After a day plus of rest, George and I took off solo. M&M are returning home by way of Madrid. Gosh, I’m going to miss them. They really brought great fun and laughter to our Dynamic Duo. Mel & Moody were up, standing on their balcony and waved goodbye, as we walked out of town, early this morning.

Another cool morning but promise of sunshine and no rain. One out of two is not bad. We did not have a drop of rain, but the sun never really materialized. Cloudy, cool and a northern wind showed up. Talking to the locals, this has been unseasonably cold. By now the sun is out and the Pilgrims are warming up. Still I’d rather have cooler weather than warmer or hot days!

Our day was split into 3 – ten kilometer segments. It was the only way I managed to keep my other half alive. The walk out of town was unremarkable except for the University. That’s a given. Once we passed the campus, it was flat open fields of grain. There was a small creek we followed, and a highway. We made it to Tardajos and George had his Coffee and Chocolate Croissant and I ate a Potato Egg Tarta that was pretty dang good.

The next ten kilometers were a surprise. We climbed a little over 1500’ and walked through Rebé de la Calzadas. There was a small unremarkable church and George said we could get our Pilgrim Stamp. But it was much more than that. This sweet Nun was inside giving blessings to all the Pilgrims that came through. She asked our names, laid hands on us and prayed for our safety on this journey to Santiago. It was absolutely precious.

With our blessing upon us, my pack felt lighter and I had a bounce in my step. We had quite a bit of a climb still and there were tons of Pilgrims ahead. The hills were greener than green, the wildflowers lined the pathway and the clouds as menacing as they looked, spared us from any precipitation.

As we crested the plateau, there was a metal cross that shined above the town below. The cross represented protection against all evil and good tidings to the people of Hornillos del Camino and the Pilgrims that journey through this region.

We arrived in this tiny town and looked for a place to eat. About halfway through town, I spotted a Bar-Restaurant which is typical for these parts. When we walked in, AC/DC was playing. This seems like my kind of place. There were five tables and one was open. The waiter/owner/barista/cook sat us down and gave us a menu. This is going to be indescribable.

Starter was Mixta Salad for George and I had Chickpeas with shredded cabbage slaw. It was out of this world. The main dish for George was Beef Stew and I had Eggplant with Mango and Pomegranates. I’m always amazed at what someone can concoct in a tiny 5X5 Kitchen. Michelin Star ⭐️ approved.

Our last 10 kilometers had another slight climb and was quite nice. The only issue was walking 20 miles and my feet were screaming. But the saving grace was the scenery. If you can block out the pain and suffering, you can really appreciate the absolute beauty that surrounds this magnificent trail. The grasses were waving in the wind and the flowers were broadcasted throughout the grain. Looking out over the grain, was like an ocean that never ceased to end. Green and reds that took you to the end of the earth!

Just before 5pm, we walked into town. I reserved this place 3 months ago so when I saw the sign that it had a spa, I was quite surprised. We checked in and I asked the gal, is there really a spa? Yes there is. We offloaded our packs, changed and headed down to our private Oasis.

It was the most unexpected luxurious place I have ever seen on the Camino. Indoor pool with jets, water fountains, recliners with jacuzzi jets and a wet sauna. I think I died and made it to heaven. George was taking it all in and no complaints there. What an incredible ending to a super tough day.

Thank you Lord for your blessings and mercy to these two pilgrims. Each day that I walk the Camino, I honestly never expect anything more than a place to rest my head at the end of the day. Yet, it seems that each daily walk I encounter more than I ever imagined. You continue to give me strength, make me stronger and I yearn to trust your ways. Thank you Jesus for all you prepare ahead of time. And for all the sweet icing on the cake!