Sanguesa to Izco, May 22

We started off from Sanguesa in a light drizzle, and the weather continued wet all day.  Except for about five minutes, the Gore Tex shells stayed on for the entire stage.  We initially headed out of town toward an alternate route, but after a couple of kilometers walking along a highway the yellow arrows ended.  We spent some time searching, but eventually gave up, walked back to town, and started off in a different direction.

We've seen a lot of wind power generators all along the Camino.  On this blustery day, they were really cranking.  We continued to see similar windmills lining the ridges all day long.

Our path climbed steadily above the wheat fields and occasional vineyards.  As the day went on, the trail became muddier, and eventually turned to a sticky clay mud.  With each step it tried to suck the shoes off  our feet, and as it accumulated our shoes became heavy.

 It was a long slog, but eventually we climbed into the small village of Izco.  About 50 people live there, and there's an albergue for pilgrims, but no stores or restaurants.  But, the albergue has a stock of basic foods available for purchase, plus a well-equipped kitchen, so we were set.   When we arrived, there were already a few pilgrims ahead of us: four Spanish men from Valencia, plus a German and Frenchman traveling together.  The sleeping room has four bunkbeds, and as the last arrivals Ellen and I took the two remaining top bunks.  In the evening the village bar (conveniently located in the albergue) opened up, and we enjoyed a few glasses of wine with our companions.

Entering Izco

With eight people, ages mid 50s to mid 70s, sharing a small room, it was a symphony of snoring all night long.