A quick note from Toro

Dear Friends

Day 38 of the trip, 33 days walking - 770 kms from Valencia 

I´m writing to you from Toro just round the corner from the magnificent church (above) of the Colegiata of Santa Maria la Mayor consecrated in 1174. I´m sorry I haven´t written sooner but since Toledo I have been totally in the grip of this pilgrimage. I can´t think about anything else. Every day along the way I think of stories to tell you but they disappear as fast as they come as we walk on through magnificent countryside. Some of the walking has been tough - going over the mountains, rising up to the hilltop town of Cerebros where hang gliders jumped off the cliffs and passing the halfway mark of this trip a few days ago at some 1300 metres above sea level. It has been hot. Most days by the afternoon the temperature is in the mid 30´s. As you know that can be hell to walk in.
We were really lucky to be joined by our friend Rebekah who has written about her days with us. It was a joy to share some miles walking with her as we passed through little towns and villages - getting lost and getting found again! Rebekah and her husband Paddy provide a hugely valuable ministry to pilgrims in their home on the Camino Frances and I count myself lucky to be their friend.

Since I last wrote we walked from Toledo to the wonderful walled city of Avila where we leanrend more of the lives and works of St Teresa and St John of the Cross. We then came forward passing through Medina del Campo then on to Toro where we are going meet another friend from London who comes from this very town. We walked 34 kilometers to get here and the final climb in the searing afternoon heat was difficult. However this view from my bedroom window made it all worth it.

Along the way I´ve tried twice to write to you with pictures of the journey and twice my efforts have crashed with the antiquated computers in cyber cafe. I´m not going to try again until I get to Santiago. Tomorrow we will be in Zamora and then we will follow the Via de la Plata home.

I´ll tell you all my stories then!

Keep well.

John