Thur 29 Sep - Pleasant evening in LVdC with what may be the last meal with Claire and Sara as they are keen to reduce their days to SdC and want to walk further than we plan to tomorrow. So buon camino C and S, we hope you have a good trip. I think that C is just trying to avoid cooking a meal as she has spent so much time telling us what a good cook she is! Also managed to find smeagol's (Ian's) favourite food last night which I know should be 'fishesss' but is really lasagne. Managed to take some pictures of 'The Shire' in the last 2 days so you will be able to see a Hobbit and his house when I next upload the photos. Cannot upload yet as there is only wifi here at the moment and I think the speed will be too slow using my tablet. It was an overcast day to start with but quite mild. COP start but it was 8hrs and19kms before anywhere was open and then breakfast was an icecream! Now stopped at Villares de Orbigo in a new AdP that is very nice. Only 2 beds in the room with a communial bathroom and a lovely courtyard, all for 10 euros each. They have a kitchen that we can use and our selling the local, good, wine for 2 euros a bottle. We head through Astorga tomorrow and the final stop is tbc depending on how hot and tired we feel tomorrow.

Wed 28 Sep - Good afternoon in Mansilla de las Mulas. There was a large market in town with food and all the other things you would expect. In fact although MdlM was not a big town it was quite busy and had a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants. Bought a spit roast chicken (a diesel chicken to those of us that lived in Napoli as there always seemed to be diesel fumes nearby then) and some green chillies for our lunch. Meal out last night was again excellent - wait to you see the pictures in a few days - Jamie Oliver would be pleased with the presentation - and all for 10 euros pp inc beer, wine and water. That said i have had a little indigestion the last few days, I normally have an 'actimel' or similar each day at home that seems to keep it at bay, so I bought some yesterday all all seems well after I drank all six of them! COP start and unusualy there were a number of cafes open before 0800. Must be the influence of the big city. Got to Leon at just after 1000 and stopped for a coffee. Saw a few churches and walked on through to La Virgen del Camino, although by the look of this place it has been a long time since it was a virgin - probably pre biblical. Had booked an AdP here but did not like the look of the place so we went back to the main street and booked into an hostel. It cost 40 euros for the two of us with two single beds and a private bathroom. No clothes washing facilities but I asked a cleaner very nicely (with my 'I am a pathetic man face on) and she kindly offered to do it for free. I did insist on paying! Ian and I do tend to walk at different paces at different times but it seems to work well as it gives us some solo time and whoever is in front just waits a little at any significant junctions. Off to Hospital de Orbigo tomorrow. Temp about 25 deg at the moment but was only 17 deg at 1000, howeve, it is a little warmer in the mornings again and we are back to starting off in our tee shirts. All typed on my Archos 101 using the screen keyboard and the hostels free wifi.

Tues 27 Sept - Pleasant evening last night with good food. Spent 1hr looking for the local shop and finally found it in a small backstreet and it had no fruit to buy!  There was not even a simple sign from the main street to say where it was!!!! To bed at 2200 for a good nights sleep in sheets.  COP start except that the destination (Mansilla del las Mulas) was the first stop at 1130 as there was nothing else on the way.  Now drinking my first coffee having just had a croissant (nothing else available) while we wait for the municipal AdP to open at 1230 - hope we get a bed.  Flat empty walk today mostly along the old roman road called the Calzada Romana.  Now 17 days into the trip without a full rest day and I doubt that we will take one except in case of injury. Feeling quite weary today and my feet ache after 25 kms on a lumpy roman road.  It seems that the flat roads make the journey appear longer as you can see your destination in the distance for a long time.  Much better to crest a hill and see that the next place is at your feet!  That is about all for today as the letters on this keyboard are almost totaly warn out so typing is a bit of a guess.  In fact I am surprise how few mistaks I have made.  Tomorrow we head for Leon, but will not stay there.  Destination tbc.

New way for photos - either paste this link into your address bar http://picasaweb.google.com/103003301116145034549.  or click here

Or go to picasaweb.google.com  click in area that says ´´explore public photos´´ or in spanish ´´....o explorar foto publica´´. In top right hand corner search (in spanish Buscar) mikesroaming.  You should see some photos.  Them click on the link that says Per camino Sept 2011 then you should see a page with the current 4 albums on it.  Click of double click on the photos.

 Mikesroaming photos to 26 Sep 2011
Mikesroaming photos up to 23 Sep 2011
Mikesroaming photos to 22 Sep

Initial Mikesroaming photos

Mon 26 Sep. All fine last night with a meal that included veg for the first time since we started the walk!  Sara, Cs friend arrived safe and sound at around 2100 so now we are 5.  COP in the morning on the way to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos (pop 200 so a big town!).  Unfortunately, after about 5 kms M had to declare himself out of the game as his blisters were bleeding.......  He now intends to stop at Sahagun and get a bus or train to somewhere else on the route so that his feet get a rest and so he can get to his plane OK in Santiago.  So buon camino Mark and we hope the rest of your journey goes well.  Then again maybe the troll disliked the sunlight and had to go back under his bridge.

A fairly straightforward walk today of 27 kms, with a couple of awkward turns to take over motorways and roundabouts.  The last 9 kms was on a very flat and empty path which felt like it was going on for ages.  Flies again a pain, but decided to wear my cap backwards to confuse them - plan did not work, flies are clearly stupid.  Arrived at CdlH at about 1230 having booked 5 beds yesterday (yep Spanish is improving) that said there was much confusions when I tried to explain that yes we did book for 5 but nw we were only 4!  Ian solved this by holding up 5 fingers, shaking his head and at the same time making 4 fingers whilst drawing his hand across his throat!  Much hilarity, but still not sure if they think we have killed the last person for snoring too much!  The AdP is called Via Trajana and is by far the best so far.  It appears to be new and everywhere is very clean and smart.  A four bedroom room that shares a men´s and a separate women´s bathroom with 3 other rooms that would look good in any of our houses.  In fact Christa would be content in this place and it is only 15 euros pp.  Lunch was excellent so we are looking forward to dinner tonight.  Maybe the wine will not be chilled this time!  I will try to find an alternative way to post the photos this afternoon, but I need to sort out the washing first.  Off to Mansilla de las Mulas tomorrow.

At last Smeagol has got the code for the Blog. To understand this chapter of ¨A HOBBITS TRAIL TO SANTIARGO¨ you will need the following information and a little knowledge of ¨LORD OF THE RINGS¨

Master or Frodo is Mike
Smeagol is Ian
Precious is the Map
Orcs are Other nasty hikers who snore worse than Master and shine tourches in your eyes early in the morning:
She Orcs is a Shiela Called Clair
Troll is a german called Mark with very large underpants and lots of blisters

There are just a few things that Marster forgot to put in the BLOG they are as follows

Master Lost Precious ¨Master lost the Prrecious¨ Smeagol help Master, yes Smeagol find precious for nice Master, but Master still won't let Smeagol look at precious, no Master keep precious hidden from Smeagol.

Master get Precious wet Yes Master get Precious wet. Smeagol helps Master and dry Precious,  Master rewards Smeagol with nice lunch, yes nice Master, but Master forgets to pay, Master tricksus yes Master tricksus.

Snoring  Master snores like a 747, yes Master does (oh no he does'nt), yes Master blames Smeagol all the time, Smeagol not snore Smeagol never snore.

Hotels Master promise hotel for Smeagol, Master books rooms for Smeagol, smeagol put in room with 30 nasty Orcs, snoring Orcs nasty Orcs, nasty Master yes nasty Master, Master tricksus again.

Pic Nic Nice She Orc make pic nic for Master and Smeagol, yes nice she Orc.

Coffee Stop Master must have coffee in morning, yes Master must have coffee, no no not yet Master Smeagol smell coffee for Master 10 more km, Master whines, Smeagol find coffee for nice Master.

Master Lost   Is this the way Smeagol, yes yes Master Smeagól will answer yes we must go this way Master must follow Smeagol, Smeagol look after Master.