Day 11 San Martin to Astorga 23.5 km

l

 Leaving San Martin very early - it was still dark. I wanted to run out and leave somebody behind me. I did it, I ran away and never saw him again...





Clouds on the sky predicting rain...

And it rained in Hospital del Orbigo the first time when I am walking. While I was taking photoes and walking on the medieval brigde in Hospital del Orbigo it started raining cats and dogs. A thunder strom! A hostal owner opened the bar door I just ran in to the warmth and to the smell of coffee.

Graham was sitting there having breakfast and soon I was doing the same - fresh jugo de naranja con tostados y cafe solo. Great! Last night he stayed in San Martin too but at the other albergue further down in the village. And the two Franks were staying there, too. 

See the rainbow in Hospital del Orbigo. From here and now on I met the Spanish speaking group for the first time and kept on walking with them all the way to Santiago de Compostela.

This is how the sings look - yellow arrows or chonchas and other sign posts.








Before Astorga this guy is serving freshresments (juice, fruit, nuts and caring thoughts) on a donativo basis to everyone who needs it. It is nice with the freshresments - the walking before Astorga gives no shadow at all.

At the cruceido before Astorga I met Tine again and we changed cell phone numbers just in case we did need to get in touch with each other. And Angela came - the Spanish group was going to stay at Siervas. - And good news - Tine told that when in León somebody  found my guide book and they gave it to Justin from Australia living in Freiburg (studying law) because they knew that we were staying at the same albergue in León. And he was on this way to Astorga, too but on another route.!!! Surprise surprise I was to get my book back anyway. Now I only have to find Justin whom I never met before - I was told that  he looks like a Jesus. - From the Cruceido you can see Astorga but it is pretty long walk anyhow.

Later in Astorga I went to look for Justin and found his friends in the Siervas with Johannes. John gave me my guide book, he took it out of Justin´s rucksack. Justin was out for shopping. This is how I met Justin and John and later Sophie and Chantal and followed up each other the rest of the walk to Santiago de Compostela.

And in the evening I had dinner at the nice Gaudi Restaurant with Frank from Switzerland, Victor from Logrona and Five Star Frank from Germany.

And the clouds predicting rain again.