Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagun

Hey all!  16.2 miles and 37,373 steps.

Sometimes we are really blessed with the support system that allows a Camino to work successfully. And how easy it is to forget to be appreciative.  This is the company (or at least one of them) that transports my suitcase from place to place.  I get a bit of a chuckle at this point in the journey at how many backpacks they are transporting. At the beginning of the trip, I always run into people who say with great loftiness, "I am carrying all my possessions on my back like a real pilgrim."  After a few days of that, they manage to get most of it transferred.  Like a smart pilgrim?  Of course, I see people with hiking poles and large staffs with gourds attached.  The thrill of carrying them wears off pretty quickly. At most, I carry one hiking pole that folds up instead of telescoping in and out.  Mine will fit neatly into a side pocket of my backpack.  I only carry it in case I need a crutch or have some major mud to traverse.

These little houses, built into the side of the hill are actually bodegas and were used for wine storage. The sign said they were believed to be more than five-hundred years old.  

The sign also said, "No, the hobbits don't live here."

This one is actually a residence.  The cave houses need no heating or cooling and most were built during the worst economic times in Spain.

This fellah had an interesting way to carry his backpack.  Not sure I would have liked it but he looked happy enough as I passed him.  I quickly tire of pulling a scuitcase so pulling a backpack over hills and dales, cobblestones and rough ground would get old even quicker.

I got a chuckle out of the sign on the left and when I got into town the bar had another amusing sign.  Wow!  Real food?  I guess I have been eating fake food.  Okay, on second thought, maybe potato chips and diet coke fit that description.

I can never resists photos of Pilgrims and they are certainly abundant.  

I am in Sahagún and have a day off tomorrow.  I think I really need a day off. I know I need to straighten out my suitcase and get reorganized.  I am staying in a wonderful hotel but it is a little bit (half mile) out of town so any errands, ie food or ATM I have to hike into town.  It also doesn't have Internet in the rooms.  Boo/Hiss!  On the good side, they are doing some laundry for me. Yea!  I still have to do those chores on a Camino and finding a Lavenderia (Laundromat) is not always easy.