Brierly, our guide through Spain, has not lead us wrong in any respect. So when his book suggested resting our pride on the shelf and bussing the final 20km into León, we didn´t think twice. Excited to only walk 6km to the bus station, Mom and I slept in and packed our things with leisure. We walking our planned hour and some change, ate breakfast in the town with the bus station, then wandered our way through town. When we reached the far side of town, we double-checked our tiny map for directions to the bus station. Sadly, we had passed the station even by the time we had reached breakfast. On our way back across town, we passed some of our companions who were headed to León by foot. Mom wondered aloud whether the busses were running--it was Sunday afterall. We found a woman in town who assured us the bus station was open 24 hours.
Finally, the bus station greeted our ever more dubious eyes. Sitting at some tables in the shade were our four amigos from Madrid whom we had been seeing on occasion since Burgos. Those four young men were also taking the bus. Mom and I popped inside to consult the schedule--the first bus to León wouldn´t leave until 5:50PM! Even at our pace in the heat, we would make it the remaining 19km to León by foot before the bus pulled out of the station.
That is how a 6km day turned into a 26km day (roughly 3.5mi turn to about about 16mi). By the time we began our long walk, the sun was hot and high in the sky. I had packed enough water to "overhydrate" for 6km, but I didn´t have nearly enough for 26km in the high heat of the afternoon. All these challenges pailed in comparison to the mental shift Mom and I needed to make from planning short mileage to walking long mileage.
Our afternoon hike was a struggle. To combat high heat and low spirits, we took a long break under a bridge. Each of us raised our feet, ate some snacks, and greeted each pilgrim who passed. Since my legs were extended up a wall, I had the rare opportunity to people watch upside-down. Shortly after our break, Mom spotted a fountain in some shade. We stopped again to wet our hats, shirts, faces, hair--almost everything. Mom and I squeeled with the joy of young girls spashing around. I filled up my drywater bottle before heading on our final stretch to the big city.
It was about 3:00 in the afternoon when we spotted a innercity bus stop. Filled with a new sense of energy, I mapped out our bus route to the city center.
Just paces after exiting the bus, Gaudí´s Casa Bonites greeted our weary eyes. And, just before 4:00, we checked into our León University Residence Hall turned Albergue for summer months. We rested in our own room with our own bathroom, thankful, blessed, and exhausted.
--Harmony
Finally, the bus station greeted our ever more dubious eyes. Sitting at some tables in the shade were our four amigos from Madrid whom we had been seeing on occasion since Burgos. Those four young men were also taking the bus. Mom and I popped inside to consult the schedule--the first bus to León wouldn´t leave until 5:50PM! Even at our pace in the heat, we would make it the remaining 19km to León by foot before the bus pulled out of the station.
That is how a 6km day turned into a 26km day (roughly 3.5mi turn to about about 16mi). By the time we began our long walk, the sun was hot and high in the sky. I had packed enough water to "overhydrate" for 6km, but I didn´t have nearly enough for 26km in the high heat of the afternoon. All these challenges pailed in comparison to the mental shift Mom and I needed to make from planning short mileage to walking long mileage.
Our afternoon hike was a struggle. To combat high heat and low spirits, we took a long break under a bridge. Each of us raised our feet, ate some snacks, and greeted each pilgrim who passed. Since my legs were extended up a wall, I had the rare opportunity to people watch upside-down. Shortly after our break, Mom spotted a fountain in some shade. We stopped again to wet our hats, shirts, faces, hair--almost everything. Mom and I squeeled with the joy of young girls spashing around. I filled up my drywater bottle before heading on our final stretch to the big city.
It was about 3:00 in the afternoon when we spotted a innercity bus stop. Filled with a new sense of energy, I mapped out our bus route to the city center.
Just paces after exiting the bus, Gaudí´s Casa Bonites greeted our weary eyes. And, just before 4:00, we checked into our León University Residence Hall turned Albergue for summer months. We rested in our own room with our own bathroom, thankful, blessed, and exhausted.
--Harmony
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