The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow...
August 23, 2017
Castrojeriz – Fromista = 29 Km
It was a hot and sunny day, with a long hike, a huge climb to start, and a SURPRISE at the end of the day!
We knew that we had a huge hill to climb it early in the day and just wanted to get it over with.
The views were so spectacular that you forgot how hot you were climbing .
It was so nice to just look ahead and see nothing but flat plains that made for a really easy hiking on a hot sunny and gorgeous day.
Our hike lasted from 7:30 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon. It wasn’t difficult, once we did our climb, but it was very warm and I didn’t want to become dehydrated. I drank tons of water, and we just kept plugging along and taking our first break 18 km into our hike.
We stopped in a town called Boadilla del Camino. Â It was 20 Km into the hiking day. We had breakfast there and then we headed straight to the large church in the center of town. Â It was not much to look at on the outside, but the inside was stunningly beautiful.
I had a heavy heart all day because August 23 and marked the 44th anniversary of the death of my mother. Â It’s a day forever embedded in my memory and one that I always take time to honour her and say prayers . Â Today was no different. I just stopped my hike, went into the church said some prayers. I lit few candles and we carried on! Â And it was a long day so I was glad I had to have her on my side.
I have said many times how hard it was for me to lose my mom at age 11. It devastated me!
I have had friends throughout my life say that I appear too obsessed with it? I’d like to note that none of them have lost a parent.  I lost my mom as a child, so it took a long time (many years and some therapy) to understand that I am an adult but my experience of the ordeal is related to my age at the time.
I have learned to reminisce with joy and thankfulness for the wonderful person she was. August 23 is no longer a day of despair but rather one day that I re-live in my mind a sad experience and show gratitude for coming through it and be able to know she would be proud of me.
Grief is a terrible beast with no set guidelines or road map as to how to go through it. Actually, I believe we are NEVER through it but rather navigating our way through the despair of missing our loved ones.
It’s ok to feel that. It’s ok to have a heavy heart, and its ok to pick up, move forward, and enjoy your life knowing that they are still a part of you!
I know she is with me and today I felt that!
After walking 22.5 km, our final 6.5 km brought us  along the picturesque canal into the city of Fromista!
My Own Oasis Awaits, or So I Thought!
My walk was complete. I was exhausted, had a headache, and my body ached. The one thing I looked forward to all day was my hotel for the night!  Tonight, I was having  my own hotel room with my own private bath, and I was so excited.
Sometimes in life you don’t always get what you expect. Â Sometimes you’re just so surprised .
Our hotel was called the canal hotel and I thought this is going to be phenomenal with the views of that stunning canal.
Unfortunately it was near the canal but something was in between our hotel in the canal.
That something was multiple railroad tracks and the train station. In fact our hotel was the old train station converted to a more basic type of accommodation. The new train station was right beside us and we could hear her each announcement for each strain it was coming along the track.
I had my own room . I had my own bathroom, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when we walked up to the front of the hotel.
I was not walking one more step for the day and so I just laughed.
It was spotless this place I have to tell you absolutely spotless. Posh? picturesque? A gay man’s dream? NOT SO MUCH! Lol lol lol
I just started to sing tomorrow from the musical Annie! I need to rest and all I could think of was the sun will come out tomorrow, it’s only a day away!
All I can say is that at the end if the day, I rested my weary head on my tiny comfortable bed and had a great night sleep! Â Oh my god this is one place I will never ever forget !
Total Tracker Steps = 47,811
KEEP WALKING!Â
Beautifully told Dan!