Peaceful walk to Villar de Mazarife

DAVE: There is a perception that the Camino France is one long road from Saint Jean to Santiago.  Actually, the Camino itself is a complex network of many paths, all converging on Santiago in northwest Spain. We are on the Camino Frances path, the traditional route.  Saint Jean is the official starting point, but actually, it extends further into France.  The path we are on is not a single path from start to finish. There are some locations where the path diverges into two distinct routes.  This separation, although they eventually link up, may be separated for an afternoon walk or a walk lasting a couple day. When faced with a choice of a "modern route" along a higheay, or a historic route along an old Roman road or through the countryside, we choose the latter even if it results in adding more kilometers to our daily walk. 

Our walk today was the peaceful day for me so far.  Leaving Leon, we trudged through the city outskirts for a while but eventually made it to the long-sought after country side.  Good-bye concrete, hello dirt! My feet thank you! The beginning of our walk was in darkness but we were encouraged by the moon above (sunny day ahead!) and the chill in the air (maybe not too hot later on). As the day wore on and we exited the insanity of the city, we entered a land of undulating hills of plowed orange-brown fields dotted with green oak trees. We walked on what looked like the remains of an old Roman road, rising and falling with the countryside.  Looking around, we were alone in our journey today.  Just us for miles and miles.  It was a very peaceful time for me today.  One of the best walks of many great days. 

This day was a short one; just a 22 kilometer walk today.  We consider this a rest day with somewalking  involved.  In twodays, we'll be climbing the mountains in Galicia and reaching the highest elevation of the Camino.  We are ready for it.

I mentioned how there are many paths onthe Camino.  But all paths are marked with the familiar arrow to guide you through the unknown.  They may be on a street, on a sidewalk, a tree, an old building, but they are always our guide.  They point us in the right direction and we have never been lost yet.  After over 300 miles we have stayed true.  Sometimes, however, in villages, we find that the "arrow" can be mis-used (see below).

Sometimes we welcome it after a long walk. Although entrepreneurs may take advantage of the arrow theme, we always find the right way.

 Buen Camino.