We left Leon for the second time and left my Gortex shoes for the last time. We loved Leon and I tried to love my shoes but they didn’t love me so I left them in a cupboard where some shoes are meant to be. I am now having an intimate love affair with my “New Balance” shoes and heaven knows I need all the help I can get with balance and if he/she is in the sky, the fact that they are a celestial blue should help. Now what do I do with the shaking parts?
Well lit streets ushered us out of this ancient city into the less attractive streets that are home to those things that help old cities stay alive; that give people an income; and that allow communities to thrive. This is the industrial part of Leon where Ciguenas don’t differentiate, a bell tower is a bell tower; where Poppies still grow and where the cafe con leche is much the same as in the old city. We wished others well on their personal journeys as they did with us, some limping, some with their shoes off trying to prevent or repair a limp, others like my wife just wondering what all the fuss is about.
After two hours we stopped for a coffee and had a chat with an Irish couple who are doing the walk in three stages. Soon after, our 50km a day Sydney acquaintance and his daughter sauntered past as though it was a Sunday stroll (but they had just taken a day off so another fifty should be a walk in the park), I think he gave a cheeky remark but without stopping, of course. Sitting outside even if it is cold allows for these little opportunities.
We moved on sharing our road with others taking different journeys along a major thoroughfare, past truck driver pit stops and finally off on a sort of country road, once again sharing but with less, over bridges, through those villages that those roads cut in two and into the thriving village of Villar de Mazarife, where the three stork bell tower is once again fully booked.
After booking into our Albergue, and doing the mandatory washing, looking for pegs and line space, we went looking for lunch. While eating, we met up with two Dutch women we had talked to in other villages. One has a blog and is raising funds for ‘Downs Syndrome’ children, so, as you do, we swapped blogs.
Lastly I have a request regarding your many email contacts. Whilst it is important you feel free to email me if you want a personal conversation, can I suggest that your emails of support, or comments on our journey, are placed in the “Comments” option on the Homepage so that we can share the support and message with all our friends and followers. And thanks for all the nice things you have been saying.
Leaving town
Corrie sitting down because everybody else is
Fully booked
A field of flowers
You continue to be an inspiration. I am amazed at the progress you are making across the map. While you are doing this, I am congratulating myself on walking out to Cremorne Point. Go Will.
Mike
Hi you two! We’re just a small town past Astorga at a place where the stork tower is fully booked, as you say, and hope to see you soon!
Jeremy and Viola
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. . sorry, pressed “Post Comment” by mistake.
Anyway, I was praising Corrie’s virtues and meant to add that she is so wonderful that she even melts into hysterics when viewing defenceless cute little animals such as piglets. Was aslo trying to say how much more difficult such a walk would be if alone.
Anyway, God bless you both for positively helping with your own sweat and money, so many others in the world who are, or will be, touched by Parkinson’s. (I know you will appreciate how meaningful such a “blessing” is coming from me).
I urge everyone reading this to also give generous wallet help to assist in the global fight against this insidious disease. Show support to the extraordinary efforts of my old mate Will, which will, sooner or later, allow countless others, who will probably never know about Will’s current quest, to avoid the slow agony of Parkinson’s.
Love . . . . Mack
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Great going Will and Corrie,
Your blogs are sooo interesting and well written, ewe should have been a jurno.
The photos in particular are glossy travel magazine quality. They are excellently framed and focused. Are you sure you don’t keep a professional photographer in your back pocket. For instance your”leaving town” pic today is rather surreal (like many others). It looks like a movie set for a horror movie! Or perhaps for a wacky musical where any instant, singers and dancers will explode out of all the doors and windows on each side. :). Maybe a new “Rocky/Shaky Horror Movie Show”. Sorry, fortunately ewe are well aware of my overactive and often weird sense of humour.
Also, today’s pic of “Corrie sitting down” really demonstrates how fit she is looking (definitely not joking). I have never seen her looking so trim, terrific and healthy. You really kicked a goal with her Will. She is so supportive. Being able to share this amazing adventure with someone you really love naturally enrichens it immensely I’m sure. You could probably cope but I dought k I could I can’t imagine how such a walk could