Ages and On to Burgos

 We are off to Ages today.   It is a short walking day of only 16 k (9.97 miles)

Leischen called for her first time since leaving in June.   This skype thing is pretty nice, and allowed us to talk for about 45 minutes with the sound clarity of two people at the same table in a small cafe.  Adding to the ambiance was a little glassware and soft group conversations in the background.  The free wifi was in a cafe.

Ages was very small with nothing to see so rather than begin their rest in street plaza at noon, they decided to move on a little further.  I think there was a small moment of  heart ache at seeing a sign that says you still have 518 km to go and you have already been walking for 14 days straight.   The mountains are hard walking but beautiful.  She has just finished 4 days of wheat fields.. and has 8 to go.... Uff dah!!!

 It was another 20 mile hike day and her body is doing ok, but her feet are tired.   She said that  all in all she is doing well and is very happy, but she can't describe just how hard this road is.  She says there is a reason it is called a pilgrimage and not just a walk.   The Pyrenees are very beautiful but they are also steep mountains.  They walked up and down slippery boulders and rocks.  She could see that accidents could easily happen.  The movie "The Way" was not just making up an interesting beginning when it describes a fatal fall.   You  have to be careful, especially when you are tired.  The slope down the Pyrenees was about a 75 degree grade and you are walking this difficult path on your second day into the pilgrimage when almost everyone's body is not in the shape it should be.

Burgos

Well, we actually walked right on past Ages and decided go straight through.

 to the larger town of Burgos.  Since I and Nancy share the cost... we are going for an extra night in a hotel with sheets!  

Leischen shared on the phone that she was worried about being by herself this whole trip.  She knew she would meet people but everyone is looking for a friend to share the experience.   She said that the girl on the plane from Atlanta walked much faster than she did and soon was in the lead talking to other travelers.   Leischen caught up with the group and the Atlanta acquaintance introduced her to Nancy.   Nancy is single and a professor from one of the Portland colleges.  She got her PhD. in her early 30's (philosophy I think Leischen said) .  Nancy is actually teaching each day by internet and plans to continue this and travel through Europe all summer.  They have many things in common, and walk at about the same speed.  Anyway, God provided a fun companion for this long walk about 10 minutes into the first day of her hike.    

Leischen has met many acquaintances from around the world and can't stress strongly enough how kind the Spanish people and the Pilgrims are.  Her Spanish is getting better and her pantomime is top notch.

 This city looks fascinating.   It obviously has a beautiful cathedral.

 If you look at the cathedral above... it looks like this street is just in front of it.   How diverse to have the new city street and the ancient cathedral in the background.

There appears to be art everywhere in this town some of it quite comedic.   Leischen is finding that it takes about 5 minutes to download each and every picture to the internet, so I don't have anything new to share today.

Stay tuned for a new days adventure tomorrow when she may actually tell us a little bit about the pictures I shared today.