Day 13 Fromista to Carrion de Los Condes

After I had written yesterdays blog I went into town to get something to eat and within seconds bumped into the A team again, so just to let all their parents in America know they looked well and are in good shape,they said how sorry they were to hear about Jeremy.

I had a very nice meal last night in fact the best I have had since I have been here,I was joined by Joe and Grace and we had a couple of very nice glasses of Rioja to wash it down.

After we finished I went to the church to have a look around.

It was so quiet and tranquil ,I decided to sit  with my head down I said a few words,I felt I needed some help again, did not say them to whoever was worshipped in this church I said them to the one I met when I was  saying goodbye to Mark in that wonderful spiritual place 2 days ago.

Then it was time for bed I needed to get some sleep I was totally exhausted,I reflected on the days events,things had not gone well for me,I had lost my walking pole taken a wrong turning ,I had to re do the blog as I was finishing it as I had pressed the wrong button,all these things were my fault because I was so tired and I was getting slovenly.

I had planned to have a lie in today as it was only a short walk of some 12 miles,I checked my emails when I  awoke and there was one from my dear friend Guy reminding us of our battlefield tours and to think of Herbie and Fred who were veterans of the invasion of Europe and today was the 70th anniversary of that campaign,sadly they have passed away now.

It was 0540 so I got up and thought how I could best remember them, I knew I was feeling like my old self again and I felt much happier,had a quick shower and breakfast and I was on the road by 0610.

All I could hear was the birds and chickens crowing.

I decided at 7 where ever I was,to stop and obey a 2 minute silence in memory of the fallen on this momentous day,I also decided to place a stone for Fred and Herbie.I felt I wanted to do more but being so far from a memorial there was little I could do,then it struck me,I was surrounded by them

7 am arrived I took off my rucksack placed the stone and a poppy on a Camino guiding stone and obeyed the two minute silence .I then saluted put my rucksack on and moved on quietly.

Yet again I was surrounded by a sea of red,I felt in my heart I could not have honoured the dead in a better way if I had tried,another amazing experience for me.

I quickly passed through Poblacion de Campos,my mind was on D Day and the futility of war .

Then an amazing thing happened I saw a lady with a rucksack on looking as  puzzled as I was with the yellow arrows pointing in all directions,so we had a chat to decide which was the right route to take ,we eventually decided to go alongside the river,I introduced myself to her and her name was Petra,we shook hands and I asked what country she was from and to my amazement she was from Germany,I told her the significance of today and she put on a poppy as well.

We talked about the war and the holocaust and the futility of it all,she was lovely company ,I think Herbie and Fred would have been very happy .We walked for the rest of the day together.

As always the views were so special.

The conversation just flowed thankfully Petra's English was better than my German .

The route we had taken skirted round all the towns which made my day.Sadly we had to join the road eventually and headed into Villalcazar. We decided to stop for a drink.

It was soon time to move on but what a lovely statue awaited us as we left the village.

I think it is time for a dog on a blog and I would like to devote these little beauties to Olivia Bath who is becoming a bit of a fan of dog on a blog.

After the beauty of the last 2 hours we ended up walking along the roadside to our final destination .

It is amazing how quickly the time goes when you are in good company .Soon we were at Carrion de Los Candes.

It was time to say goodbye to go and find our hotels.She was a lovely lady I will probably never see her again but what a moment when we shook hands and both wore our Poppy's and honoured both sides  of that war.I checked in sorted my kit out and went out for some lunch and rubber necking.I feel I have done so much rubber necking this last two weeks I can see round corners before I get to them!!!

Any restaurant full of Spaniards gets my vote.

Nice hats.

I got some shopping on the way back to my hotel for lunch tomorrow as I gather there is no towns for miles. Thankfully I managed to get a new pole and I have bought another water bottle as I will need more water for tomorrow,I think I have got a very tough day ahead of me..

How do I feel today,much more positive than yesterday,I thought today was halfway it is not,meeting that lady was so special and poignant ,this Camino keeps throwing things my way!!!The soles of my feet are still hurting , think I will have to live with it for the rest of the walk.

Stats

Walked 12.9 miles

Time walked 4.17 miles

Average speed 3 mph.

Distance covered 243 miles.240 is the halfway point but the gps picks up the distance I have walked off the way to get hotels,but I will hit halfway tomorrow.

 

There is a free concert on tonight at the church I think I will go to it.