Day 53 – Mansilla de las Mulas

Guess what. It was flat and straight today. What a surprise.

Tomorrow is Leon, which is the unofficial end of the Meseta. So the flat straight stages are nearing an end.

Bill, how long do you have to go until you finish the Camino, and what’s on your mind as you get near the finish?

I should arrive in Santiago on October 22. I’ll take one rest day in Santiago before a one day hike to Finisterre and another one day hike to Muxia. So my last day of hiking will be October 25. I’m then taking a mini-vacation to Porto and Madrid before flying home on November 2.

So I still have about 17 days on the Camino, and 25 days until I’m back home.

As for what I’m thinking, mostly… “Is it over yet?!”

Actually, I think my most common thought is… appreciate the moment. It’s easy to take things for granted after 7 1/2 weeks, but I try hard not to. In the future, when I miss the Camino, I want to know I made the most of it that I could.

I walked for a couple of hours with Petra and John from southern England. John’s 78. Pretty impressive.

Much of today we walked on Roman roads. This particular road was used to carry goods from the ports in Galatia to Rome. It’s amazing walking on roads that are 2000 years old. (I do hate to think of the “volunteers” that built the road, though.)

It looked like this most of the day. Not a lot of scenic features but beautiful in its own way.

They look small now, but there are mountains out there. There is climbing in my future.

The gates to Mansilla. Pilgrims have walked through this spot since the twelfth century.

Last night’s desert… El pastel de la abuela (Grandma’s cake). Grandma knows what she’s doing.

While I’m toughing it out on the Camino, Shirley is vacationing with friends in Michigan. She should be home missing me!

2 thoughts on “Day 53 – Mansilla de las Mulas”

Beverly Bartlett says:

October 8, 2022 at 11:16 am

I’m a few weeks behind you, walking slowly. Will arrive in SJPDP tomorrow. Have appreciated your posts! Is it really just one day to walk to Finisterre? I didn’t realize it was that close.

1. billwro says:
  
  October 8, 2022 at 11:17 am
  
  Congrats. No it’s 4 days but I’m cutting it short. Taking a bus to Cee and walking last 10km to ocean. I’m too tired mentally to do the whole thing.