Day 6
A cold and rainy start to the day, my knee was giving me fits this morning, but it seemed to work itself out after an hour or so on the road.
It seems like every morning and every day is a test of the will with respect to the elements and the body (pain) working against me… body keeps saying no, but I keep making it move forward.
That morning I was able to distract myself from the cold and pain with more Don Quijote.
I finally arrived to my 1/2 way point in Sahagún, where I was pretty fatigued by the rain & cold. The hospitalero/bar tender reminded me of a Spanish version of my tax accountant, only more hippie, and I was thankful for the portion of tortilla española that he gave.
I ended up giving 1/3 of it to the albergue tomcat who was pretty insistent on getting ether food or affection from the number of passes and turns he made trough my legs.
I ran into the Presbyterian minister, Scott, again, and also to Jean, the older French gentleman who’s wife was from Mexico. He told me that morning that he is a widower… we have not gotten to speak more about it yet, but hope to learn more from him in the days to come.
Scott and I discussed his missionary work, where he has served for long stretches abroad, including in Mexico City, and now in Paris France.
Over breakfast we we talked about the imputed righteousness of Christ, the righteousness that Christian’s obtain by faith, but which is based on Christ’s work alone.
As I packed up from breakfast I saw the Arco de San Benito, built around 1662 – https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterio_Real_de_San_Benito_(Sahag%C3%BAn)#Arco_de_San_Benito
Thankfully the rain cleared up on my way out of Shagun, and the weather became sunny, but very windy with a 40+ mph headwind the whole way to my destination. Also, I had miss judged the kilometers in the last leg of my walk, and my legs not giving me trouble, such that I did 31k today.
The Albergue was an adobe house with wood vaulted ceiling and a thatched roof. When I arrived (late) their was a yoga session going on in the common area, which they called an Interspiritual Meditation.
I snuck out out to the local “casa adobe” for dinner where the owner Javi was very hospitable… She suggested the vegan plate, but I opted for something local, including meat in it. I also had the local wine of choice, a rosado from Leon.
After dinner I called home and was able to FaceTime my son Alex for the first time in a week… look forward to seeing him again in person when I get back.
I then collected my wind-scattered laundry before turning it in for the night.