These Boots Are Made For Walkin' and That's Just What They Did...30.6 KM

It is Boeing time 7:37 AM.

I spent the night in Molinaseca, a very very nice little town, in Hostel Casa San Nicholas ... very nice folks...nice bed, good rest, feeling good. Ready for a new day... whatever God has in store... supposed to be nice today. It is chilly now, probably 45 and overcast with low clouds or fog or something hanging around, but still a beautiful morning. It is very quiet, Saturdays tend to be quieter, and it’s earlier than I’ve been out for quite some time. I was hoping to hear from Jillian and Steve and in fact I did get a text but they’re on the plane so they are going to try and call me from Detroit. I look forward to that very much. More later, love you all, and thank you God for another glorious day.

I am still walking through Molinaseca and I am very impressed with the suburbs. I took some pictures of a couple beautiful homes and the main street is paved and has sidewalks on both sides... trees on the side... I think I’m seeing some apartments or joined housing, it’s just a really nice little village.

It is about 10:00 AM I have walked through Ponferrada. I think I got lost a little bit. But as always, I got back on track. I am enjoying walking through suburbs, probably very distant suburbs at this point, beautiful scenery, lots of homes. It is still overcast and probably 45 or 50° but still a nice day. I have seen quite a few pilgrims & lots of bicycles. I am still planning to stay in Villafranca Del Bierzo tonight, assuming nothing comes up. 

It is now after lunch. I stopped in Cacabelos and had a couple slices of pizza and a beer with lemonade. I just passed a sign says 220km to Santiago. Not sure how accurate that is, but it is probably close. People seem to really enjoy their privacy, they have fences, nice fences with fancy gates, closing off their homes. Some of these homes again are very lovely. I’ve taken pictures of some in last night’s town and now here also. The sun is now shining, it’s a beautiful day. I took off my jacket, just have my long sleeve shirt on now... very comfortable and walking out of another town. There is about 6 miles to the destination for the day, and all is good. A full day! I met and walked with a gent from Chicago, Matt I’m pretty sure. We walked pretty rapidly as he had gotten behind his crowd and after maybe an hour together he found his crowd so I let them go. I passed Romano from Italy and his wife. Then I stopped for lunch. Not sure if Matt and his friends passed me or not, doesn’t matter we’re all walking our own Camino

I stopped when I arrived in Villafranca and had a beer and looked at options for a place to stay. I called a couple places that were full. Looking in the guide, I noticed a note I had made regarding a place here that Tom and Janine (friends from home who had walked the Camino last year) had stayed at, so I called and they had a room, so here I am. First time in a huge old religious building. It has a large chapel and had to be a convent or monastery.  Hospederia San Nicolàs El Real is the name. I have a private room with a bathroom... four single beds but I am alone. There is an albergue here also; it’s such a huge place and it feels empty.

I changed shoes (btw... first day in maybe 2 weeks with no discomfort in my feet!!! Thank you for the prayers and thank God for answering them) and went out for a cold drink (likely another beer/lemonade but I get tired of saying it all the time). I saw Brian and Tory from Ireland so sat with them as they ate a burger. Today is Brian’s birth anniversary so he was splurging on a burger.

I think I forgot to mention yesterday, I saw Marshall... the young man attending The Citadel in South Carolina... he was carrying a large pack, 45 pounds, most are about 20 pounds. He had some foot issues and his Mom said he needed a city doctor so he went back a couple days to Burgos. now he is carrying a guitar and is shipping his pack forward to where his next stop will be daily... a fairly common occurrence. I had been praying for him since hearing of his issues, so it was great to see him healthy again. I mentioned him back a couple weeks; he had a new version of a Polaroid camera and was taking someone’s pictures daily and logging some of their story.

I ended up having a pizza... was going to take a nap and go out later and eat, but I don’t want to go out again so I had a pizza. I put the leftovers in the fridge in the albergue... hopefully I will remember it in the morning.

I went for a walk after eating and saw some more awesome buildings and watched some folks play a game like bocce ball, but different. I took a picture of them and of more buildings.

The day is done... gone the sun... there is more to it that I don’t recall.

God is good and His blessings abound! Enjoy yours daily. Good night from the Camino in Spain.

 There's a couple kitty's there... can you see them?