Leon to Hospital de Orbiga

Monday 23 May 2016 - Day 26

Leon to Hospital de Orbiga - bus, no walking

A big thank you to everyone who has sent encouragement either via the website or on Facebook. My Camino experience has turned out to be not what I expected and, in lots of ways, not what I wanted. But, it is what is is and knowing that you are keeping me in your thoughts means the world to me.

Sad to leave our comfy room in Leon. Had planned to bus out of Leon and then walk today but my 'new' blister did not allow for a shoe to be put on. Sanity once again prevailed and I walked across town to the bus station with Jackie, Steve and Helen, who caught a ride to 10km out of Leon. I stayed on the bus all the way to our day's planned destination, Hospital de Orbiga.

The bus dropped me in a bit of a back street, and after initially heading off in the wrong direction I eventually found my way into the main part of town.

Hospital de Orbiga is known for its amazingly long and well-preserved medieval bridge. It dates from the 13thC, and was built over an earlier Roman bridge. It spans for 19 arches over the rio Orbigo. This bridge was another MUST see for me.

It's known as La Puente de Paso Honroso, due to a famous jousting tournament in 1434, where a knight defended the bridge, and his honour, against anyone who cared to try their luck. Today there was a jousting run set up on the river flats, just off the side of the bridge.

I filled my time, until the arrival of my walking companions, exploring the bridge and the villages on each side. One church had 4 gigantic nests, with all storks at home. I had lunch in a cafe and re-connected with Judy, an Canadian lady I hadn't see since Orisson and Lindsey, from Melbourne, whom I first met in Pamplona.

I met an amazing pilgrim as I sat enjoying the sun in the town square. Dorothea is from Ireland and she is walking alone, aged 80!!!! This is her 4th time on Camino, as she's doing stages until she gets to Santiago de Compostela. This year it's Leon to Santiago. WOW!

Once the others arrived it was the usual afternoon routine of showers, washing and working out where to stay tomorrow. Jackie, Steve and Helen are on a shorter time frame than me by a day or two, so they will be walking longer days than me from here on. I will be sad to not have their company, as they've been fantastic walking companions and good fun.

Oue albergue tonight is called San Miguel and it's very comfortable...and a bit quirky, with paintings hanging on every available wall space.

It's very comfortable and we have a room for 4. The hospitalero speaks excellent English and helped with phoning ahead for further bookings. This is a lovely town. Caught up with Stewart my lovely young Scot... always a pleasure.

Dinner was the €10 pilgrim menu at a local bar and we're in bed now. Others all asleep and I'm working by headlight. Excited about walking again tomorrow.