Day 20 ~ July 19 ~ Special dinner

Murias de Rechivaldo to Rabanal del Camino, 9.7 miles, 6 hours

The town of Murias (hot, windy, hard to understand how it survives) was basic just like the albergue we stayed in. We had a room and a bathroom to share with 20 other people. The most extraordinary thing happened at dinner. We were waiting for the pilgrim meal of the day and the owner of the small bar asked if we would rather have something grilled. She was tired and it was one hot day so we said yes that sounds great.

As we waited outside she invited us in to the garden area, brought wine and said that the meat would be done soon. What her and her sister fed us blessed us so much. Out came a small hibachi with grilled small ribs, blood sausage, chorizo, and lamb. Then came the toasted bread, soft grilled peppers, tomatoes in olive oil, French fries, aoli and lime chili sauce. We had a private meal made special for us that made Doug cry. He had smelled BBQ in a park 2 weeks ago and this meal just dropped in our laps. Again God is good.

Walking was nice and short. One of the interesting things we have found is that you can never tell what the inside of a church will look like by the outside. The picture of the gold alter is in a church in ElGanso with the most austere front. Wow!!

PS "Once your enemy, now seated at your table, Jesus thank you!"

Mindboggling! (Doug speaks)

Day 19 ~ July 18. ~ Lord guide my way

Villares de Orbigo to , 11.9 miles, 7 hours.

Ok - we are now officially on sensory overload. We don't know where we are, where we've been, or where we're going. Maybe it's the heat. Maybe it's the combination of Spanish, French, German, and English garbled together. Maybe it's the food - no matter what we order it turns out to be something different. Thankfully it all tastes really GOOD!! That by the way is an early excuse for when we come home weighing more than when we left.

The picture of the food is just the first course (primero) the second course (secundo) is always a meat and potatoes (french fries). There was a beautiful church/monastery in Astorga that was so big that I could take a full picture. We also went into a church that the stamp was a piece of labyrinth mosaic that says "guiasenormicamino" over 300,000 times. Translated it means "Lord Guide My Way"

PS~ Happy birthday Dana, love you bunches little sis!!

Day 18 ~ July 17 ~ watching the sun (flowers and rise)

Villar de Mazarife to Villares de Orbigo, 10.6 miles, 6 hours.

Got up at 5:30 so that we could walk in the cool of the morning. As we walked I became more fascinated with the watering systems and canals. They flood the fields each morning by blocking and unblocking the ditches. Stopped by 12:30pm, big difference getting to choose our beds, take a shower, eat, hand wash clothes and take a nap all before 4pm, small pleasures.

Doug wanted me to post a picture of our pilgrim credentials that allow us to stay in the albergues and that proves we walked the camino so that we will get the Compestella at the end. Today the cost was 6€ per bed. We get the stamps (sellos) at the albergues, cafes, and churches along the way.

I want to thank everyone for the comments, encouraging words, prayers and bible verses. It means the world to us. I have asked Doug numerous times to write something, as most know when he went to Zambia he wrote to keep the church and me updated. He writes wonderfully, but he says that this is my thing. Though he is not too worried about being my editor!!

Love to all!! This would be much harder if we didn't have the home support.

Day 17~ July 16 ~ walking again

Leon to Villar de Mazarife, 13.3 miles, 6.5 hours

Started early to beat the heat. We are still in the Meseta and so made good time because it was flat. We were so glad that we were able to stop walking before 2pm, boy does it get hot here.

Pictured is the Meseta and the church in Mazarife with stork nests. Storks seem to nest on most tall structures.

Iced the foot tonight, the bar that we are sleeping over have some very nice people that want to help.

Day 16~July 15 ~ Leon

Slept 10 hours in a bed with sheets and blankets! Wow did that feel good. Used a hairdryer! Wandered the city after breakfast. Walking today seems a lot easier without 15lbs on my back!

Let's talk about breakfast. Lots and lots of bread, cheese, cured meats, yogurt, fresh fruit and cereal. Bread is a staple at all meals and sometimes the only thing you get for breakfast. The coffee con leche would rival the coffee at home. Doug is finding the zuma naranja (fresh orange juice) to be "just drop dead good". Goofy man. I just hope he doesn't want to start squeezing oj at home!

Pictures today are of some of the buildings of Leon. The city is clean, well kept, and seems to be a tourist attraction.