Leon>Mazarife

It felt so good to get back on the trail! Getting out of Leon drug through some industrial sprawl for a long hour. Once out of town, I chose an optional route that gets less traffic, and gets out further into the country. It added a few extra miles for a total of 16ish today.  It was awesome! My legs are feeling great after a day of rest. I think I’ve lost a few pounds which is easier on the knees. There’s a point when exercising where the brain concedes to the activity and decides to open up the endorphin valve. Today about 10:00 it was wide open, the 9:30 expresso was like a nitro booster and I flew along camino.  

Here’s my favorite part. I looked behind me for fast pilgrims. No one in sight on a mile of flat red clay farm road. What I was about to do is pilgrim taboo. I plugged in my headphones and hit play on a classic rock mix. I turned it up to 11 and dug into the road. About 90 minutes later I was drenched in sweat. Playlist over, I packed up my headphones and coasted for a couple hours into Mazarife with a smile on my face.  
When looking at art in cathedrals and churches every element has complex meaning. The bull in the field behind Saint James isn’t there because the artist needed to fill some empty space. It represents peace. Who knew? (Probably docent Jack Downs….) I’d like to direct you to the first image below titled “Derek watching laundry dry”. This a wonderfully typical camino afternoon off the trail. Note my clothes drying on a field of yellow, symbolic of wheat…that’s about all I got from a symbolism standpoint. The day’s work is done and it’s time to relax. All I have planned is eating the food in the photo, going to church at 1:00, and having an early dinner. Life is great!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Typical pilgrim washing machine