Kevin and the totally awesome day!

Guess who woke up at 2:45am to go out and walk in the dark so here could watch the eclipse!?!?!?  Ooh yeah!  I only wanted to only catch the last half, but I got the whole show!  I got all ~2 1/2 hours of eclipse and walked into Reliegos just as it ended.

The event was super cool, super spooky, a bit crazy, cold, and a whole lot rewarding!  Seriously, who says "I'm in a foreign country, in the middle of nowhere, I'm going to walk 5 hours in the dark alone!" and then does it!?  Well, back at home I can tell you I surely would have been snuggly in my bed. 

I was walking down the road, red light on, pausing to look at the moon's progress into the shadow when I decided to flick on the white light and orient myself on the center of the road (no traffic, easier then walking the path nearby) when I got closer and turned my head I suddenly saw a man standing in the road...  My first reaction was "WHOA!" then a laugh, as the surprise subsided I realized I was not the only crazy one doing the same thing.  He was quick to apologize and explained he thought I was one of his group and had already spotted him.  Soon, more people joined and a flock (what DO you call a group a pilgrims?) of us were walking in near silence for 3 hours, observing all the stages of the eclipse and post full moon.  We got into Reliegos and many Peregrinos were just waking.  Stopped outside the Elvis bar and ate my packed breakfast then decided to haul tush to Mansilla de las Mulas for breakfast.  Arriving just at sunrise we located an open bar for breakfast.  Inquiring, I discovered the bus station was just behind the bar, so I went over to inquire about a bus to Leon (roughly every 30 minutes, in Spanish time that is) and I saw several of my Peregrino friends there which just solidified my decision to jump into Leon.

I scored a single room (OK, it's a double, but it's all mine!) With its own bathroom and a towel (a towel for €20!!!) And FREE laundry machines with soap!!! - SCORE!

Know what else today is, it represents my 1/2 time day, it is my 24th day on Camino!  And it makes me think about what Camino has done to me.  I journey of each morning, sometimes VERY early morning ;) and often have no idea where I am stopping and where I am staying (to be fair, sometimes I do).  I kinda let the Camino guide me and it brings my ban Camino friends in and out of my journey.  I take reach day add it comes and try to end each day a better person then when I started it.  I am usually well planned, either out of necessity or habit, but I usually know where my day is going.  Heck, I walk into places here the I would speed-by and not give a second chance to back in the States, and I really enjoy my meals and stays.

So, anyways, in Leon or is like a massive Peregrino reunion!  I saw so many of my Peregrino friends tonight.  Toured the Leon cathedral, if you remember my post about the Burgos cathedral you remember it was overly opulent and lavish...  This is the opposite, very grand, but clean and simple with the exception of a LOT of stained glass windows!  Very beautiful cathedral and not overly done like Burgos.  Later we roamed around looking for eats, you know, that was actually a project!  I injested a lot of coka-cola light and chips before we found food...  OOH!  I got my mid pilgrimage Peregrino haircut!!!  I almost look human again, starting to feel a little more human :).

Here is the funny thing, I walked ~18km, took a bus to Leon, did my Peregrino chores, walked around Leon from 1:30 to 9:30 and was just had energy bubbling out of me the whole time.  I only called it a day cause it was getting chilly.

YESTERDAY'S PHOTOS :
https://goo.gl/photos/cdQYcTZrYnCohEzS6

TODAY'S PHOTOS :
https://goo.gl/photos/3Mh1krKvMY99Crnu5

Buen Camino!
Kevin