Leon

13-16 May - Leon is one of the oldest cities on the French route, originally founded by the Romans in the first century. At that time, it was a little more than a military camp charged with protecting the gold that was mined West of Ponferrada. It trundled alone some 900 years before it became the capitol of the newly formed "Kingdom of Leon." It was during this time that Leon grew in importance. Next to the Parliament of Iceland, the Kingdom of Leon held the first Parliament in Europe in 1188.

Puente Villarente

12 May- Rained from the time I stepped off this morning to the time I arrived at my destination. After yesterday I set out for a very short trek today, leaving me a short walk into Leon tomorrow. Puente Villarente is a small town that once posed a serious threat to pilgrims when waters ran high, and as a result became home to several hospices.

Terradillos to El Burgo Ranero and Reliegoa

11 May- I remember what troops feel like now when you say you're going for a short run/hike, maybe 5 miles, and take them 10!!
I set out for a 23.5 K walk and went 43.7... When there's no room in the town you intended to stay you keep going until you find a place to crash for the night. Was raining off and on, cold, muddy, nothing to see, just open plains that went on like driving through Texas- only at a snails place. Finally asked myself, "Why???"
Well I know that answer, so quitting is not an option. Shin totally swollen, worst cold I've had in a few years, but it will all have to wait to be nursed Friday through Monday. Providing I hit Leon, which, God willing I will. Have had a planned 3 to 4 day stay in Leon before tackling the road of the Camino. Much needed.

Terradillos de los Templarios

10 May 2016 - In territory of the Templars gets part of its name. Name from the fact that it once belong to The Order of the Knights Templar, who built a pilgrims hostel in this territory. Very small, old, rundown town with a natural beauty to it.

There are few legit ways to do the Camino, by bike, horseback, or the most common way of walking. To be entered into the records at the cathedral in Santiago and receive a certificate, you must have don't at least the last 100 miles before Santiago. Most start in Roncesvalles, Spain and on to Santiago, a small percentage start in Saint Jean Peid de Port, France and go on to Santiago, and then some take on extra miles and move on to Muxia and finish in Fisterra, known as "The Ends of the Earth" which is (my destination), God willing. However, my main objective is France to Santiago, then I'll press on to my secondary mission, Muxia, Fisterra.

Tomorrow continues very long stretches of trail with nothing in between but land and more land. Breaks many people down mentally and this is where many call it quits. I will continue to press on to the end.

I'll see if I can take more pictures before moving on tomorrow. With the rain today once I arrived, I did not feel like walking around :(..

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Carrion de Los Condes

Rich and prosperous with a colorful history on Pilgrimage Road (which attracted merchants and sizable populations). Charlemagne is reported to have used the fields along the river as an encampment on his quest to control the pilgrimage route. Beautiful town.