Sunday, January 2, 2011

At the Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos

Robin and I set our sights on Moratinos as today´s destination. W looking for the e departed Carrion de los Condes in the pre-dawn light. We had a pleaseant night at the Espiritu Santo albergue and spent the night with a couple of Spaniards and a young German guy. the road out of town was shrowded in low hanging mists and eventually fog. We crossed the Carrion River and walked through the early morning chill looking for the senda and the "pilgrim highway" leading us westward. We kept about a 4K/hr pace to ward off the chill and to put some kilometers behind us before ourmid day break. We carried on along a rifle bore straight pathway watching the day triumph over the dawn (just barely). The mists wrapped about us and our horizon gradually and alternatively closed in and retreated as the fog toyed with a sun reluctant to warm us. We kept our pace and eventually arrived at Calzadilla de la Cueza. The albergue there was open but all else was closed. We took about a ten minute break and pushed off again for Moratinos. The afternoon wore on and the kilometers fell behind us. My right foot was acting up so we stopped in Terradillos de los Templarios for some road side repairs. A young Dutch guy was sitting on a bench. We talked and he had staretd a month previosly from Tarifa (Straits of Gibralter) and was bound for Norway's North Cape all on foot. We hoved into Moratinos at 3:30 and quickly made our way to Reb and Paddy's very hospitable home, The Peaceable Kingdom, where pilgrims are kindly welcomed. We settled in and have now had a great curry dinner and a couple of bottles of wine (well maybe three-hey we are half way). Reb and Paddy are terrific hosts, and we will miss them and their kindness. We will make our way to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos in the morning. It has been another good day and we are thankful for the distance covered and the shelter we enjoying this evening. We are truly at peace. Good night to all.

2 comments:

  1. Hi John and Robin,
    congratulations passing your 400 km milestone. Well done sofar.
    Enjoy the camino because before you know you are back in "normal" life again.
    Buen Camino!
    Henk

    ReplyDelete
  2. we are enjoying every minute of your adventure. onward toward the sea.

    ReplyDelete