092209 Day Nine

Location: Carrion de los Condes, Bakery -eating pastries and drinking coffe. need to fuel 17.5 kms to go today!
Date: 092409, 9:31 AM


Lost Wallet!! Help!! Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money please!!! (Or at least money). As we returned to the story in Hontanas, I had lost my wallet and did not even know it? After drinking as much water, washing my feet, and splashing as much water all over my body from the magical fountain in town which is reported to posses healing powers I took a quick nap. I awoke in the Albergue and went down to dinner, Mike (from Vancouver), Susana (from Germany), and I had reservations for 6:00 PM. I went down stairs and was encountered by one of the gals who was working in the bar. She asked me if my name was Paul/Pablo and went on trying to ask me something else? (Huh?) I kept trying to say the reservation was for 3 in the name of Mike. I did not understand her at all? (May be I can´t speak after all spanish? :( I wonder what else there is I can´t do. I am sure I can whistle.... Let me see.... Yep, I can definitely whistle.. Whooo.. I am good!) She finally rolled her eyes with a smile and handed me my wallet. I was totally shocked. She apparently was trying to question me about the wallet. I tucked the wallet as close to my body as humanly possible had dinner and went to bed. At dinner I had a garlic kind of soup and a beef stew. It was awesone. For desert I had flan. Mike and I also split the bottle of vino tinto which he described as cheeky. (And I described as yummy, Yo!) Went to bed and got up at 5:33 AM.

Got up early in the hopes of seeing the stars as I began to walk. I left town as fast a turtle falling off a swing set. Unfortunately for me the clouds did not agree with my plans. As the trail left the road, it continued into the hilly countryside. I walked along the almost pitch black path when as if a request had been fulfilled the sky opened up. It was truly magnificent. Above I could see Orion who´s arrow would guide me westward. In the north I could see Polaris and both the big and little dipper. I could pick out cassiopeia. It was awesome. If that wasn´t enough I was fortunate enough to see a shooting star. Upon seeing it, I quickly made my wish and humbly counted my blessings. I continued in the dark passing old ruins of some kind. I was quickly set upon by a very cute but much older and very active couple from Flanders. Their head lamps twinkled behind me. As a rule, I do not use a light unless absolutely necessary. They were surprised to find me and I greeted them with my typical ¨What up Flanders!¨ (No, I just said hi/Hola. However, I am dying to say Okley Doakley to them, but fortunately I do have some restraint.) They continued and I let them past. So to wrap up, later I climbed the last meseta, 950 meters straight up, (now leaving meseta country and into the plains of spain), crossed a still active Roman bridge, and stopped in Itero de la Vega.

In Itero del la Vega an unscrupulous dog named Kiko tried to make friends with me only beacause he wanted some of my ham sandwich (what a little weasel). Not sure if I should reward him, I decide to call an expert. I called a 9 year old girl and dog expert I know. Abigail picked up the phone (she was getting ready for school) and to my surprise had no opinion on the subject. (Love you Abigail.) I ended up feed the dog anyway (sucker). Abigail and I had a nice talk as Xavier was still snoozing. According to Abigail, Xavier will be a teenager in 2 years. (My God help us all.) He must be resting up for it.

I made my post meet Garsten from Quebec, had dinner, and went to bed. Next stop Poblacion de Campos or Villasirga. Thank you for reading and making comments it means a great to me. :)

Peace Out!