It is the morning of day two on the Leon to Santiago Pilgrimage. We have stayed overnight in the town of
Hospital de Orbigo. The refugio has been basic, but clean and friendly. We have eaten a breakfast of bread, jams and
plenty of hot coffee. It is still early by normal standards, around six fifteen, but the house is buzzing with pilgrims packing,
filling water bottles and putting on boots.
We go outside. It is getting light as we walk out of the small town, ever westwards. As we walk by field ways the sun rises
with fire, lighting up the red barns across the countryside. We pass through small villages, busy as a sleeping dog.
We are climbing now. Not steep, but enough to get the blood moving. Talking and prayer are intermingled in the mind as
we journey onwards. Over the hill now ~ St Justo de la Vegas ~ below a stone cross set high on our right.
The Cathedral city of Astorga ahead across a valley of grapes. A place to stop and rest awhile,
to look at the Bishop’s Palace and the chocolate shops that are the talk of Spain. A few more steps to go before that.
A small steep hill first into the citadel founded by Caesar’s seventh legion. Lunchtime, a rest, some food, chill out for a time.
Most of the day’s walking is done now, so lunch is long. Five kilometres to Murias, our stop for the night. Quickly done.
Check in, get the pilgrim passport stamped, pay the fees. Now the boring bits. Cleaning clothes, checking kit
- a shower and shave. Then sit in the courtyard, sink a few beers, write postcards, chat and recover.
Later in the evening we will go to a local restaurant for dinner. And then back to bed about 10 pm. Late enough for a tired
pilgrim. Others may stay up talking outside. Me? I am more asleep than awake; So Goodnight.
Hospital de Orbigo. The refugio has been basic, but clean and friendly. We have eaten a breakfast of bread, jams and
plenty of hot coffee. It is still early by normal standards, around six fifteen, but the house is buzzing with pilgrims packing,
filling water bottles and putting on boots.
We go outside. It is getting light as we walk out of the small town, ever westwards. As we walk by field ways the sun rises
with fire, lighting up the red barns across the countryside. We pass through small villages, busy as a sleeping dog.
We are climbing now. Not steep, but enough to get the blood moving. Talking and prayer are intermingled in the mind as
we journey onwards. Over the hill now ~ St Justo de la Vegas ~ below a stone cross set high on our right.
The Cathedral city of Astorga ahead across a valley of grapes. A place to stop and rest awhile,
to look at the Bishop’s Palace and the chocolate shops that are the talk of Spain. A few more steps to go before that.
A small steep hill first into the citadel founded by Caesar’s seventh legion. Lunchtime, a rest, some food, chill out for a time.
Most of the day’s walking is done now, so lunch is long. Five kilometres to Murias, our stop for the night. Quickly done.
Check in, get the pilgrim passport stamped, pay the fees. Now the boring bits. Cleaning clothes, checking kit
- a shower and shave. Then sit in the courtyard, sink a few beers, write postcards, chat and recover.
Later in the evening we will go to a local restaurant for dinner. And then back to bed about 10 pm. Late enough for a tired
pilgrim. Others may stay up talking outside. Me? I am more asleep than awake; So Goodnight.
