Day 27. To Astorga

Long tough day today of 7 1/2 hours over senda (path by busy road) for about half and hilly eroded rocky trails for the rest for a total of 30 km. Proves we can do longer days and proves we don't want to unless absolutely necessary, which it was in this case.

521 km done and 264 to go; we are getting there, slowly but surely. We are seeing fewer peregrinos on the road, I think because most people are faster than us. Maybe seeing 15 per day and we are on-cycle with the major rest towns. The ones we see now are those who started after us mainly, and there are fewer starts as the season gets colder and wetter. But still surprising how often we see familiar faces. Saw William from Toronto whom we last saw about 8 days ago. Since he has had food poisoning from under-cooked hambuergesa (almost serves him right) and been sent to hospital 80 km away by ambulancia. Just started walking again.

Astorga is a lively city with great architecture, dating from pre-Roman times. The picture is a palace, now a museum, designed by Gaudi in the late 1800's and we look on it from our hotel window. Toured it and is spectacular inside too. Cathedral beside dates from 1400's but, unfortunately, closed until tomorrow - Sunday. Also this was a walled city and much of the wall is still in place

Adios for now. Rain forecast for at least the next 6 days. This will be the next test.