Leon to Mazarife - May 28, 2015

Up and out of Leon early today. The first part of the walk is again through industrial areas. Eventually it was Meseta again. I was supposed to go to Mazarife -Tio Pepe's bar - and call the hotel to come and pick me up as it was over 8 km out of town. Then I could have the option of returning to Mazarife the next day to walk that distance or I could again "skip it" and continue from the hotel. 

I still felt like I "cheated" so long ago outside Atapuerca when I took the ride (and didn't make it up the next day) so I decided I would walk it today. Going back (for any reason) on the Camino is one of the hardest things EVER. No wasted steps. And I knew I would be sorely tested the next day to consider going back ( 8 km equals 2 hours of walking time; it is not insignificant!)

   So I was resolved and when I got to Mazarife at about 1pm, I kept on going...on the straightest,flatest, hottest and possibly most boring part of the Camino. There was not another soul for over 12 km except for occasional farm vehicle, because that's how far it was, not 8. I saw a car parked in the distance on the side of the road. It took me 2 hours to reach it. 

I had a strange experience in the middle of this walk when my iPhone suddenly started playing music. I haven't listened to music on the Camino, prefer the silence and nature sounds. The strangest thing however was that the song was not one of mine. The phone had randomly gone to iTunes and started playing a sample of a song. I liked it and bought it while on the road. The really strange part is that when I listened to and looked at it at the hotel, it was from a just released Christian rock album, something I never listen to. Why did my phone do that? A "religious" experience. The title was "You are with me (Madness)", which somewhat fit me at the time it started playing, especially the madness part; in the middle of nowhere with a broiling sun and no shade anywhere and not a single place to stop or sit, just keep walking....

The other weird part was that it was only released the day before.

Eventually I made it to the Casa Rural - run by Mercedes.  Still freaked out by that iPhone "religious" experience.

More hobbit houses

This bar was just over the hill from those houses. Translation: Middle Earth bar :-0

Near the iTunes "religious experience"

It really was very empty and I was very alone and probably a bit "mad". The tree was too far off route to get some shade from it.

Casa Rural 8 km outside of Mazarife  - kind of like a bed and breakfast but also including dinner. Run by Mercedes, the lovliest, nicest host yet. It was like staying in a big country home and she cooked us a family meal. There were only three New Zealand women and myself staying here. Wished I had skipped the 8 km walk in this case so I could have spent more time here in the afternoon...however would really never have known .. So, glad I did it..No Regrets