April 26, 2025, Astorga

I opted not to having anything at my hostal this morning, I wanted to see what I would find while walking. The skies were clear this morning, but it was windy and in the low 40’s, the sun was still low in the horizon behind me.

The town was quiet at this time of day. I started out of town and it didn’t take long to start to see familiar faces.

The next little town was coming into sight, I was thinking that I could at least get a coffee there.

While most people on the pilgrimage are walking, some are on a bike, but very few run it, last time I only saw one person, this morning I had one pass me just before the next town.

Once I got to the town, I quickly found a bar that was open. In there I saw some familiar faces, 2 young Asian guys that I had seen yesterday, one was from Korean, not sure where the other was from, but English was a language they both knew. 3 older Irish friends that were at my hotel last night and a Darcy sighting; Darcy had gotten rid of his TJ Max bag. I ordered my coffee and a French bread pizza topped with red sauce, tuna and cheese. It was really tasty, could have been better, but they heated it in the microwave making it a little rubbery.

I picked up a banana for the road and I was off again. Soon the trail would be dirt and uphill through farm and dairy land.

The trail was a series of ups and downs, I came across a pilgrim monument, they are not uncommon.

The climb continued on with much of the scenery looking about the same.

When I got to the wet area the frogs were busy croaking so I took a video to capture the audio.

Not long after this I came to a donation only refreshment area. I got another banana, a hard boiled egg and a cookie.

They did a beautiful job of putting all sorts of refreshments out, you pay as you can. It was there that I saw Helen from yesterday. She made it to her second day, but unfortunately she had taken a fall and cut up her chin. She was bandaged up, but I offered her anything she could use from my first aid kit, she said she was fine.

The cold windy walk continued, but now I was past 2/3’s of the way to Astorga. The 2 people in this picture are a German husband and wife. She wanted her picture while standing on this marker, presumably for her instagram page, she almost fell off. I offered to take a picture of the both of them, somehow she thought the 2 of them could stand on the narrow little marker, that didn’t work. They took my picture after, I didn’t climb up on the thing, but I look great with my buff to keep me warm.

Not long after this I thought I had my first sight of Astorga, turned out to be San Justo de la Vega, but Astorga was next, almost.

There was a paved, but steep decline into town.

I walked on through this town and soon Astorga was in my sights.

But first we all had to walk on the pedestrian overpass for the train, it took a lot of steps to advance about 10 yards across the railway tracks.

But I was now in Astorga, next I put my address in for my hotel and broke off from the other walkers.

I am staying in a hotel across the Camino from the Bishop’s palace that Gaudi had designed.

Today was a shorter day of walking at about 12 miles. I am spending 2 nights here in Astorga, probably no blog will be written for tomorrow. This afternoon I toured the cathedral, honestly it’s another cathedral, tomorrow I will see the Gaudi building and sample some of the local chocolate which is a specialty here. I have also scotted out a local restaurant for lunch.

Next stop Foncebadón.