A big day ahead today, so it’s up and breakfast at 7.00. Still not away until 7.45 but at least we tried. Today was a slow up and then a quicker down. To save us from some of the steepest downs we took to the road, only to find ourselves on the track at the steepest point.Never mind we made it to our lodgings safe and sound. After a freshen up it was a beer by the river, that turned into dinner with wine. Back safe and sound to iur room before the thunder started to roll in.
Category Archives: The French Way – Camino de Santiago
Camino de Santiago Day 24
After breakfast it back on the road at a slower pace as we’re back to walking. Our target is 20km away and we should be at our destination between 2.00 – 3.00.
It’s surprising how the time has flown by, we have been on the road now for 3.5 wks.
Along the way today we saw a suspicious looking man in the distance. He was wandering around by the track. We formulated a plan should he try to attack us. As we got closer we went over our plan again. Down to 100 meters to go and we see his car with a strange contraption on the roof. Suddenly several vans appear with flashing lights on them, one blocks the road and another drives on.
As we get closer all is revealed, the car had a rack on top with a single bicycle wheel clamped on. The vans were support vans for a cycle team.
Also along the way today we met 2 Americans we are walking less kms per day than us. So not everyone is racing to the end.
Camino de Santiago Day 23
Getting out of any city always seems difficult and Leon was no exception. Having no visualization of where to go it’s a case of starting off and then stopping to check we’re headed the right direction. Continuing some more and then re-checking until we pick up the Camino signs again. Perhaps in hindsight we should of headed to the Cathedral in town to get the trail instead of cutting off some of the route.
We travelled along the N120 again today. However instead of the quiet country lane of a couple of days ago it has now grown up and is a fully fledged dual carriageway, complete with truck after truck.
Now we have to decide whether to ycle the road or traverse the narow walkway.
We chop and change as the conditions of the track improves or the road worsens.
In the end we managed to arrive at our destination safely and say goodbye to the bikes.
Camino de Santiago Day 22
Breakfast at 7.00 no special early start for walkers today. So on the road by 8.00. Luckily wasn’t so hot today and with breaks we made good progress getting to Leon around 1.00.
After a short break for a shower we headed out to see the sights forgetting that being a big town there would be lots of people.
The heat and crowds getting to us we headed back for a siesta.
Camino de Santiago Day 21
Today will be an early start so that we miss the heat of the day. So with the alarm set for 6.00 I am awake on sunrise. Jo mumbles that she want 20 minutes more.
So at 6.45 we go for breakfast, except everyone has gone already. Breakfast had started at 5.45 not 6.45 as we had thought. Oh well away at 7.15 is an early start for us.
We pass many of our friends from last night, some new, some we had been playing leapfrog with for the last week or so.
Todays ride was mainly flat, straight, and boring going between the wheat fields of the Meseta.
With 15km to go the battery on my bike ran out. This is when you realise how much assistance the motor is giving. Still there were a few downhills to compensate for the uphills.
The battery on Jo’s bike ran out with about 500mts to go.
Camino de Santiago Day 20
After our day of “rest” it is time to get on the camino again. Today is going to be hard as we have 60km to cover and the forcast is for an even hotter day.
Luckily we are travelling the next few stages on bikes (electrically enhanced) so with some conservation of battery we should make our destination assisted.
Some of the path is loose gravel and not very nice to cycle on. There were also a couple of steep downhill secrions which we walked as we were unused to the bikes.
Along the way we passed several walkers we had met along the way. I’m sure Jo took great delight in wishing them all a ‘buen camino’.
The heat of the day got to me with about 10km to go. So we found some shade, which there had been very little of all day, and stopped for me to take on some more fluids and cool down.
Arriving at our destination we were given a cool drink, shown our room and allowed to shower before signing in.
Burgos Rest Day
So today is a rest day, so what do we do. Walk 21 kms.
Burgos – Wednesday evening walksbout.
We arranged to meet some fellow walkers for a drink. They included 2 Americans and 4 Aussies. Not the best meal but pleasant company. Afterwards we wandered around town, had a drink but the church and watched a flashmob of dancers.
Camino de Santiago Day 18
Today we walk into Burgos, we have read that there are several routes in. The first being the original way of the Camino. The second way is slightly shorter but walks close to the main road for several kilometers. The third way in walks along the river but is described as being rather wet and muddy after rain. As it hasn’t rained in a while we have decided to go via the river. We knew roughly where the turn off would be and followed our progress on buen comino app. When we arrived at the junction all the markers pointed straight on, no sign of an alternative route. We ignored the signs and turned off anyway to be rewarded with a lovely walk along the river.
Camino de Santiago Day 17
Today is going to be a long day. We had planned to stop at 24km but found out that the hostel was full. We had a panick last night to find somewhere the only place was a futther 7km on. Well the upside is we’ll have less to walk tomorrow.
The temperature is slowly increasing and today seemed the hottest so far. Luckily we were heading uphill and leaving the fields of wheat and replacing them with trees, giving us some shade at times.
We also walked along the super highway a stretch of the camino 20 lanes wide.