El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas

May 8, 2016 Sunday

The Rain in Spain falls...on the plain.    Walking Day #17

Today it rained on the plain in Spain. It was cold and wet. The rain was hard enough that I kept my camera safe and dry deep in my backpack, so there are no pictures of the walk today. It was green and beautiful, thankfully short at 20 kilometers (13 miles), and very flat. The scenery on the meseta was much like yesterday, and just as beautiful, but a little more difficult to enjoy. I had lost my gloves, and today I missed them - my hands were cold, and wet, and even after putting my hiking poles under my arm and my hands in my pockets, they did not warm much. I shall find a place to get a replacement in León tomorrow, because there will be more rain when we get to Galicia (the region of Santiago de Compostela.

I walked today with an Irish fellow named Eamann (Gaelic for Edward). He is 72 years old and pacing himself. He and his wife had a plan to walk part of the beginning together, then Eamann would continue on, and I think his son and wife will meet him in Santiago. Eamann has a side interest in cycling, and for most of the walk today we talked cycling: the Tour de France, other grand tours, and other high-profile races.

 Mansilla de las Mulas

Here are the way markers in Mansilla de las Mulas. Very similar or exactly like those I have seen before in a few places.

This is the city arch, the entrance to the city. Mansilla de las Mulas was built as a walled-city. It is unclear if the Romans built the city wall, or just the main road leading to and then from the city. Much of the walk today was along roads originally built by the Romans.

Thankfully, the rain lessened as we arrived in Mansilla de las Mulas. I found my hotel, and relaxed a bit.

And here is my hotel, the Albergueria Del Camino. It sounds like it is an albergue (hostel), but it is really a small B&B, with only four or five rooms. At least one couple here I know, John and Beth from Virginia; I see them in hotels often.

At dinner, I sat down and in walked Eamann to join me. We had an enjoyable time over a very good dinner.

Camino de Santiago "Pilgrim's Passport"

James Geier's

Pilgrim's Passport

-or-

Credencial del Peregrino

with the stamps (sellos) received to date. 

I will fill up this passport/credential  even though I missed a couple of stamps when I was ill. I think I'll ask someone how to get a second one in León (tomorrow). Perhaps there is a Camino Pilgrim's office at the Cathedral.

Much of the walk tomorrow will be through the suburbs of León. And it is expected to rain again. Since I have no gloves, and no poncho, I may see about getting a bus to skip the suburb part of the walk, especially if it is raining.

Next: Some method of traveling to León