Just in Time

Daily miles: 35.96 | Total miles: 14,751.46

I got up, had a cold coffee, took a shower, repacked, carried everything downstairs, organized the buggy, and was out the door just after 7am. It was a beautiful spring morning. Almost no traffic—what a privilege to be out here. Sheep in the fields, solar panels catching the early light, a straight road leading out of La Bañeza. Two roundabouts, a 24-hour bus station, a few people with suitcases—otherwise quiet, empty roads.

And then, so many murals again. I saw incredible ones from afar, but since I wanted to cover the distance today, I didn’t go out of my way to take pictures. It’s amazing how many beautiful wall paintings exist in the world. I often wonder how these artists bring them to life. Just before leaving town, I met Havi (I’m not sure about the spelling). He had just woken up but was immediately curious about my journey. A light, joyful encounter.

I continued on, passing several small towns, and reached Astorga at mile 16. There, I bought groceries for today and tomorrow. It feels like I’m moving into smaller, more mountainous areas now, where access to food—especially on weekends—can be limited. Before continuing, I sat on a bench and let the world pass me by. In the distance, snow-covered mountains, quiet movement all around me—and for a moment, nothing needed to be different.

In the afternoon, clouds slowly moved in, covering more and more of the sky. It was warm. After a climb, the road led down again—long, quiet, almost no traffic. Perfect conditions to run. Around mile 34, I started looking for a place to pitch my tent. About two miles later, I found it—just off the road, hidden, flat, slightly sheltered from the wind. A small walking path, no one in sight.

I set up my tent, put up the fly, climbed inside—and within minutes, the rain began. Soon, it turned into a proper downpour. Dinner, a bit of cleaning, organizing everything inside the tent. All tidy. And now I’m here—the rain has ceased, and the birds have returned.

Good night, my friends. Thanks for checking in, Andrea