Reality check yesterday. Weighed our bags on some scales outside a bar where we stopped yesterday. OMG mine was 10kg without water, which was empty cos we drank it along the way. How can that be? A bag that weighed in under 7kg, and came as carry on luggage. I know that I was carrying the ipad and liquid/gels bag separately and wearing my jacket. And they add up. Have also bought sandals and extra pants, as well as more shampoo and sunscreen. Oh, and a new rain jacket, of course. But, Lex is also carrying some of my stuff, like my sleeping bag, extra sandals and the water filter gadget.
Bottom line is.... it is tooooo heavy, especially since we are going back over mountains, as high or higher than previous mountains. Was considering sending some things home, but advised that we will need cold stuff again for at trip. I guess I will be wearing a lot of it again. And Lex is now carrying 14kg. WoW!! Sorry Lex, the extra must be mine!
Sure feels like it is this big by the end of day. Haha
Today we had a late start, only walking 17km to the beautiful old town of Astorga. Stopped at the Cantina for refreshments. It's just a well stocked refreshment spot in the middle of nowhere. Take what you need .... all for a donation. Awesome.
Walking towards snow capped mountains again. Mmm. Arrived in beautiful Astorga in time for lunch. Haven't done that anywhere very much. I could get used to this. Enjoyed our 3 course lunch and a bottle of red in sitting in the warm sunshine in the main plaza. As someone explained to us recently, in Spain, it's warm in the sun, but always cold in the shade. That's how it has been for us.
So now I am charging the ipad, blogging on free wifi, sitting in front of a warm fire and listening to one of the other pilgrims play a ukulele. Good facilities and common areas here.
Sights of Astorga
Question to ponder.
With less that 300km to go, the end in sight -only about 2 weeks left ;-( To be honest, we were blown away to read that. It's not long back when we were celebrating half way. But we did do 90 km in 3 days. Anyway, we have some high mountains coming up in the next few days, and I figure at this rate we could be in Sarria in about a week. Sarria is just over 100km from Santiago. A lot of people with limited time only do the section Sarria to Santiago. That should take about 5 days.
What next? Will we keep walking to Finisterre? Maybe
Notes to self
- 17km Hospital de Orbigo to Astorga
- Astorga - Albergues San Javier 8€ each. Good facilities and communal areas. Love the attic. Sitting watching people preparing food in the kitchen. Seems many people prepare an evening meal, and generally prepare enough to share with others. Have been invited to share pasta prepared by a guy who is a chef. Have heard about him before. But I think we are going out with our camino family for dinner. Yes we are back together again. Incredible how that keeps happening.
- Really good vibe in this Albergue. Lots of people mulling about in the common area. Some music and singing. Interestingly we are in the top, attic style room, which is open plan. Lots of beds and bunks in one big space with couple of big skylights. It's 10pm, only a couple of people asleep, many still downstairs in the common area. Might be different in the floor below which has separate small rooms for about 10 people. This Albergue shuts doors at 10.30pm, later than others we have stayed in. Previously it's been lights out and most people in bed and asleep before 9pm.
- Had 2 pilgrim's meals today. Dinner with our camino family. Always a good experience. Think I am eating my way across Spain.
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