Camino Francés Day 24: Hospital de Óbrigo - El Ganso

pilgrimageeurope

Sep 29

Written By Anne

I left at 6:45 to cover as much distance as possible before the heat set in. The trail today was a mix of uphill and downhill walking instead of just flat terrain. As I passed through farmland and towns, I took some star photos and watched a beautiful sunrise.

Descending toward San Justo de la Vega, I found a pilgrim statue with a drinking fountain—when you turn the tap, water flows from a gourd into the pilgrim’s mouth! I thought it was a clever design. Further into town, I saw sheep herders, with dogs barking to keep people and cars away. I watched from a distance as they guided the sheep along.

Here, I met a fellow Canadian pilgrim on her third Camino. As she shared her experiences, we arrived in Astorga, her stop for the day. After exchanging contacts, we parted ways. The last stretch was tough under the full sun. I took breaks at Murias de Rechivaldo and Santa Catalina de Somoza before finally reaching El Ganso. Tonight, I’m staying in a teepee—the first time since I was a kid!