The temptations of half way - and I found the USB!

    Star log, Day 25.  I left the lovely alberque in Villares de Orbigo around 7:00AM.  I could still see the stars and just the very first hint of light.  Traveled on a lovely path over a hill to the next village.  I was going to show you pictures of this day, but this computer does not have a usb connection.  I´ll add them next time a computer does.  So here, imagine a picture of a thin red line of red sky showing through the church bell tower looking back at Villares.

   The walk was lovely, except people kept passing me.  It started bothering me.  I think that now I´m over the half way mark I´m more conscious of just how much time I have left.  In the evening I go through possible scenarios for day to day to see when I might get to Santiago.  In my sermon before I left I talked about my granddaughter continuously asking "How many more hours" as we traveled to Maine for clergy camp.  Now I´m asking, "How many more days to Santiago."  Time to get back into the journey.

   But it was hard.  Maybe I´m not walking fast enough and that´s why everyone passes me.  Maybe I´m not walking far enough each day (10 to 16 miles on average).  And now we´re going into the mountains, so it will take longer to walk each mile.  As I thought about this I found myself tempted with judging those who walked by me "He is walking way to fast...  he should slow down and enjoy the camino...  she´s rushing just like in real life".   And on and on.  Time to stop judging how others walk and pay attention to my own walking.

   About 9:00 I stopped and spread my poncho on the ground and enjoyed a breakfast of cheese and bread.  Traveled a little further and I saw a little place that my hostess last night told me about.  She said to watch for a guy about 8km away who would have coffee, juice, tea and a place to take a break - all for donations.  He also had a stamp (sello) for my pilgrim passport.  And there he was greeting everyone with a smile and an invitation to rest.  (picture next time)

    I moved on and arrived at the cruce above Astorga. (got a nice pic of that also with Astorga in the distance).  Nice to see where I´m going, but still another 45 - 60 minutes to walk.  Finally made it to Astorga and saw Steffie from Germany.  She was will us a couple of nights on the Meseta and is now taking two days in Astorga to let her leg rest as it has been painful.  I take heart in the fact that some much younger than I also have things to deal with.  She was disappointed (and maybe a little concerned that her leg might not get better).  We left with a hug and I gave words of encouragement.  I think she will catch up with me in a few days.

    On the other side of Astorga I visited the peregrino museum and the cathedral.  The museum is in a Gaudi building and it was nice outside, but spectacular inside with vaulted ceilings lined with tile, stained glass windows, and beautiful artwork.  The cathedral was also lovely, but after Leon... well...
   Time to continue on.  I got a bocadillo (sandwich), changed my socks, and was ready to walk.  But I had not gone far when my left foot started really bothering me.  I had expected a cool afternoon like the last couple of days (by the way, the morning has been freezing!), but it warmed up.  Not as hot as the meseta, but enough to mess with my feet.  I finally hobbled into Murias de Rechivaldo and got a bed at the lovely  alberque (pictures of it also - next time).  Now I´m recovered and I can see the Camino path right outside my door to the right.  I´ll start earlier in the morning, I´ll make it to Rabanal (in the mountains) and beyond I hope.  And I´ll look for a computer that has a USB so I can add some pictures next time.  Back to the journey, back to the Camino.   Bueno Camino!

Finally - the alberque!

<>

</>

The courtyard of the alberque