Month: September 2019

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September 29 Sahagun I’ve Got a Ticket to Ride

As you may recall, our traveler was last seen marching across the Meseta.  Much has happened since:

Here it is from Mary:

So, here are the facts:

  • At the outset, I gave myself 40 days to walk the Camino.
  • Today I’m at the halfway point and it’s Day 22 leaving 18 days of my 40 days.
  • Originally, I was going to take two days in Muxia after I finished the Camino. The new plan is to cancel that. That would leave 20 days more to walk.
  • It may take two days to get my Compostela in Santiago (Certification of completion). Subtract another day.


Here’s the bottom line: My travel for the first two weeks was too short (too short for my body’s capabilities then; too short for my departure timetable). Today I walked the 10 miles to Sahagun (and another three miles in the town) and I am now on a train to Astorga. I’ll take a rest day tomorrow. I’ve essentially skipped the rest of the Meseta to make up my time. Perhaps four days of Meseta photos will be enough? If not, current fares are $350 R/T from US to Paris… Go for it!

Mary’s current location is Astorga. But wait, there’s more…

See next post…

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September 29 A Stop at the 2nd Bar – San Nicolás Del Real Camino Second bar!

Ok. So I’ve had roaming on because I thought my SIM card wasn’t working without it. That might explain the shortfall on the AT&T bill I ore-scheduled before I left .
In a village with more than one bar – Do I stop at the first or the second?
Is the first bar crowded? Stop? No
Is the first bar crowded, but I see people I know and feel like visiting? Stop? Yes
Is the first bar empty and I’m dying for a coke? Stop? Yes
Is the first bar empty, but I feel like company? Stop? No
I take the top bread off.
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September 29 Moratinos

“Moratinos, is a town in Palencia, Spain. It is best known to outsiders for “el castillo de Moratinos”, an ages-old hill in the town center studded with family owned wine-storage caves. As of 2002, Moratinos’ population was listed at 78 people, but most registered residents live in cities and commute to Moratinos for weekends or festivals. In January 2015, 18 people lived in the town year-round. Most are farmers.”

Posted by phone
Moratinos mud walls
Moratinos Church
Moratinos tree trunks protected by crocheted covers
Moratinos antenna
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September 28 Along the Way to Ledigos

Today’s photos are posted late due to power failures back at the home base in Kansas City. Here is a brief summary of the experience.

The journey began by leaving town over the Rio Carrión. The building below the picture of the bridge is the Hotel Monasterio San Zoilo, a complex including (from their website):

The highlight of the monastic complex is the current cloister, designed by Juan de Badajoz in 1537 and finished in 1604 with the participation of important artists who raised its walls and carved the profuse ornamentation, composed by characters from both the Old – Prophets, patriarchs, judges, priests, heroines, and the New Testament – apostles, evangelists, church fathers and civil characters – kings, queens, emperors and empresses- or religious – pontiffs, cardinals, doctors, monks and saints. The lower cloister has two different heights and is built with five arches between thick prismatic buttresses, while the top one opens up with half point arches. The cloister is connected to the church through an arched entrance between vertical columns. The temple, from the seventeenth century, is one nave only covered by barrel vaults and a dome over the transept. It has choir at the feet, with seatings and baroque organ. The doorway is attributed to Felipe Berrojo and has two parts with images of saints. The monastery also has other more modest, neoclassical patio.

Below is a screenshot of an app on Mary’s iPhone that shows the correct path (through the Camino), with her location depicted by the blue dot.

The photo of the sign with the diagonal line means you’re leaving that location.


Sahagun is my halfway point.



Many friends along the way!


And more open spaces…