father, brother, lover, husband or friend.  It is very sobering.

The sun is getting  quite hot now.  But today we started early at 7.00 a.m.....By 9.30 we had walked 10 kms to Sahagun and were very pleased with ourselves but the next 10 kms were much harder.

It is quite comforting in a selfish sort of way to notice the other pilgrims hobbling around.  I have seen some corker blisters which make mine seem quite tame.  It is hard walking in the hot sun.  About two days ago after walking about 17kms and I couldn't take another step I saw a church tower not far off (always a sign of hope).

I said to a Frenchman who we had met further back (who had already walked 30 kms) if he thought the alberque was there...he said: No that is the church and the cemetery...I convulse into a cough splutter....He said laughing...It is for you..Oui!  The alberque is just over the hill ...and so it was....not a step too soon.


The heart of the Camino is meeting the people and sharing experiences even when you don't understand each others language....there is a universal language of groans and laughter.  The Camino is a global village....with everyone looking out for each other.....Oh that the political world were the same....

My mind often flashes back to the lovely cool surf that I enjoyed so much in January and February in Australia as the sweat drips down my back and neck as I walk along....

In two days I should be in Leon and wondering what to do as my bus is booked for Sunday....maybe I will keep walking!!!! Oh no!!.......

I am currently in a rustic alberque in above town.....The alberque for tonight is run by the local  church and they are preparing a shared meal....I think there are at least 60 pilgrims to feed so it will  be interesting....