Miles: 17.99/ Steps: 39,387

Todays selfie

Most of the path was along the freeway. The only enjoyable part is getting the truck drivers to honk their horns.

Getting close! 174 miles to go!

Walking into Hospital de Orbigo was beautiful.
A lot of the front yards were gorgeous and so well manicured.
There is a story behind the bridge (which I read on https://caminotimestwo.com/) that I thougth was interesting. In the fifteenth century, the knight Don Suero fell in love with Lady Leonor, who unfortunately did not return his affections. Don Suero, who should have gone on to become the patron saint of emo, displayed his heartbreak by fasting and donning an iron collar every Thursday to show himself a “prisoner of love.” (That “every Thursday” part gets me every time.)
But a weekly collar wasn’t enough to get over the lady’s rejection, so in 1434 Don Suero also announced that he would joust any knight brave enough to fight him on the long bridge of Hospital del Órbigo. When he won 300 lances, he said, he would remove the collar and be free of his affliction. This became known as the tournament of the Honorable Passage.
Oh, but Don Suero didn’t really intend to fight all 300 jousts himself. Because there are bros in every century, he managed to convince nine of his closest friends to fight in his place sometimes — probably on Thursdays, when he was hampered by the collar.
The contests commenced, and since 1434 was a Jacobean holy year, there were many nobles passing through. However, not everyone wanted to fight (those who did not wish to participate in the tournament were required to throw a glove on the ground and ford the river instead of taking the bridge).  Plus, Don Suero and his pals didn’t win every joust. The ten knights combined had broken fewer than 200 lances when the judges, at the king’s order and probably because the jousts were about to impede the annual cattle drive through the city, announced that the contest was over, and Don Suero was the winner. They ceremoniously removed the knight’s collar and sent him far, far away — on a pilgrimage to Santiago, of course.
After leaving Hospital de Obrigo, it started to rain and was super windy. I felt like I was going to fly away.
167 miles to go!
Cruciero de Santo Toribo overlooking Astorga.
Such a fun statue that was also a water fountain.
We stopped in a restaurant called Bar Oasis that is known for its “tortilla”. It was especially tasty because it had green chili peppers in it.

Nikki and I got into Astorga and checked into a hotel! It was such a treat to be in a hotel rather than just an alburgue. Afterwards we went to check out the Gaudi Museum. The detail was exquisite.

Is that poop on my head or do I need to get a new barber.
I’m not sure I would have wanted this doll when I was a kid because she is so scary!
Would you like a side of boobs with that dish?
Coins found on the premises when they refurbished the building.
More wall art. They wear these outfits for Semana Santa (Easter Week).
We spent a lovely afternoon in the spa and both had massages. We then went out to dinner and met up with Barb and ended the night hanging out in our posh room!