Day 18 Leon to Hospital de Orbigo

Got up at 0545 performed the usual ritual of shower prepare feet pack up and ensure I have got everything.

I met Andrew Jason and Mariet at 0630  as arranged outside the hotell,we then set off out ofLeon.I was praying it was not going to be as hot as yesterday as it had been a real scorcher.

We had a quick coffee as it had been such an early start and Mariet cannot function without her  caffeine hit.

It took a long time to clear the city and we had been warned that we had a long walk ahead of us before we met the next Alburgue , so we stopped at the last bar before we left Leon and had breakfast.

By now the sun was getting up and it was already very hot ,my worsed fears were being realised ,we had a l9 mile walk ahead of us in sweltering conditions.

Then we were back onto the plains .

By now it was really getting very hot.

Dog on a blog time I met this character this morning.

On we went and it got hotter and hotter.

It was a featureless walk with not a lot to take photos of.

At last we got to a village and had a drink and enjoyed the shade.

Then we were off again into the midday sun.We soon hit the 300 mile point of the walk and we stopped and placed a stone in memory of my old friend David Rushton who passed away earlier this year,we obeyed a minutes silence and toasted him at our next watering hole. When I hit the 400 mile point I will do the same for my Father  and when I have got a 100 miles to go I will place  one for Mum.

I cannot tell you how moving it is when I place these stones,how something so small can mean so much

It was not long before we found that long overdue watering hole it was bliss to get out of the sun.

We moved from this one straight to another .

A quick check on the trotters,all was well the toe pinkies were doing their job.

After an hour we set off and came across one of those roman roads that went on.

And on.

And on.

And on.

And for a bit more.

Then we came across a track that went on.

And on ,I was getting sick of the romans,we came across a fellow pilgrim who was sitting by the side of the track that was going on and on,she was showing signs of dehydration and was in poor state so we shared our water and carried her rucksack until we came to the next town,such is the spirit of The Camino.

I

We eventually arrived at San Martin del Camino,we got our fellow pilgrim booked into an Albergue and stayed  for a drink we were all shattered and we still had 3 miles to go.

Nice hat

It was time to move on to our final destination,the sun was still beating down we had walked 20 miles and we were still not in sight of Hospital de Orbigo.

At last we entered Hospital de Orbio and came across this stunning roman bridge.

My goodness these boys knew their business.i checked in had a shower then we went out for something to eat

It is now 2015 and I can honestly say I am exhausted after the walk today it has really drained us all,23 miles in the that heat which was in the 30s has taken its toll,I am so pleased that I have not got any more walks of that distance,if I am honest I do not think I could do another,18 miles tomorrow is bad enough.

It was marvellous  going through the 300 mile mark,i I never knew I had it in me.

I will be saying goodbye to the team tomorrow,walking with Jason and Mariet has been a real joy and I will miss my Camino family very much indeed,but I have to press on.

It would appear that my conjuctivitous was sun lotion dripping into my eyes in the incessant heat.

Stats for today

Walked 23 miles

Walking time 7 hours 13 mins

Av speed 3.2

To go 168 miles