Tuesday, May 10, 2016
León to Villavante with my Brazillian Friends Walking Day #19
Tuesday I walked from León to Villavante. About 6.5 kilometers from León, the path splits, with one leg running along the highway N-120, and the other leg running 4 or 5 kilometers to the south, in more natural landscape (dirt paths instead of asphalt or concrete). At the split point, I had to make a decision about which way to go. To get to my hotel in Villavante, I was supposed to take the more natural (south) of the two legs, stop at Villar de Mazariffe, call the hotel, and they would come pick me up. There are no hotels in Villar de Mazariffe, so I was booked in a remote small B&B that held about 10 guests about 10 kilometers from Villar de Mazariffe.
A tribute way marker at the split point (which I learned later was not the correct split point). The locals were telling Pat from Canada with whom I was walking and me NOT to take the more natural of the two paths, because it was very muddy and dangerous after recent heavy rain. I think the locals know the area better, so I listened to them, and we headed out along the path along N-120. Pat was going past where the two paths rejoined, so the safer path seemed better to her. My concern was that I would end up in Villadangos del Paramo, not Villar de Mazariffe, and may have to take a taxi to get to the pick-up point. It should not be a problem - the Camino will provide a solution when needed.
The threatening skies. It did rain some, but not too much. I did not have to break out my new poncho, but I did have it ready to go. Pat and I stopped for a few minutes when we found some shelter from the light rain and ate the lunch (we split a ham and cheese bocadillo) we had bought a few kilometers before when the guidebook said no services for the next 15 or more kilometers. I was still concerned about what to do when I got to the wrong place, and while I studied the map some more, Pat headed out as she had much further to go than I.
Very soon, along came Betina and Ricardo, my Brazilian friends from the night in the remote B&B El Molino outside Hornillos del Camino and on the walk to Castrojeriz. I was very happy to see them.
My Brazilian friends Betina and Ricardo.
The walk was not on the highway itself, but close by, and the path was not asphalt, but clay, sand, and gravel/rocks. Really not a bad path, except for the puddles because of recent heavy rains. Here I photographed what appeared to be a vineyard. We have been out of the wine-producing province or Rioja for more than a week, so a vineyard was a bit of a surprise. It appeared well-tended and growing.
We walked together up to Villadangos Del Paramo, where their hotel was. I called the hotel, Molino Galochas, to which I was to go, and learned that it was the same distance from Villar del Mazarife as from Villadangos Del Paramo. Mercedes, the proprietor, asked where I was, told me to wait there, and she would be there in 20 minutes.
A tribute way marker at the split point (which I learned later was not the correct split point). The locals were telling Pat from Canada with whom I was walking and me NOT to take the more natural of the two paths, because it was very muddy and dangerous after recent heavy rain. I think the locals know the area better, so I listened to them, and we headed out along the path along N-120. Pat was going past where the two paths rejoined, so the safer path seemed better to her. My concern was that I would end up in Villadangos del Paramo, not Villar de Mazariffe, and may have to take a taxi to get to the pick-up point. It should not be a problem - the Camino will provide a solution when needed.
The threatening skies. It did rain some, but not too much. I did not have to break out my new poncho, but I did have it ready to go. Pat and I stopped for a few minutes when we found some shelter from the light rain and ate the lunch (we split a ham and cheese bocadillo) we had bought a few kilometers before when the guidebook said no services for the next 15 or more kilometers. I was still concerned about what to do when I got to the wrong place, and while I studied the map some more, Pat headed out as she had much further to go than I.
Very soon, along came Betina and Ricardo, my Brazilian friends from the night in the remote B&B El Molino outside Hornillos del Camino and on the walk to Castrojeriz. I was very happy to see them.
My Brazilian friends Betina and Ricardo.
The walk was not on the highway itself, but close by, and the path was not asphalt, but clay, sand, and gravel/rocks. Really not a bad path, except for the puddles because of recent heavy rains. Here I photographed what appeared to be a vineyard. We have been out of the wine-producing province or Rioja for more than a week, so a vineyard was a bit of a surprise. It appeared well-tended and growing.
This part of the path apparently floods so often that a sturdy wooden bridge was built and installed. Works for me!
A way marker approaching Villadangos del Paramo. This is unusual because not only is a yellow arrow painted on the utility pole, but also a graphical shell (oriented the wrong way). We see similar yellow arrows, and this is the first stenciled graphical shell I have seen on a concrete utility pole.
I bid farewell to Betina and Ricardo, and waited only a short time for Mercedes to take me to Molino Galochas in Villavante. I am hoping to see Betina and Ricardo again soon. We shared phone numbers and tested a text message.
Here is Molino Galochas, a B&B holding about 10 guests. Some of the guests already knew each other, and we all sat around the fireplace in the large living/dining room after arriving. Dinner was a group dinner and was very good - Mercedes is a good cook. And the wine flowed and we talked fairly late. It was a very good day on the Camino de Santiago.
Next: Walking to Astogao with Canadian friends from Prince Edward Island
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