Thursday 29th April 2010 (Leon to San Martin del Camino – total distance walked to date 378.77km)

The two days rest in Leon was indeed a good decision. I never left the hotel room except for meals that we had at Chinese restaurants and we specified what we wanted (soup beehoon!!). Joy on the other hand now knows Leon at the back of her hands for she has walked north and south, east and west of Leon so many times in the two days. We stayed in a very nice hotel (Hotel La Posada Regia), not quite in keeping with pilgrims’ simple lifestyle but definitely good for nursing the sick! My fever has gone but the tummy is still not fully recovered but I am sure I will be back to normal in a day or two. We resumed our walk today from Leon to San Martin del Camino, 25.91km away. The walk today was different in that we were walking through built-up areas most of the time, and very often between the highway and the main A-road. So it was hardly peaceful and definitely not pollution free (no fresh air, not even the smell of dung that we have become so accustomed to in the countryside). Nevertheless Joy and I really enjoyed today’s walk because the weather was very kind to us. We did have the sun but being a cloudy day it was not shining directly on us all the time (as did when we were walking the Meseta – the open plains from Burgos to Leon). For this, we arrived at San Martin del Camino still feeling rather fresh (something we have not experienced before on this trip) and on top of the world. We felt we could go for another 5km. We hope that we will have this feeling for the rest of our journey. I am sure the rest had something to do with it too – the bodies have recharged!! When walking on the Camino, one gets greeted by everyone you meet. Such is the friendliness here. Be it a good morning, a good day or the very common “Buen Camino”. Joy said that we should do this when we get home – to wish everyone you pass. I told her that we might be mistaken for being “siow” although I do agree that it is a very nice thing to do. Joy is super friendly, especially to Asians here, but she always complains to me that the Asians do not return her smiles! Talking about Joy, I could not have found a better walking companion. As I have mentioned before, she is my personal physiotherapist. Every little ache and pain is attended to by her – and she is rather good! Unfortunately she has to attend to her own aches and pains herself as I am really not good at all at massaging. Today we checked in to a private albergue (dormitory like accommodation) but we took a private room. Costing us only Euros 9.00 per person. There are only 4 of us here so it is very quiet. It is run by a very nice elderly couple who is so obliging to our needs. We ordered our meals outside of their menu and they are going to prepare them for us. They are also going to wake very early tomorrow morning so that they can prepare breakfast for us in time for us to leave at 6.30am. We are truly blessed to meet such nice people along the way. Every now and then when we need it most, an “Angel” appears – I think that is the wonder of the Camino. We are into our 18th day today with only 12 to go. How time flies. We are really looking forward to having Li Leng, Steven and Teddy join us. We miss having Gen with us but Joy and I have been enjoying each other’s company too and looking out for each other. Today we received news that the Spanish Tourism Office in Singapore has advised that all the Tourism Centres in Spain will carry posters of our walk to help create awareness of what we are doing. This is indeed great news! Pink Spartans – you will be famous – and so will Singapore Cancer Society. Ok, time to end now. Till tomorrow!