Day 40 -Sahagun to Hospital de Orbigo. 52 miles

My extended cycle route worked really well and was not much longer than the official route.But I have successfully bypassed the busy Leon. Initially it was flat windswept countryside dotted with crumbling brown mud coloured buildings. But what a treat! I reached the town of Valencia de Don Juan, which had a perfect picture postcard castle and a beautiful river which swept around the town and a bonus for me - it was market day. What a market!  There were stalls selling only apples, or honey or dried fish  (too early to carry home for Dalia) or stalls selling cheeses, meats of all description and much else. Laden down with fruit and a jar of dark mountain honey I cycled on through land divided by canal or water carrying/irrigation channels, past storks wading in the marshy ground and birds of prey occasionally appearing overhead. Entered this small town over the stone bridge with 20 arches... one of the oldest in Spain. For 5 Euros I booked into a refuge with shady courtyard and garden.
Most evenings I end up sharing a meal with others but last night was more of a party with a group of not so young Italians, a Swiss woman who acted as interpreter and an American woman who wants to visit the Findhorn Foundation (and did not drink any of the wine). In other words great to cycle by myself but company when needed in the evenings