León to San Martín del Camino, 14.7 miles

Another cold morning in León. I didn't get started until 8:00 since the albergue didn't provide breakfast until 7:30. It took a couple hours for it to warm up enough that I could finally shed my gloves, buff, and jacket. The day turned out to be pleasant and sunny, reaching the upper 50s.

The walk itself was tedious and monotonous. No real scenery, just walking alongside a busy two-lane highway the entire way, with only one bar to stop at. The Meseta is definitely getting to me, but just one more day to go.

I hardly took any pictures today because there wasn't much to look at. A couple more murals, storks' nests with five birds if you look closely, and a small stretch of actual greenery on the path—maybe 50 feet of it.

The saving grace was the people I met along the way. I walked with Raymond, originally from Austria but now living in New Jersey. He's 82 years old and has done eight Caminos—one every spring and fall. He's a wealth of Camino information and incredibly interesting to talk with. We walked together for about two hours.

Later I met Sarah from Oregon, 79 years old and on her second Camino. We talked mostly about family. Then came Rick from south of London, a young guy who knew all about Southern California because his best friend lives in Burbank and he's visited several times. Plenty of conversation to fill the day.

I mentioned the three emotional stages before, but let me refresh the second stage: "The Mind Stage (The Letting Go). Somewhere along the way, your body settles in... and your mind wakes up. This is where the thinking begins. Memories surface. Worries, questions, old stories—they all come walking with you. It can feel heavy at times, but also clarifying. You start to process things you didn't even realize you were carrying. The noise of everyday life fades, and what's left is more honest."

I can attest that this is exactly what happens on the Meseta. The newness of the Camino is gone. You now have confidence in your body's ability to walk miles every day. The nervousness, fear, and stress are all gone. There's very little of interest to grab your attention. The only thing left is to think.

I cannot describe it better than that description. It's as if your mind is purging and you're left with clarity and only the important things that truly matter. I think you have to experience it yourself to truly understand.

The other funny thing about the Camino is that no one seems to know what day of the week it is, definitely not the date. You don't know where you've been or where you're going. That in itself is very freeing.

Buen Camino!