One Year Ago: Halfway

(from my journal)

Bercianos del Real Camino
17 April

Francine is in flight! Meanwhile, today was another introspective Meseta day – bleak, virtually unchanging scenery pushing thoughts deep within with little distraction.

Entered the Province of León.

Just before arriving in the town of Sahagún, at a little place called Ermita de la Virgen del Puente, I crossed the halfway point of my Camino in terms of distance. There’s a monument there – supposedly exactly at the midway point between Roncesvalles and Santiago de Composetela – with statues of Bernardo de Sedirac (d. 1128?) who founded the local Cluniac abbey and became Primate of Spain, and King Alfonso VI “the Brave” (1047-1109) who founded the nearby city.

Sahagún was larger than expected, and the ruins of the great Benedictine monastery of Abadia de San Benito el Real de Sahagún are impressive. Lunched in the city.

And then there was the incident with the sheep on the bridge. Apparently they have right of way. It was like being subsumed in a tidal wave of wool.

Walked with Eamon and Santiago today. Tomorrow will be my last day with both of them.

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Delightful albergue. Communal prayer, dinner preparation, and dinner. Caught up with Cliff again. Lots of brainwork today on a Sahûl board game.

[There followed in my journal some notes about a story/novella.]

Fun with a friendly goat wandering around the town and getting into the albergue. Great photos of a sheep flock. Spoke with their fascinating shepherd.

All the photos! More goat! Day 16!