Day 17

It has been some time since I have wrote, but I assure you not a lot has changed. I am now getting into a pretty good routine in order to avoid walking more then a couple hours in the heat of the sun. Getting up anywhere between 4 and 5;30 we leave the hostels in about half an hour and stop for our morning coffee at about 10km. Walking in the sun is hard on the body, but even harder on the feet and with 6-9hours of walking a day we enjoy the brisk starlit mornings.
Since I last wrote I have passed Burgos where I bought new shoes after a Spanish man threatened to cut holes in the heals of my runners to save my feet, we then walked a beautiful day to Hontanas though the last two hours were very long as it was flat until the eye could see and even after reading a sign saying that Hontanas was .5km away we still were not sure where this town would appear, sure enough there it was in a big hole in the ground. It was a cute little street and we had a lovely lazy day. After Hontanas was Fromista and then Carrion de los Condes. In Carrion, where my father was born and raised, I got a chance to visit with my Tia Sita and my prima Moni whome I have not seen in 9 years. Their company was re-energizing and I continued the next day to Sahagun a long 40km day. Today though only 34km felt just as long and painful as yesterday. The area we are in now is called the Meseta aka flat long roads. Walking through only two little towns today made the walk very repetative, though some good conversations and new friends made the day pass a little faster. I was very greatful to have run into Jay a Hawaiian / Russian / Frenchman whose conversation left me with a lot to think about for the remainder of the walk. We are all starting to feel tired, but we are looking forward to a short 24 km walk into Leon (another big city) tomorrow morning. I know I had more funny storries to share but at the moment they are just not coming to me.. it is Sunday and I am off to go to a little store that is opening for the pilgrims for only an hour.

ps I have failed to go into depth regarding the historical sites, monuments, churches etc. We all have guides of the Camino which highlight all the important history.. if currious these guides can be found on line as many people have them printed from the internet.

Hope all is well where ever this msg finds you.