Monday, May 20, 2024

Jona—a friend of my two new Dutch friends I have been walking with—joined us last night in a room where four mattresses were placed on the floor for us to sleep on due to our late arrival at the albergue. Jona wakes early, incentivizing us to get out of bed and into the morning. So when the light goes on we prepare for the day, eating breakfast from the food in our packs. We are walking into a cold, dark morning that warms within an hour. Most trails walked are distanced from traffic, winding through fields and light forests. We cross the halfway point this afternoon.  One of our group members stayed the night in the town of Sahagún. As we walk through town we see him and he joins us. Our destination for the day is the small village of Calzada del Coto where we stay at a small donativo. When we are inside, all of the domestic chores are performed. I save all the creative material early, finishing by 5:00. Groceries are acquired in the copper-coloured sunlight of the aging day. Sander meets two Lithuanian brothers travelling together, and we enjoy a pint with them, asking about their story. We return to the albergue by 10:00 to avoid being locked out. I plunge into the deep, dark sleep of a person spending much of the day walking and laughing. Tomorrow: Reliegos.

Today’s distance walked: 21.0 km    |    Total distance walked: 508.83 km

“Ultreia et suseia: we go further and we go higher.” — A quote found somewhere along the Camino.