40,000 Steps

The average person takes about 2,000 steps walking a mile. By that calculation, I hit about 40,000 steps today in the 20 miles between Villar de Mazarife and Astorga.  By the time I finish in Santiago in 10 days, I will have taken nearly 1 million steps on this journey across northern Spain. 

The heat is back. To avoid walking in the heat of the day, pilgrims seem to be leaving earlier and earlier every morning. I awoke at 6 am this morning to more empty than full beds in the dorm. Heading up a mountain today, so I, too, may check out earlier than usual so as to take my time and beat the mid-day heat. Luckily, only a 15 miler, but, it's uphill!

After arriving in Astorga today, I stopped by a pharmacy to get some foot care advice. By the look on the pharmacists face, I may have won the Camino Big Blister Contest. 

As you'll see in the photo below, I surprisingly bumped into my Welsh buddies, Howard and Steve, this afternoon. I had thought they were a couple days behind me. Sharing a beer together was a most pleasant way to relax here in really a quite attractive small city filled with plazas and outdoor cafes.