The sound of a hundred skylarks overhead as you walk by the golden wheat blowing in the wind.
The warmth of the blood flowing as the stiffness in your legs eases off and you lengthen your stride.
The pleasure you get with the friendly wave and smile of the old lady dressed in black leaning on her garden gate as you go by.
These are a few of my favourite things!
I've come over all Julie Andrews (nearly typed that wrong!)
I write all my own stuff you know; can you tell?
So, I had a great nights sleep, feeling very relaxed and refreshed after my bath last evening. An early start today even though I could have had a lie-in. A couple of people I met last night were starting at 4am today because this part of Northern Spain has so little light pollution that the night skies are amazing; I may try it myself soon.
While I was going off to sleep last night my mind went off somewhere on its own and I got to thinking not only how far I would walk but also how many steps I would take. If I walk a thousand kilometres and my pace length is 66 centimetres then I will take 1,515,151 steps (over one and a half million!)
And so far I have only had one small blister and that has gone; not bad eh?
The first 18 kms today was in a straight line, walking into a strong breeze. Nowhere to stop for breakfast this morning so I bought a cherry yoghurt an apple and a sticky pastry last night to feed myself. Forgetting that I didn't have a spoon I had to eat my yoghurt with my toothbrush! Mmmm minty.
Well, what would you use?
Eventually I stopped for a coffee late morning and met Sue, an American lady who started with her older brother in St Jean. He had to go home when they got to Burgos as he was suffering with a lot of pain. Sue has bravely decided to walk on by herself.
I have stopped early today in a lovely little pueblo called San Nicolás. It is a family run hostel with 16 beds in 4 rooms. I hope it stays quiet as at present there are only two of us here.
Today I passed the halfway mark to Santiago so it is all downhill from here (although a lot of it is actually uphill!)
Many of the buildings in this area are made of mud and straw, most are of the traditional rectangular house shape but some look like Hobbit dwellings. Also the area has strong links with the Knights Templar.
Some photos of a bridge over the river, the long straight Sendé, a baby snake I rescued off the path, the open fields, hobbit houses, clay and straw houses and my accommodation for the night.
Also two old blokes chatting; which one is called José?
Siesta time now....
zzzzzz.
