I slept in this morning knowing it was going to be a short 20km to Rabanal. My 31 day plan wanted me to go 5km further but the town was smaller and it seemed to be booked. This could work out better as I had made a note months ago that the town before the one my plan puts me in tomorrow is a special town. It just means I need to make up 5 to 7km over the next few days, hopefully when the weather is better. The forcast for tomorrow looks pretty grim.
The Hotel Gaudi would have been high end back in the day and it had a lot of nice older features. It was a good choice to lay around for an extra hour.
I was on the road after a hotel coffee just before 9 and came out to a grey, grey day. There were dark rain clouds in the direction I was heading. Astorga was a really nice town and one I would visit again. It took a lot less time to get out than in yesterday.
Soon I was on paths and dirt roads over rolling hills. Rain threatened but held off. I joked with a French guy I passed that I don't beleive in rain.
At the first real cafe stop I saw Robert and he was getting ready to leave. The last few days he has walked much faster so I kept going assuming he would soon catch me. He was feeling the last few days and was only walking my speed today so I did not see him until I stopped at the next cafe where I went in for cafe con leche and tortilla.
We walked the rest of the day together and it finally started to rain. Not that heavy so we were lucky. Even a little rain makes for bad pictures because, well, phone. Nothing worse than trying to use your phone with wet fingers, with raindrops on the screen and fogged up glasses.
In Rabanal we had beer and lunch together near his albergue. We were joined by Fergus and then Barb from Connnecicutt. Apparently there is a Gregorian chant mass tonight at 7. We arranged to meet at my fancy hotel for pre-mass drinks at 6. I hope I don't get struck by lightening.
It turns out Fergus grew up a few kilometers from Robert's house and went to the same boarding school as his kids. Something for the small world folder.
I have a room in another fancy older hotel. A few days ago I hear a rip when I sat and needed to do some repairs. Used my sewing kit. Looks like it will hold.
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