Fromista-424k to Santiago

Hi you guys,
I am happy to have another internet cafe so soon. I have had two of the most beautiful days of the Camino. I know I say this all the time, but really this has been awesome. I am in a area that is open and endless. Yesterday I stopped for a moment and looked around and there was not a person or car or any sound at all. I could see for miles. The sky was brilliant blue and there were high wintery clouds. The temperature was 40 when I started out in Burgos and about 55 when I arrived in Hontanos. It really reminded me of Montana. I walked 31k yesterday arriving in Hontonos at about 4:30. I kept looking for the village and couldn´t see it until I came to the top of a hill. There ahead of me, tucked under the hill , was the village. I have a picture , I hope it shows well. It was stunning. I stayed in a beautiful algergue, had dinner with a man from Germany who has been walking since June 3. His name is Alfred, he is about 35 I think. I walked with him a bit on the way to Burgos. The albergue is private and fancy. 12 euro. Dinner 10euro. I was on the top bunk though. Not my favorite place. Actually, my sleeping bag fell off in the middle of the night and I had to go down and put it back up on top. things you never experience at home. This morning I started out at 7:40 just before sunrise. There was frost on everything. I was able to watch the sunrise light up the hills and see the full moon at the same time. The scene looked like a tacky Christmas card, it was so beautiful. Remember, Kathy, when we thought the beauty of the morning scenes we had when we ran looked like velvet paintings? Same thing.
I walked most of today with Kristina from Denmark. She is 35 and needs to finish the Camino by the 14th of October. I ran into her on the way about 8k out of Hontonas. We walked to this town, 35k for me. I think the most so far. Today was also beautiful, sunny, breezy and probably 65f.
I love Spain. It is rougher than France, and less fixed up. The villages look like real, the churches old. Today an old man met us on the path and kissed us both on the cheek. Yesterday I had two great encounters. The first happened while I was working my way out of Burgos. It´s harder to find the way in a city. I am following yellow arrows now, not the red and white stripes. They are painted on rocks or walls usually. But in a city they can be anywhere, curbs, trash cans, the poles holding up stop signs. Anywhere. Well, I couldn´t find the arrow at an intersection. I took out my map and then I heard yelling. I looked behind me and up on a building that was under construction were three men in hard hats waving at me to cross the street and take a left! I love it how everyone in this area is engaged in the camino. Another time was headed in the wrong direction and someone set me straight. The next great encounter I had was with a shepard. I decided to have lunch and put my mat down on the edge of a field. Then I saw a flock of sheep coming up the hill. Then I saw the shepard, the goats, the donkey, the three older dogs and a puppy. The puppy decided to see what I was eating and the other dogs didn´t want to miss out and came over too and the sheep followed. I was busy taking their picture and realized they were at my feet. The shepard whistled and they all obeyed and went back across the road.
Today Kristina said that another man told her that the Camino is a lesson is letting go. Maybe that´s what I was trying to say when I wrote last time. You let go of friends, you let go of your favorite little knife, your favorite sports bra and it seems so natural. It isn´t that it doesn´t matter, it´s that it is life.
I was also thinking of something someone said before I left. They said this will be such a great adventure. Now maybe I have a limited definition of adventure, but I think of it as having a lot of adrenalin involved. This is empty of adrenalin. It is so peaceful and calm. People are happy and laugh a lot.
I have decided that I will be home for Alison´s first match or event. That means I´ll be there by the 20th. I feel great, it´s fun to walk and so I think I can finish the last 424 in time. That´s my hope. I can´t wait to see her skate. And I want to see Erika, Benji and Adam and most of all I want to see Oscar. I miss feeling his soft skin. And he talks so much now, I want to be there for that. I want to have a pedicure, a martini at the Nicollet Island Inn and breakfast with my sister Barb. I love this and life would be easy if a person could spend the rest of it only concerned with having enough water and a can of sardines in their pack, but I miss engaging with all of you.
Opps. Time is running out. I´ll be back in touch as soon as I can.
Love,
Mom\Mary