Day 19, Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero

 
Another day on the endless plains of the Meseta

 June 22

I'm blessed with some relatively short days as I deal with the various ailments that come my way. I'm treating each day as a rest day until I regain my awesome best.

Today I started alone and early (7.30am). If I walk quickly, I strike on my heel and that rarks up my blister. If I can place my foot flat, it's kinder to the blister, but not so good for my arthritic toe joint. By walking more slowly, that impact isn't so great. It's not very sociable - the ear pods are a deterrent to casual conversation - but it means I can choose my own pace,

This morning I did all I could to ease things. I packed my day pack into my suitcase, which is transported and just carried a small shoulder bag. Not so much to carry and if gave the heat rash on my back a break. That's improving now anyway, since I consulted Dr Google and started applying calomine lotion.

As you walk through a fairly featureless landscape, it's easier to just focus on ailments - and that's were the audio books come in. Some of them are 10-12 hours long - potentially days of entertainment.

That's not to say the landscape isn't beautiful in a grand sort of way. Sometimes you round a corner or crest a rise and it can take your breath away.

Finally managed to photograph one of the many fast-moving mice. (Sadly it had died some time earlier)

Although the whole day was walked in long straight lines, an effort has been made over the years to plant shade trees and where they've started to take hold it's quite pleasant going.







You often strike markers telling you how far it is to Santiago de Compostela. These vary wildly. By my reckoning, I now have about 340km to go, but I struck this one early on in the day.







Even walking slowly (and walking about 1.5km extra by missing a turn), I managed to arrive at my destination about 12.45pm - it was only 18km to that stage. My hotel was all locked up, but the was a nice alburgue cafe next door, where I first had a coffee and tortilla.

Followed by a beer (note to brothers (1.40 euro, egg and chorizo thrown in).








Wifi is good here. I've had a shower and washed today's clothes (my daily habit). I have a nice little balcony outside, where I've strung my clothesline, but I had to shut the door, as I'm right above the cafe where there's a dedicated team of smokers conspiring against me.

It's just after 3pm, so I thing a siesta is in order.

Nearly forgot. When I left this morning, I'd really worked hard to get my day pack into my suitcase. Then I found the little fastening tongue on my luggage label was completely ripped of, so I had to improvise a way to attach it (without that my suitcase wouldn't arrive each day). Finally got it sorted and did up the padlock. When I arrived today, I realised that the key for the suitcase was inside my pack, which was locked in the suitcase. I eventually poked my room key into the suitcase zip, so I could tear it open. Fingers crossed I can get it all back together tomorrow.

Here's today's photo album - from leaving this morning: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6UA7GKHVepwzEDHb6

Here's the day's details from my watch:
 https://app.suunto.com/move/petergibbs/5d0e2f58b99d964ed951cee4


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