Leon was without question our best rest stop and sightseeing town. We had plenty of time to explore and rest up for our last 3 weeks. We saw this marker in Leon and were excited and disappointed at the same time. Excited at what we have accomplished and disappointed that it will end in few weeks.

The group was ready in the morning and we met at the cathedral at 6:20 to begin our 22 km walk. We decided to take the scenic route which adds extra 5 km over two days but avoids the route next to highway.

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We walked through the city streets for about 6 km and then we were back in our first village having our early morning breakfast.

Our new team was doing well. We all felt we were back in our grove with all of our aches and pains.

We even had time to enjoy the play ground (thanks to the abundance of young energy).

We made it to our Albergue before 1. We were able to enjoy a nice lunch together. Stephanie, Emily, and Noah are all doing well but also are a bit sore and using the afternoon resting like the rest of us.

Tomorrow we head toward Astorga (part of the way). We have another day or so of Meseta and then we will be out of flats and into mountains again!.

Here are the rest if the pictures I could not post last night.

Along the way we saw this guy parked on the side of the road with engine running, sleeping in the car (recovering from Saturday night’s party?).

We made it to El Burgo Renero a little after 11 and decided to call it a day after 17 km ( our shortest day yet from time perspective ). The next town was 10 km away and Mansila about 19 km our destinTion for next day.

After lunch we checked into our Albergue. As soon as we were settled a big wind and rain storm started. We were happy to be indoor while other pilgrims were caught in the Mezeta with no shelter.

We decided to cook our dinner as there were cooking facility and had lovely evening in Albergue.

Every time we cross a highway or a village we see the signs for our biggest city on the way to Santiago. It is merely 60 km away. In America that would be just a 30 to 45 minute drive to work or visit to a friends home. When you are walking the Camino, that is a 2 day walk if you are covering 30 km a day. For most that is 3 days of walk.

We had to make the choice of taking the Camino Francis which allows you to make it in 17, 19, and 18 km chunks. We could also take the Romero way which was 10, 25, and 18 km (two routes merge on the last day from Mansila to Leon). Both the guide recommend to take the bus as it is industrial and requires crossing the freeway multiple times.

For today we decided to stay on the Camino Frances and travel 17 km to El Burgo Renero another small town but with multiple Albergue and restaurant as well as a grocery store.

Once again we were treated to a magnificent sun rise spectacle.

We were ready with breakfast this morning and made a picnic stop around 7 km away (every ones pace has improved and the are moving a lot faster even with all the aches and sores)..

Continued on part 2…

Our goal for today was 22 km to Sahagun. Every one loves the idea of getting out early and getting some miles before breakfast. Also, the town that we stayed on was very small with no stores and only one restaurant. We also had a restful afternoon as we were done before noon.

It was once again cool and crisp wether as we left again in darkness. The morning breeze felt good as we walked past the next town about 6 km away which also happen to have no stores and one restaurant with not much to offer. We continued to push on enjoying the peaceful morning and once again a gorgeous sunrise.

Sun rays were soft and gentle and made every thing look beautiful. I decided to shoot some simple weeds and wild flowers as they seemed unusually superb.

The story continues in part 2…

Our goal for today was 26.5 km so we began at 6:25 in the morning.

We made good progress walking along the canal. The morning breeze was sweet and comforting. It reminded me of the early morning walks we used to do as kids in Chittagong. As we walked we started to plan out our next reunion hopefully in December of 2015 in Bangladesh. We will see if this can materialize or we were just reminiscing the good old days. The early morning light just slowly filtered in as we kept walking at a brisk pace.

We made it to Formista before 8 am covering 6 km and had a quick breakfast. We then travelled another 2 km to the next town where we had the choice of wking along the canal again or walk along the highway (slightly shorter). We chose the scenic route which was another 10 km. along the way we met Pepe. Who was sharing fruits and candies with the pilgrims.

A little past 12 we had already covered about 20 km. we decided to check out the beautiful church and grab a lunch before our last push of the day in the hot sun.

I though the last 6+ km in hot Meseta sun will be slow and hard but team Camino after completing 3 full weeks is rocking and strong. We reached our destination without struggling and ready to explore the town. After dinner when I checked our mileage we had done over 31 km for the day, a new record for us.

We are staying in the monastery of Santa Clara whose claim to fame is the fact that St Francis of Assisi stayed here while doing the Camino. We get to enjoy his energy tonight. We wanted to have dinner with the singing nuns but they are on a spiritual retreat. We did enjoy the singing and sharing communal experience with other pilgrims and volunteers of the Santa Maria alberge.

Today would be our first full day in Meseta. Our goal, 21km. Only one village 10 km away where we would replenish water and food and settle at the next village for the night, another 10 km away.

We began early again to avoid the heat of the afternoon sun. We left at 6:20 I’m the morning in the dark with quite a few other pilgrims.

Sitara and I took the lead and the whole team Camino covered 10 km in less than 3 hours.

It is interesting to begin to see simple beauty all around you while the vast expanse stays stationary.

We reached the village of Hontanas around 9:15 and enjoyed a nice breakfast of eggs, croissants, chocolate croissants, fresh orange juice and coffee.

After over an hour break we decided to move on. The sun was already blazing at 10:30 and you could see the lines of pilgrims in the open vista, driven by invisible force towards Santiago.

Along the way we ran into a 14th century ruins of a convent which was converted to an alberge.

Few blocks after the San Anton Convent we were able to see the highlight of Castrojeriz, our destination for today.

We are settled in a casa rural for tonight in a private room with our own bathroom. Everybody is resting after a nice lunch. It is one of the hottest day of the season according to our host. We have bought our grocery for tonight’s dinner and will enjoy our sandwich in the patio if it cools down.

Today we began our journey from Burgos toward Leon (beginning of stage 4). Stages are simply major cities along the Camino, and this is phase 2 of the walk. The phase 1 of the walk is about conquering and surviving the bodies aches and pain. After doing it for 2 weeks, the body is becoming resilient and strong (one hopes).

Phase 2 is the journey through the Meseta (open land, no shade, scorching sun). Even when you are traveling with others you are alone with your shadow and your thoughts. This is where your mind can become your partner or drive you crazy. Of course these phases are very individual yet at some point we must deal with these thoughts and issues. If you can silence the mind then you enter the third stage which is the spiritual phase.

Our goal was to go about 23km to Hornillos De Camino. We started early again and were out of our comfortable hotel room by 6:30.

It was about 5 km before we were out of Burgos and we began to see signs of rural life. Our first villages was about 11 km from Burgos.

We stopped for breakfast at Tardajos near a highway and also bought our sandwiches for lunch, as the next town was only 2 km away and then 10 km later our destination for the day would arrive.

Once we left this town, there was no shade or water the rest of the way. Just wide open blue sky and open fields that has a beauty of its own.

We just finished eating our dinner. Sitara took charge of the kitchen and we all chipped in.