Day Sixteen: Corrion to Terradillos

My days are so simply beautiful -- walk, eat, walk, pray, walk, eat, sleep. Can you think of a more beautiful way to embrace and appreciate life? I can't. Today was another fantastic day on the Camino. At six this morning the sisters who ran our Albergue woke us by playing "You Raise Me Up" (1. How appropriate -- you raise me up so I can stand on mountains ... 2. Vera and I easily went back to sleep so that we could wake up at our preferred 7:15). We are always so slow moving in the morning, but we pick up speed once we have breakfast. Lately we have been adding a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice to our cafe con leche and toast for a boost of vitamins to fight my cough an her cold -- I think it is working because we are both feeling so much better. 

After breakfast we headed out for the seventeen kilometer stretch of no towns, no water, no food -- just pathway and pilgrims. I'm pretty sure Vera and I were made to walk flat straight surfaces, because we knocked out those seventeen kilometers in just over two and a half hours. As our reward, we stopped at a cafe and ate lunch. We were joined by a fellow we have seen quite a bit on the Camino from Sweden. He walks alone but is always eager to come join us for a chat when we are near. I also met a pilgrim from Austria today -- he is seventy five and this is his third Camino; but he started this one in Austria! Again: these older pilgrims continue to inspire me. 

After our (long) lunch we began our walking again, but at a relaxed pace. We sat for a while and watched the clouds (Rachel: It was like when we were hiking at Hawn State Park -- how do the clouds just disappear?!) and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Today's pathway, straight and flat as it was, was actually really interesting an thought provoking as it is the original Roman Road -- as in people have been walking that path not for hundreds but for thousands of years. I can hardly imagine! 

Around four we finally arrived in Terradillos. Just before we entered the town, there was a modern, newly constructed Albergue that Vera's dad had told her about, so we stopped in and were able to get two beds. Our French friend and the ladies from the UK are here, too, so it was nice to catch up with them and talk about our day. We asked about mass in the church in town, but they said there was none tonight because there was a funeral, but we were welcome to go to the funeral ... we passed. One spanish funeral is enough. Vera and I rested for a while and then had dinner -- the typical pilgrim menu. After that I practiced my doctoring skills first on my own feet (which are doing a lot better tonight) and then on a fellow pilgrim's leg -- he has such bad shin splints, so I used my kinesio tape that I've been using on my knees to see if I can help him to not have so much pain while walking. I hope it works!! 

And now I'm in bed, showered and ready to sleep. Tomorrow was supposed to be a short day (only thirteen kilometers) but we heard the town we were going to stay in isn't all that nice and doesn't allow forks and knives ... so we will go a little bit further ; ) 

Here are a few pictures from today: 

A lovely day for a lovely walk with lovely people. 

It doesn't look it because they put gravel over it to preserve it, but this is the actual Roman Road!! 

There were no donkeys for today's selfie, so you will have to settle for a selfie of just me. 

I might take way too many pictures of Camino signs ... 

I take way too many pictures of the scenery, too. 

My credential is almost full!! But I have a second one waiting to be filled as soon as this one is full. See that red one with the well? That is from the crazy Albergue man. And the black one in the bottom right is from the amazing pilgrim blessing last night. And the purple one next to it was at the cafe were I took a selfie with a donkey. Each stamp has such a story to go with it!! 

And my bed for the night. 

I have finally read everyone's letters!! If you are thinking "what letter" then don't worry, but if you were one of the letter writers, they were all wonderful and inspiring and have helped me so much on this journey. Thank you so much for writing them and for your thoughts and prayers. Also: today marks the half way point, both in time and mileage. Can you believe I've already walked over 250 miles?! Parts of me think that's unreal. Other parts of me (namely my toes) totally believe that it's possible. I can't wait to see what the second half of my Camino has in store!! 

Buen Camino. 

Jena