A clear sky greets us while the north star is the only light that reminds us that we are just another speck in a huge mostly unknown universe. What is known to us is the track we’ve been walking on was used by the Romans over 2000 years ago (and in much the same condition) the main highway alongside providing us with the modern contrast, the past as functional today as the present. We pass through villages closely associated with the order of the Knights Templar, the mountains looking over us as did the Knight Templars over past pilgrims ensuring their safety. The path sidles off into the countryside now winding its way up through landforms that haven’t changed since Roman times while the nature and extent of what colours the landform has

Our path crosses the highway as we approach yet another travellers’ inn at Sahagun and we also cross paths with our three Spanish women friends who are resting near a twelfth century bridge that introduces the hermitage of ‘our lady of the bridge’. We enjoy each others company for a while before linking up again at the official half way mark of the Camino Frances. Before our link up with them an older Australian man walked up. After a short talk we found we had a mutual colleague from forty years ago. Today, his Camino adventure will be part of a book he is hoping to publish with an artistic component in the following months. We said goodbye at the inn after agreeing that most Spaniards are like the one at this inn, very warm and welcoming

The past and the present

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Sidling away

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Crossing the bridge

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Half way

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