May 5, to San Martín del Camino & May 6, to Hospital de Órbigo 

I’m roughly 280 kilometers from Santiago, and I feel very good, physically and mentally.

But yesterday was a very difficult day. It was the last day that Zazi, a woman from the UK, and I walked together. We had been walking together since day 5, and became friends. She is returning to England because of a family emergency. This morning we said goodbye and she started her return trip. I will miss her greatly!

Apart from that, the Camino yesterday leaving León to get to San Martín del Camino (where we stayed last night) is rather ugly – you walk past industrial areas and warehouses next to the main highway between León and Astorga. We walked all day next to the road, with a lot of noise, dust, many trucks, and a very strong and cold wind in our face – it was not good lat all.

At the end of the day I knew I had to take a day off. That’s today. I’m going to rest in a beautiful town called Hospital de Orbigo, eat well, get used to being alone again, and tomorrow I’m walking to Astorga.

From Astorga it’s not long before entering Galicia (about 100 k), and once in Galicia there are only 160 k left to Santiago. I’m still confident that I’ll be able to get to Santiago by May 20.

So far it’s been a great rest day. A bit lonely maybe, but very refreshing.

I had a late lunch/early dinner at that place I saw crossing the bridge.

My albergue is very good. Friendly, clean, comfortable.

And now it is evening. I am sitting on a bench in a park close to the river, typing, and munching on some grapes and olives I bought just now. Delicious!

Tomorrow it is back to walking. Good night for now!