Day 21, Mansilla de las Mulas

Stopped in El Burgo Ranero for non-sweet breakfast, Wi-Fi, bathroom and break.People are just calling me Canada - two cyclists just rode by and waved, yelling Canada! to me.

We're going to try for Mansilla de las Mulas today, 26.7 km to have a short walk into Leon tomorrow.

Arrived in Mansilla de los Mules... which means "handle on the saddle of the mules", apparently harking back to its days as a livestock market.

Nice albergue, 5€, plus 3€ for them to wash all my clothes - going commando, as we speak. There's a kitchen, so we are considering buying food and cooking dinner; on the other hand, there's a recommended restaurant around the corner...decisions, decisions. Nice sized town, so we'll have options.

Not much to see today; the path followed next to a road, with wheat or corn fields on each side all the way. We had a nice lunch on an invite from David (ND), who shared his meat, cheese, bread and dark chocolate (!), which was very nice and an enjoyable break.

I am very grateful to be walking. Several of my new friends have had to stop for physical reasons - bad blister, infections, reactions to bites, etc. I am happy that I have only the small blister to contend with, which makes me a bit slower, but hasn't stopped me.

It's true that the most important asset is healthy feet! Everyone has some foot issue. Whenever we stop and the shoes come off, I see a terrible array of messy feet or taped and bandaged feet. It's rare to see someone without any feet or leg problems. Besides the blister, I have bites on my legs, but nothing major.

I'm basically a bit drunk in the bar. Two 1906 Sam Miguel without food because no one is serving food during siesta. I've moved on to agua con gas con limon, but it's a bit late. We'll get food soon...

We're having chicken with pasta and peppers, artichoke hearts, cheese and tomatoes. It smells really good. Another guest gave us a bit of gazpacho to start. Yum. Dinner is almost ready. Gotta go...

Now we ate having chocolate covered dates...

Into Leon tomorrow. Luisa will continue on, so I won't see her after tomorrow. Not sure yet what Paul plans to do. He is making plans with some friends who have bused ahead to Leon.

We'll walk together tomorrow after Paul's bacon & egg breakfast (I am being so spoiled!) and then decide what we're going to do. I will for sure walk with Luisa to the other side of Leon, where the Parador is that I have booked for my rest day in Leon. I'll say goodbye to her there and then drop off my bag before exploring Leon.

Time for bed, after a fantastic evening sharing our meal with the group.

Roadside totem pole

Church near el Burgos Renaro

Paul and Luisa and I having a 1906 cerveza

Me at the bar

Luisa, Paco, Frin

Paul, Leire, Aitor

Sunset from Paul