Sitting on the patio at the Albergue La Parada in Reliegos! 13 km more under my belt, or should I say feet?? My knee is not exactly thrilled with that accomplishment but manageable. Now trying to make decision as to tomorrow's plan - get to a town that is 6 km away to catch a bus to Leon, skip Leon totally, or walk two more 13 km days to Villarmentero & Leon? Times like this is where it would be nice to have someone along to toss around options, etc. Plus hard to actually think & make decisions after just mindlessly walking for days!  Time for food - perhaps protein will help the brain cells function!

Made it to El Brungo in good time this morning - of course, 8 km is not an earth-shattering amount of distance to cover!! And it was flat & good path. So upon arrival in town, I stopped at a cafe for some fresh squeezed in & fried eggs to pass some time. Then found the Albergue for tonight bit was still 1 1/2 hr early so finished reading the Danielle Steele book & had a snooze in the sun on a bench! Now next door at a cafe to use wi-fi and have a sandwich for lunch. Here are a few photos of today:

A bird observation hut.

The wetland was pretty dry...

Sunrise was beautiful!

Here are some photos of leaving Sah

agun this morning & the walk today:

Okay, I've overstayed my welcome here at the bar!!

It has become an exciting afternoon in the bar:

There are two tables of very hot dominoes being played!!!  It looks like double sixes. They slam them down on the table so loudly!!! It is an all male gathering!!

I am sitting in a bar/cafe having lunch in Bercianos! The Albergue that I am staying at is run by volunteers and is supported by the daily donations as there is no set fee. Thus, no wi-fi!

The 'garden' with laundry facilities! And yes, I handwashed two pairs of socks & underpants!! Have been fortunate to be at a place with washing machine option when pants & shirts need washed!

The front - my day pack was 2nd in line. Jeff from England was first.

When I left to go to lunch, they were putting mattresses on the floor in the chapel. Supposedly 54 bunk beds...so many pilgrims ate on their journey this month!!

Made it to Sahagun! Approximately 8 miles on easy, flat path. John, a Scotsman celebrating his 80th birthday today, slowed down to walk with me a ways then we stopped for coffee & orange juice while his son & Danish woman who is walking with them caught up. Then we were joined by Michael, a British lad and his walking companion, a French girl. So this merry group made the time & miles fly!

After resting at the Ermita de la Virgen del Puente, they continued on at their faster pace - Sahagun was in sight at that time.

Inside the church.

By now the sun was high & shining so warm enough for just short sleeves.

The church which is the halfway point from Roncesvalles to Santiago!!!  Everyone was pleased to hear that bit of information!!

The albergue Viatoris which seems to be among an industrial part of town but pilgrims are continuously arriving.

The cubicle of 4 bunks with mine being the bottom far left!

Quite an old Spanish atmosphere!! Now to decide tomorrow's plan & probably walk on in to the center of town - there is a baroque church.

I am sitting in the shade eating green olives at the Jacques de Molay Albergue in Terradillos de los Templarios:

Clothes machine washed & hanging in the sunshine & breeze! Had some fresh orange juice and now eating green olives. Yes, you can get a cute little dish of olives to snack on!! After leaving the Sisters this morning around 9:00, I went across the street for breakfast - once again I forgot about a photo before the eggs were gone - the hot chocolate, bread, & eggs were delicious!

The waitress ignored me so I sat & read the Danielle Steel book that someone had left at Santa Maria Albergue. (As it is sitting here on the table, the woman who left it comes up to tell me that!! Yes, we do keep running into each other each other along the Way) So around 10:30, the waitress started setting up for lunch so I asked for check then took advantage of the quite nice restroom. Wandered over to the bus stop then realized the other passengers were hanging out at the bar across the street so went over there discovering that the bus actually stopped right there!! So I got a coke, read, & sat in the sun until bus showed up right on time. Discovered there were assigned seats so a bit of shuffling ensued but then on our way. One hour+ later, the bus stops in the road - I had arrived! With some trepidation as no sign of an Albergue, I take up my pack at which time I see pilgrims walking so head that way also & lo, there's the Albergue!! Then another moment of panic when the receptionist says complete; she was interrupted so said 'one moment' to me so I sat & waited with thoughts of 'now what?'. Lo, when she comes back, there is abed - a lower bunk to boot!!!! So yes, The Camino provides...A reservation is made for tomorrow in Sahagun with pack shipping tagaddressed, etc. So relaxed & visited with two German ladies (no, I am not speaking German - they have very good English). It seems we are roommates for tonight!!