Day 19 El Burgo Ranero to Puente Villarente

Stayed at a very comfortable albergue last night. Ponied up a few more Euro and got a twin room, and no snoring and could sprawl, and recharge the phone and mp3 player. A nice dinner last night at the Bar/restaurant next door. First a few bowls of garlic soup, floowed by garlic fried pork and fritas, and then flan, all lubricated by vino tinto. Company was Steve and a British couple from somewhere in Yorkshire. A good chuckle. I think the irony of my comment ¨Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore¨ may have been missed. A good nights sleep with weird dreams.
Kicked out of the albergue before 8:00, and walked 40metres. Then had breakfast.
Then punched on for 13 km to Religios (I guess this should be the highpoint of the religious experience). Next some kms to Mansilla de Las Mulas. Stopped at a bar for a Kas Limon, thrashed the toilet, then pushed on to Villarente. New albergue there is where we called stumps. A dude was driving along the trail giving out leaflets for the new albegue, so that is how we got here. Looks a good choice.
The walk itself today was good, starting out on the planes but transitioning into lightly rolling terrain. To the right the horizon has imposing mountains, and in front too. We are now roughly going North West, the most Southerly being just after Logroño. We passed some caves in the side of hills where hermits lived near Mansilla, and at Religios some houses built in the hillside, and solving heating problems one suspects.
Leon awaits tomorrow, and the Cruz de Ferro awaits about 5 days off ( this seems to beckon to me, and I suspect it to be the spiritual nexus for this journey, don't know why - pan to "Close Encounters and Devil's Mountain, and play that tune").
Completed about 25kms strongly today, so starting to work up again. Big Daddy and the Boss have had a workout for the last 2 days, pity about the accompaniment.
Keep those comments coming, I look forward to them.
To Jason, yes 'It's a lonely proposition when you realize, That there's less days in front of the horse, Than riding in the back of this cart' to quote Mellencamp a little out of context. Without family and loved ones, you could lose yourself on this trail, I have met a few that may have. But equally, for me the pull home is strong thankfully. Calling home daily, and a weekly call to the more extended family is a highlight. It is a mixed emotion. Good insight.