Camino Day 3 hippie goat town

Astorga to Foncebadon
Sept. 2010
Kms 26

We woke at 7:30 in the Spanish dark. It really doesn't get light here till after 9am-very weird. Breakfast of oatmeal and hot chocolate and then we gather the kids and gear and are out the door by 9:00am. Travel is not easy. Ruth took the bikes to the bike store to get our tires pumped up and I went to the grocery store that smelled like octopus and bought a new stash of diapers and wipes- wince -it would be a few more days before we enter civilization once more.

Today was INTENSE!!! The first half was fine making it to the village Rob thought we would be at our final destination for the day by lunch time. Pride cometh before the fall. We ate outside a tienda with local Grandma’s and the owner gave Sim and Kathryn some banana’s. Afternoon was climbing a mountain. Did I say mountain? Yes. A mountain with Kathryn & I on the trail-a-bike, Rob with the chariot LOADED DOWN with gear and Ruth carrying tents and panniers full of stuff. We are getting used to walking uphill. It was a five Km steep turnpike ascent up what I lovingly call the mountain of death.

Definitely the closest I’ve ever come to complete physical exhaustion. So so tired. Slowly and with great pain we eventually made it to the village of Foncebadon which is hilarious. All I can say are two words: Yoga and goats. We found a little auberge that gave us great hot chocolate and let us sleep in their yoga studio so we wouldn’t have to share our kids with the community of snorers. I literally feel like Mary & Joseph as we park our bikes and head back between the goats and mules to make our bed in the yoga studio. This is so surreal! Tomorrow though, is downhill!

Till then watch your step!