It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken

Today was the day all of Ben's fears of the Meseta came to be. We had another long 26.6 km (16.5 mile) walk planned and the forecast was for sunshine. Knowing how that Spanish sun feels in mid-afternoon, not wanting another Boadilla beat down, we got our earliest start of the journey.

We ate a large breakfast in Carrion as the day also began with at 17 km (10.5 mile) stretch without towns or services. No second breakfast today. We would be walking an "ancient Roman Road". That might sound romantic and historic to you, but trust me it isn't. The walk was long, flat, and arrow straight. Romans must have been good at math.

It was painfully dull.

We needed inspiration, motivation, and knew there was one bright spot today that would bring it. Just short of 1 km past our bocadillo stop in Calzadilla, about 18 km into the day, we passed the half way mark to Santiago. That might not mean much to you but we had been talking about it for days.

After a long hot slog we made the tiny town of Terradillos de los Templarios, an "Ages-like" pilgrim stop for food and a night's rest. I sat in the warm sunshine with my cold draft reward and thought about the support we're getting from our friends and family around the world. We really appreciate it.

Then it happened. Like every day, I pulled up my friend Richard's Instragram page. Richard is a world famous music photographer and University professor. And he's my friend. His Instragram feed is an important part of my day. Here is what I found there:

https://instagram.com/p/Bi9i8EFFUUk/

Richard you couldn't have sent this encouragement at a better time. And The Hip with Alex Lifeson no less. These musicians have carried me through so many of the miles.

Heaven is a better place today, but the world is just not the same. RIP Gord.

There's no turning back now, we can do this. Buen Camino.

The next step we take is closer to Santiago than St. Jean. We took the step.

Crossing Río Carrión with the Church of Belén in the distance

Sunrise over the "Roman Road"

Walking the Roman Road

Approaching Calzadilla for bocadillos. Another example of Meseta towns. We walked 17 km across the tabletop plateau and couldn't see a rooftop of this place until 300m out.